Last home game of the season. Expecting a win here to keep our push going for 8th. Aironi players are fighting for their futures but if we go about our business properly, don't try and force the game at an early stage and take every 3 point opportunity early on we should be fine. A bonus point may be possible but the most important issue in achieving that is getting breathing space early on.

The players owe it to themselves to put things right for the atrocious performance against Aironi back in January.

Yes even though they are folding we owe them a good game back in the Sportsground in return for the defeat in Italy..

Aironi are getting tougher and tougher, but we'll be out for revenge. They narrowly lost to Scarlets, and I wouldn't like to be playing them away from home again.

But final home game, with a big send off, should make for an emotional night

Wilko's injury from Saturday has ruled him out for the rest of the season, harse.

NOC also confirmed out for the final two games. The way Miah is playing he would have been hard done by to lose his place, though.

ummm, wrote:


Lads need to foucs on getting the job done, it'll be a real war as Aironi will be desperate to win the first ever away fixture in their last ever away game. If we go into this still backslapping ourselves after the Ulster game we will come a cropper. With Wilko out they'll come after our scrum and try to neuter us through the pack. We will need to play an expansive game and move them around the pitch, our rucking game will be key. Most of all we need to start well, get on the board early and make them play some rugby. Our discipline needs to be a lot better than last week also, we canot afford to keep them in the game with free points...

With wilko out eric may be tempted to push ronan loughney to loose head and start Rodney. That would be a mistake imo as rodney will be exposed in scrum and scrum is a key part of what has turned around connachts season. I think loughney has to be left at tight head and Buckley given the start at loosehead. Rodgers should be given the bench spot to back him up. Buckley has shown a lot of promise in the scrum and in general and should be capable of giving team 60min of good scrummaging which will be key in this game.
As others have said Miah needs to continue to reward the team with regular 3 pointers and that will give platform for everything else. He had a bit of a blip in 2nd qtr v ulster and that coincided with them coming back into game(granted humph lites blip? gave connacht lead in first place).
I expect a good win here and hopefully a bonus point, but they cant get caught up in the pary atmosphere that will be around sportsground from early and need to be professional about it.

Have connacht had a bonus point win this season? i dont remember one.

None I'm afraid, but we lead the league in Losing Bonuses

+1

Buckley deserves it on form and he's only gonna get better with more gametime. Does anyone know about Ray and Bret's injuries? Are they gonna be out for long?

Probably can't make it to Galway this weekend Is this match being televised?

fifthcolumn wrote:


Nope, not on TV..

I'll just have to invent a transporter so...

connachtexile wrote:

Brett's out for the rest of the season with calf knack. I don't think we'll see Ray either so I hope we get a chance to give him a proper send off.

ummm, wrote:


I'd say Miah emergence of late probably will give the management something to think about over the summer. It really looked like they were giving NOC every chance to succeed as the #1 outhalf and in truth he was starting to reward their patience, but now they can't ignore Nikora so it will be an interesting battle for the #1 and #2 spots when Parks comes to town.

rossir, wrote:


After the 70 minutes that Buckley put in against Ulster they would be crazy to start Rodney. Put him on the bench and if things go really well for Connacht bring him on for 15-20 minutes because he does need time, but do not start him.

That's a shame about Ray and Bret both nice guys and great players. Really hope we do something for Ray to give him a proper send off!

Anyone who wants to give Ray a send off, please make sure to come along to the Player's Forum.

That's the live one on after the last game? Will be Ray be attending? Does anyone know about Keith Matthews?

I'm in Oz at the mo so won't be there. Would dearly love to be as well.