Connacht v Leinster. 1/1/2012, 5:00 p.m.

Typical Connacht, score the try, miss the conversion that would draw them level, then knock on the restart.

I should consider this a victory since it looked like Leinster were going to score late and my prediction was going to come true, but fair play Connacht didn't give up and did well to work themselves into range for an attempt at a winning DG. Still it was a game they should have won and a draw probably would have been a fair result since they played more of the rugby.

Just back from the game. Brought a friend to the Clan terrace for their first game. They loved every minute of it.

It was another missed opportunity. More points we should have picked up. I did learn that Jarvis has to start ten. We need a kicker though. I know Duffy used to kick an odd time for wegians when he first joined them, would he be worth a go? he was an irish schools out half so might be an option.

I was impressed with Tonetti, felt he had a good game. I also think henry offers a lot from the bench against a tired opposition.

I would start red neck in Hooker, think he offers more. Kearney had a good game and is only going to improve. Mul is not an 8 though.

Heartbroken once again though and it is still 12 losses on the bounce.

NEED. A. KICKER.

Also, looked like Tuohy fractured that leg to me.

Is there no end to this torture!! Pleased with many aspects of the performance but once again undid all our good work by not keeping the scoreboard ticking when on top.

Jarvis was definitely effective at getting the backline moving and we looked the most dangerous I've seen us this season out wide but his kicking was nowhere near up to scratch. Very unusal technique and its not working, Nikora did no better with his one when he came on, just so demoralising for the rest of the side after their efforts. Glad we at least thought of the dg in the end unlike the Treviso game but there was no composure shown, we were making ground through the phases against 14 men, there was no need to take a desperation pot shot, in fairness it went close but thats beside the point.

Definitely Jarvis for the Aironi game anyway, try and keep the intensity high but goal kicking is a problem. Hopefully Elwood will put the time in with him. O'Donohue was dissapointing again, just far too many basic mistakes at this level and his option taking is poor.

Scrum hung in there fairly well after a penalty on our own ball in the first half. Leinster lineout was in trouble for most of the evening.

Stil though we are killing ourselves with silly mistakes, lads getting caught in the tackle with no support, two poor mistakes from Tuohy from Leinster clearance kicks (hope he'll be ok). Backchat to the ref getting penalty moved into kickable area.

We are getting there in certain areas but its still painfully obvious where changes are needed in the summer.

Disappointing result given the improvement in play. Still a lot of unforced errors & bad kicking. I've attached some video.

Team introductions:

Connacht Lineout & penalty:


Eddie the Eagle v Leo The Lion during the break:


Leinster Penaulty in second half:

i think we all generally agree that we have had 3 problems with team that have caused our current predicament.

1. tighthead.( loughney supported by rodgers appears to be the solution)scrum much better now.

2. outhalf.(thought jarvis did well tonite in general but def not a placekicker).

3. repetitive small mistakes( knockons etc)

Tonite the scrum, lineout and maul worked very well. Pack need to add more pick and go at ruck time to draw in more defenders so we are not as easy to defend against but in general going in rite direction here. Hopefully we dont see rodney for rest of season.

jarvis did well wit ball in hand imo. he cant goal kick to save his life but then neither can noc so nothing lost there. good to see nikora try the drop goal and imo it was rite time as he was rite in front of posts. he just needs more conviction in stike.technique was good. Wit injury to tuohy(leg break i believe) a player who can kick goals needs to be brought in some way to cover. i dont care if he is a prop if he is accurate. 13 points left behind again tonite and we were the home team. Nasewa is not a frontline kicker and prob never shot at goal in sportsground before and had 100% so no excuses.
Whos responsible in management for place kicking? Eric u made a career out of this as a player so sort it out.
it was a good performance but thats 9 pts dropped at home from games we shud have won. im counting the blues, treviso and tonites game. those 9 pts(if won) would put us level wit ulster in the table. Thats how vital winning winnable home games is.
realistically now we should aim to overtake edinburu in table before end of season and hope leinster/munster win heineken or ulster amlin.

Scrum half is imo a huge problem now as well

O Donoghue's passing is atrocious, Jarvis had to reach above, behind and below him every time. Couple that with some appalling decision making.

Murphy played well when he came on but it seems he needs a kick in the arse to come up with the goods. Away at Quins and tonight have been his only 2 notable performances this season and they've both been off the bench.

agreed on both shs porter. are moore or 2 lads in acadamy any good?

Was any reason given why Jarvis started at 10? If we get a goal kicker and leave Jarvis on as game manager at 10 I think we could improve and maybe pick up a win during the 6 nations. Glad to see there was an improvement I just hope it wasn't because Leinster came to town and we revert to sh*te in our next game.

Fantastic picture, it shows exactly what it means to these boys to score.

www.inpho.ie/media/6M3Z6_RJKnfRh4dEmJ0pT...efKTBmrXuPfwGP_aw..a

connachtexile wrote: Glad to see there was an improvement I just hope it wasn't because Leinster came to town and we revert to sh*te in our next game.

Not to mention Leinster was playing with only a handful of regulars.

Breifne wrote:

connachtexile wrote: Glad to see there was an improvement I just hope it wasn't because Leinster came to town and we revert to sh*te in our next game.

Not to mention Leinster was playing with only a handful of regulars.

hate when people say it was the second or third team they put out. them players are no spring chickens.

15: Isa Nacewa Played 88 - Points 318 one of the best full backs in the world
14: David Kearney Played 27 - Points 35
13: Eoin O'Malley Played 42 - Points 25 leinster say next BOD
12: Brendan Macken Played 7 - Points 5 ok young lad but we started kearney
11: Andrew Conway Played 14 - Points 15 been around for years has talent but wasted there
10: Ian Madigan Played 36 - Points 49
9: Isaac Boss Played 39 - Points 35 plus the games with ulster and ireland international

1: Jack McGrath Played 13 - Points 0
2: Richardt Strauss Played 51 - Points 10
3: Jamie Hagan Played 11 - Points 5 well he was ok with us for 2years
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN Played 164 - Points 20 knob and lucky to ever play for ireland
5: Damian Browne Played 12 - Points 0
6: Rhys Ruddock Played 34 - Points 10
7: Shane Jennings Played 135 - Points 60
8: Leo Auva'a Played 11 - Points 20

Noel Reid
Heinke van der Merwe Played 45 - Points 5
Sean Cronin Played 9 - Points 10 well we know him
Nathan White Played 11 - Points 5
Devin Toner Played 82 - Points 5

these are games ONLY WITH LEINSTER. cronin for example has 9 games but also played with us and ireland

Good research, Swift4...thanks for that. Still FAR from their strongest side though.

A tad unfair, I'd say. I.M.O. O'Halloran made correct decision not to pass. If he'd passed, either of the two outside men could have been tackled.