If Healy comes back -hypothesis- as FB, Porsh+Matt+Niyi is in all likehood the fastest back-3 combination in Pro14 -if not Europe-, isn't it?

BTW where those very very nice stats come from? Would love to have them weeks after weeks

twitter.com/DjRossouw87/

Thrilling atmosphere. So glad the forwards backed themselves and set up the win. Objectively Cheetahs threw it away with the foul play but we pressured them. Light weight backs not so lightweight after all and serious speed when chances appeared. Interesting t see Stephen Fitzgerald kicking for field position in the second half. Having kickers at 10, 13 and 15 could be very useful against hard pressing defences and lessen the need to box kick from 9. Shame to lose Gavin Thornberry. Hope it isn't as bad as it looked. Lineout is one of the few serious work ons for the next few weeks.

Wow. Two chances for the draw with the clock in the red, both turned down. Real fortitude from us. Cheetahs looked off the pace for chunks of the game, probably could’ve sealed them away sooner.

Amazing work tho.

Brave decision at the end not to take the draw. Paid off in spades though. Happy out!

Yeaaaah! Just have got out of jail, Farell among 3 players on him making a LBP into a Fiver TBP Win!!!!!!!!!

Good it's sunny, because we have light road-runners...


9) Marmion lighter than Blade
10) Fitzgerald lighter than Horwitz/Carty
11) Porsh ligter than Godwin/Healy
13) Godwin lighter than Daly/Aki
14) Niyi lighter than Leader
15) S.Fitz lighter than TOH

Robb will be essential to gain hard ground in contact.

No Matt Healy

Connacht Matchday Squad V Toyota Cheetahs (Sat 26 OCT, 5.15PM)

(15-9): Stephen Fitzgerald, Niyi Adeolokun, Kyle Godwin, Peter Robb, John Porch, Conor Fitzgerald, Kieran Marmion (1-8 ): Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham, Gavin Thornbury, Quinn Roux, Eoghan Masterson, Jarrad Butler (C), Paul Boyle.

Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Matthew Burke, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Ultan Dillane, Cillian Gallagher, Caolin Blade, Tom Farrell, Darragh Leader.

pbs.twimg.com/media/EHt-f4qXYAAYJLj.jpg:large

Leader and Heffernan back on the bench!
Same as last game otherwise (injuries excepted)



Back-3 is a quite unproven combination, but full of speed!
The rest looks strong.
Will watch specifically Burke, has to step-up as soon as now!

I wonder if that fu@ker who emptied the contents of his nose into Colby Fainga'a's face at last season's game is due to line out for them. If so, he should get a warm welcome.

Should be a cracking game, this. Start of a long, long, long stretch of games - including some interpros and european games. Imagine that there'll be some proper player management going on. Cheetahs are three from three so far, all with relatively big margins. All home games for them, and as this is their first away game of the season the altitude advantage will be gone.