Guys and Gals,
I have acquired two clan tickets for this evening if anyone is looking for some for friends or family. I know it's late but might help someone out.

Yr.no say shower before kick off 0. 3mm of rain. Wet ball 1st half..
Dry for 2nd when the toulouse pack will hopefully be run off their feet.

www.yr.no/en/list/hourly/2-2964180/Irela...%20Galway/Galway?i=0

Fro Met Eireann site - predicted rainfall at 6pm. Looks ok!

connachta wrote: The real deciding factors is rain or not.

Looks like the rain stopped earlier than yesterday's forecast. So it might start up again earlier too. But I reckon we'll be sound til after the game. Bit of sunshine this afternoon should improve pitch conditions a bit.

Woo hoo, residents' bar in Ward's!

I've got a large flag for todays game but I'm not sure if there will be an issue with the size. I'm in college road end and plan to hoist it up out of the way of view. Does anyone know if there will be a problem

Banm wrote: It was room 5, nough said!

Was waiting for that.

It was room 5, nough said!

connachta wrote:

connemara man wrote: And gone

Wow, 20 minutes, you're a good seller

Or somebody really, really couldn't be arsed with an uncomfortable couch in their brother's cold house, but also couldn't be arsed looking for somewhere for themselves... :whistle:

connemara man wrote: And gone

Wow, 20 minutes, you're a good seller

And gone

I have a single hotel room booked which I need to cancel if anyone needs a room for tomorrow night let me know. It's in wards in salthill and 50 euro

Let’s be cristal clear
Toulouse have 6 forwards on the bench, they have won 6 penalties + 2 turnovers AWAY against CLERMONT at scrumtime!
Connacht have suffered against Ulster (3 pens, 2 free-kicks), I’ve watched it closely. Bealham has only played those 2 games at LH since his short appearances with Ireland. Buckley was the man in the scrum/rucks. Carey also only played those 2 games but it’s worse, these are his 1st caps in top competition.
On the other side Toulouse starting backs aren’t impressive. At all. David/Huget are ageing, Fickou, who was so harmful in the sportsground 3 years ago, isn’t in the main 15. McAlister won’t travel.

So It’s all about the Leinster Pro 12 Final strategy. Ball exit as soon as possible and spread it wise from the scrums.
The real deciding factors is rain or not. More then 12 scrums in the game would mean IMO at least 4 pens and one yellow card against us. Toulouse would make us pay (look how quick we can concede tries from pen+lineouts, maul or not, against Ulster, Glasgow)
If it’s dry or at least not too wet, the exit strategy from our 22 will work, I’m convinced we can even Toulouse in back-row, and make their defensive line be exhausted quick enough. Niyi and Cian have superior speed to conclude the moves.

So any player much focus on the team weakness (tackles) and strength (passes) ; And IMO our key guys will be Roux (ruck protection), Browne (Muldowney’s pivotal role), Heenan (turnovers), Ronaldson (defence and coping with pressure in attack), TOH (high balls).

Our primary objective last season was Top 6. We went on to achieve so much more but the occasion tomorrow is our reward for achieving that goal. Pat laid down what he wanted us to achieve last May for 2016/17 and quarter final qualification was on the list. Really tomorrow defines our European campaign. If we win tomorrow, qualification is very possible. Lose tomorrow and we're not going to get out of the group being honest.

I think we've a real chance if we can settle into our patterns early. If we get bogged down in trench warfare it'll be a tough slog and it's hard to see us winning an arm-wrestle. Have to see how the day plays out.

clanman wrote: How is the weather

Well the Norwegians reckon it will lash rain all night, clear up at lunchtime and then get wet again at about 8 or 9.
Which is perfect really. The miserable overnight conditions will psychologically disrupt our visitors, while the pleasant match weather will suit our expansive game.
It will be nice and dry around the Clan Bar and the Forster St fanzone and the evening rain will exactly coincide with sitting down to dinner with Le Huit in Rabbitt's.
Frankly, arranging this game for 5.30 on Saturday was a stroke of genius on my part. I must send that guy in Neuchatel another bottle of absinthe.

salmson wrote:

Amsterdamage wrote: Like the look of that team, Dillane to bench as predicted, wonder is there something in that.

Roux is needed to stabilise the scrum, Browne is needed to run the lineout and fill the "heavy playmaker" role (not my phrase, but hat tip to whoever thought of it). So the choice is use Dillane out of position or as an impact sub, a role he excels in. Wouldn't say there's anything more to it.

Best to keep Ultan out of view of French eyes as much as possible. There's enough talk of him heading south next season as it is, we don't need him heading any further in that direction.:S