Back to Bread & Butter - Connacht Match

[Cap'n Grumpy]

Many going down?

Will it be a much changed team (rested team)?

Will tickets be available on the gate? (unlike last year when they made it all ticket and forced us to go through Ticketmaster.ie?

Can we beat the mighty Westies and push on for another semifinal??

[stickinout]

i'd be of a mind to wrap the key players in cotton wool until the week before the semi, give the squad players as much play time as possible so they are ready to slot in if anything goes wrong with the key players. We have a squad that can perform well in the Rabo so it's time to use them and hopefully they will be spurred on at the chance to perform, bring in some competition for places to ramp it all up to the next notch.....

[King Ding]

It we want to do the extreme thing and completely change the team i think we could still beat them with this team, only area were we are decidely weak is backrow, everywhere else we look ok imo.

McCallister
Brady
Afoa (dependant on whether he is cited and likely to miss the semi)
Stevenson
Barker
McComish
Faloon
Diack
Marshall
Jackson
Cochrane
Marshall
Spence
Whitten
D'Arcy

[Ithryn]

McCallister
Brady
Fitzpatrick
Stevenson
Barker
McComish
Faloon
Diack
Marshall
Jackson
Cochrane
Marshall
Spence
Whitten
D'Arcy

that works, withte cavalry on the bench for the last 20 if needed, (henry, touhy, muller, wanneberg, paddy, court for example)

[rumncoke]

Dont see any reason for Trimble or Gilroy need to be rested

But agree the back row should be allowed a week to ease the bruises

[ardsrugbyards]

yes would really like to see jackson/marshall for this one, and if Brady is retiring would like to see him play the rabo games before he goes and get a big cheer

[Nightsoil]

Undecided whether to mix and match, or unashamedly send an entire second XV.

Problematically, the area where I'd most like to keep some players in (locks/back row) is probably the area that most needs the rest. Also would consider keeping in Mincer and Terblanche to bring a bit of cool and leadership to what would probably be a very raw backline.

[Big-al]

1.McAllister
2.Brady
3.Fitzpatrick
4.Stevenson
5.Tuohy (think Barker is injured)
6.Henry - captain
7.Faloon
8.Wannenburg
9.Marshall
10.Jackson
11.Whitten
12.Marshall
13.Spence
14.Gilroy
15.D'arcy

16.Kyri
17.Court
18.Macklin
19.Muller
20.Diack
21.Pienaar
22.Wallace
23.Cave

Would love to give that team a chance.

[pg106]

Maybe put Henderson in for a game to see how he gets on?

[ruckover]

Barker is injured for anybody putting him in their projected 15.

Wouldn't mind sending down the U16s, as long as we have no injuries for the SF. Definitely not a strong bench like Al's. Too risky.

[Cap'n Grumpy]

I know the idea is to wrap the 1st XV in cotton wool, but in my view, Muller could still get some game time - he's only back from a lay-off and was off the pace against Erroroni. Can't really fault his game yesterday, but another run out is probably worth the risk.

I reckon team selection will be dependent upon who actually NEEDS recovery from knocks etc and keeping strength in the team after considering who's available (possible citing permitting etc).

Anyone heard anything about buying tickets at the gate for this one? (just feeling tight after forking out 38 yoyos today in "fees" for semi-final tickets and don't want to pay ticketmaster another cent if avoidable).

[ferrisisgod]

Maybe wont be rested this match but will be rested against Leinster? Seeing as they will most likely send up a 2nd string as well as they they will get a play off place and a tough trip to france to think of

[Cap'n Grumpy]

Maybe wont be rested this match but will be rested against Leinster? Seeing as they will most likely send up a 2nd string as well as they they will get a play off place and a tough trip to france to think of

I would expect both teams (Leinster and Ulster) to be back to fairly high (full?) strength as it's only the week before the Heiny semis.

[rakem]

i would genuinely rest the whole 15 for connaught. rabo is second priority now, we're building for 28th april, then hopefully the final.

[darkside lightside]

i would genuinely rest the whole 15 for connaught.

me too, hoping that we will.. maybe Johann could do with another 60-80 mins to get totally up to speed, but otherwise I'd change the whole XV..