Connacht V Glasgow Warriors, 1945hrs, Friday, 3 May 2013

Ok - here goes for the last time (in the league) this season.

Does Toonie go for it with all guns blazing ? Or does he settle for third and a likely trip to Dublin - where we have never won but should have a few weeks ago due to bizarre ref decisions - and rest players for the play offs ?

Good article in The Herald re DD :-

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/rug ... g.20878720

Game is being shown on BBC Alba - heedrum hodrum Hornee furra lineee !!!!!

Schiz, I will be listening to Hugh Dan the heedrum man on Friday. Personally, I would go with a starting 15 that didn't include anyone we would find indespensible for our semi. So, Grant, Niko, Swinson, Bluto, Dunbar all rested. Then look at getting match fitness into the fringe players who might be called on for the semi/final. Seymour, Ryder,Cooseater, Coo,Murchie. Toonie probably needs to look at possible centre pairings; G-Dog-Messiah ?
Murchie-Seymour-??
G-Dog-Messiah
Cussiter-Wight
Ofa-Gillies-Shrek
Ryder-Gray jr
Jedi-Barclay(needs game time)-Fusaro
Remember, even if get 5 pts we still probably visit Leinster. So look at possible combinations, freshen up/ rest players and don't risk Niko under any circumstances.

Woah there ladies. A bigger question first, no?

Have we given up on a home semi? I appreciate that Glasgow would still need either Ulster or Leinster to lose on the same evening for this to happen. Both Irish sides are at home and whilst I can't imagine Ulster getting hauled down by the Blues - do we really not think that the Spreys could get a win at the RDS?

I think that we still need to put out a team that can get us 5 points. We cannot rest everyone, surely?

Jimbo, problem is Niko would go in a massive huff if you even suggested that he be rested. Remember we can still win the league outright if Leinster and Ulster lose and we can get 5 points unlikely I know esp as Leinster were awesome yesterday v Biarritz. I agree though Jacko needs to get back into the groove and as for Cusiter, Cusack and Fusaro - Cusiter is out until next season - all gone quiet re the Coo and Fusaro recently.

Connacht will go all guns blazing for this one.It's Eric Elwoods last game in charge and they set themselves a target of 40 points this season and only a victory can get them there.

Glasgow must go for it big style bonus point win is the only acceptable outcome. Surely we do not need the others to lose - if we get a bonus point win and Leinster do not we would be on the same points as them - who is second then? Would it not be glasgow on points differnce?

TJ - Don't let Jenifer see this or he/she will have a nutty - it's been done quite a bit on other threads, this.

Apparently if you finish level, it goes to head-to-heads between the team, which would mean that we lose out as Leinster have beaten us home and away this year, I think. So we really need the Ospreys to pony up and deliver a swift knee to the Leinster crackers.

Edit: See post below.

Ignore

TJ - Just looked this up - chapter and verse is apparently:

3.5. If two or more Teams finish with the same number of league points, their placings will be determined by the following criteria in descending order:

• number of matches won;
• the difference between points for and points against;
• the number of tries scored;
• the most points scored;
• the difference between tries for and tries against;
• the fewest number of red cards received;
• the fewest number of yellow cards received.

aha - and we have a better points difference - would be the same matches won! thanks - so a bonus point win would be enough if leinster win but don't get the bonus point!

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Ok - here goes for the last time (in the league) this season.

Does Toonie go for it with all guns blazing ? Or does he settle for third and a likely trip to Dublin - where we have never won but should have a few weeks ago due to bizarre ref decisions - and rest players for the play offs ?

Good article in The Herald re DD :-

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/rug ... g.20878720

Didnt you beat Leinster at the start of last season in the RDS ruining our unbeaten run?

Okaydokay, so we go all guns blazing and flatten Connacht and hope other results go our way. If any of our boys get skint knees or holes in their jumpers just don't come running to me.
On another note, I have just finished reading Owen Sheer's Calon and it is very good. Not the best book on rugby, that is Donald McCrae's Winter Colours, but well worth a read.

TJ wrote:aha - and we have a better points difference - would be the same matches won! thanks - so a bonus point win would be enough if leinster win but don't get the bonus point!

nope Leinster have won more games, we need them to lose or draw unfortunately, or Ulster to lose.

I do think it would be a mistake not to go all out for this, even if for no other reason than to maintain momentum/confidence/match practice for top players. Think this out weighs the risk of injury.

I agree - I don't think that any team has won away from home in a league semi-final play-off. It's important and we need to go for the kill. Love the Sportsground but it's always lashing down and it makes running rugby qute difficult.

We also have to accept that we are a completely different animal at Scotstoun to the one on the road.

The only team that really travels well is the Ospreys.

Pat_Mustard wrote:

TJ wrote:aha - and we have a better points difference - would be the same matches won! thanks - so a bonus point win would be enough if leinster win but don't get the bonus point!

nope Leinster have won more games, we need them to lose or draw unfortunately, or Ulster to lose.

I do think it would be a mistake not to go all out for this, even if for no other reason than to maintain momentum/confidence/match practice for top players. Think this out weighs the risk of injury.

Ah - right

Well at least we don't try to bore the crowd into apathy and disdain - see Twickenham today - wtf happened to the crowd - really rather woeful -Have heard more noise at an Edinburgh game at the library tbh ! Compare to yesterday with two bunches of great supporters ASM and Munster). Connacht and Glasgow will have a right good go (square or otherwise!). Wish I could go but saving the bawbees for the semi (and final )

WHATEVER IT TAKES

Golden wrote:

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Ok - here goes for the last time (in the league) this season.

Does Toonie go for it with all guns blazing ? Or does he settle for third and a likely trip to Dublin - where we have never won but should have a few weeks ago due to bizarre ref decisions - and rest players for the play offs ?

Good article in The Herald re DD :-

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/rug ... g.20878720

Didnt you beat Leinster at the start of last season in the RDS ruining our unbeaten run?

17/09/11 18:00 RDP12 Leinster Rugby 19 - 23 Glasgow Warriors Royal Dublin Society
I think that was the only one. Hope to keep it that way.

If Leinster beat the Ospreys 6 5 Glasgow cannot catch them even if they win 100 nil with 15 tries. Head to head's is HC pools. Rabo is wins first.

Glasgow IMO have to go out for the win, they may not have a much chance of a home semi, but there is no point resting players at this stage of the season, they should already have been rotated and be in prime shape for the run in.

I actually think that Connacht will win this one, they are a hard team to beat, they have been playing well in recent games, they will be soley focused on this the last game of the season, to put in a massive effort and give everything for Elwood to meet the targets he set them, before he departs.

Whereas teams like Cardiff Blues have finished their season and are wishing this one to end to start again next year, Connacht can still make reach the target they set, win this and thier season has been a success and they send Elwood away on a high.

Glasgow on the other hand should have enough to beat them, but may have one eye on the play offs, and will realise very quickly they will have to put everything into this game to win it.

Outside the Top 5, I think Connacht are the most Dangerous team left, with plenty left to play for, the others are just counting down the season. (I believe Munster would be easier to face this weekend).

Glasgow should pick their best XV and go for it from here on in. Momentum is key, and the players should not be fatigued after having a week off. Leinster are in excellent form and will hit the ground running, so no room for rustiness.

I don't think Glasgow should be worried about anything other than winning the next three games.

Agree fES - we have to go for it and hope other results go for us

WHATEVER IT TAKES

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Agree fES - we have to go for it and hope other results go for us

WHATEVER IT TAKES

+1

funnyExiledScot wrote:Glasgow should pick their best XV and go for it from here on in. Momentum is key, and the players should not be fatigued after having a week off. Leinster are in excellent form and will hit the ground running, so no room for rustiness.

I don't think Glasgow should be worried about anything other than winning the next three games.

+2

Whatever it takes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFAWjFVsGLc

We have got that thick, useless, feck Clancy again FFS !!!!!!!! What have we done to deserve this - the worst referee in the history of rugby union and we must have had to suffer him about 10 times this season

George Carlin wrote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFAWjFVsGLc

Awesome stuff GC - the guy is already a legend in the WE of Glasgow !

What a compilation. The step to take him past Tuilagi against England is phenomenal!

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:We have got that thick, useless, feck Clancy again FFS !!!!!!!! What have we done to deserve this - the worst referee in the history of rugby union and we must have had to suffer him about 10 times this season

No way do we deserve more Clownshoes?! What's he doing reffing an Irish team?

I looked aghast at the WITS (Welsh Invitational Touring Squad) and found myself getting really angry for Ryan Grant and to a lesser extent John Barclay and Big Al Kellock. Then I thought if I'm angry how must they feel? Take it onto the pitch on Friday and out on the Leinster team, who are totally to blame. I'll think of a reason later.

Owens is reffing Leinster/Spreys which seems weird for the same reasons.
Why couldn't we have had Nigel instead of that terrible little man?

Dear fellow Scots/Weegies/bandwagon-weegie-supporters-from-a-failing-MFL-side,

It has come to my attention that many of us feel aggrieved at our lack of representation on the Welsh, English and Irish tour to Australia and we are also feeling aggrieved with the Lions coaches hinting that Hogg was only there because Wilkinson said no AND we are also feeling aggrieved that some small few from the other nations feel the need to inform us we only deserve 3 players on the tour as players who are semi-retired/just back from injury/show pony forwards are superior to our own fit and on form Scotland players.

What I thus propose is that we bottle up our emotions for the now and vent it in support of Glasgows run to the pro12 final and feel like smug b*stards when we win it and in the process watch Ryan Grant destroy every single prop that comes his way, whether its Mike Ross at Leinster, Adam Jones at the Ospreys or anybody else who gets in the way of the charge to the final.

So no more griping, no more complaining, just pure bl*ody furious support for the Weegies!

WHATEVER IT TAKES

jimbopip wrote: I looked aghast at the WITS (Welsh Invitational Touring Squad) and found myself getting really angry for Ryan Grant and to a lesser extent John Barclay and Big Al Kellock. Then I thought if I'm angry how must they feel? Take it onto the pitch on Friday and out on the Leinster team, who are totally to blame. I'll think of a reason later.

being too pretty. just for starters.

Clownshoes.com:
http://origin.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/4270.php

Hmm. Strange. No footnote about him being a ludicrously rubbish referee.
And will you look at the fooking head on the feller.

jimbopip wrote: I looked aghast at the WITS (Welsh Invitational Touring Squad) and found myself getting really angry for Ryan Grant and to a lesser extent John Barclay and Big Al Kellock. Then I thought if I'm angry how must they feel? Take it onto the pitch on Friday and out on the Leinster team, who are totally to blame. I'll think of a reason later.

Al Kellock?? He isn't good enough to start for Scotland, let alone the Lions!

funnyExiledScot wrote:

jimbopip wrote: I looked aghast at the WITS (Welsh Invitational Touring Squad) and found myself getting really angry for Ryan Grant and to a lesser extent John Barclay and Big Al Kellock. Then I thought if I'm angry how must they feel? Take it onto the pitch on Friday and out on the Leinster team, who are totally to blame. I'll think of a reason later.

Al Kellock?? He isn't good enough to start for Scotland, let alone the Lions!

this

The Glasgow player with the biggest right to feel disappointed is Ryan Grant. Other than that I don't think there can be any complaints.

I think for Edinburgh Ross Rennie will be disappointed, not at being left out, but for his injury preventing him from showing what he can do in the 6 Nations. The other Edinburgh player who would have had an outside chance is Matt Scott, purely down to the lack of good options at 12, and his 6 Nations form. I personally wouldn't have picked Laidlaw or Visser.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

jimbopip wrote: I looked aghast at the WITS (Welsh Invitational Touring Squad) and found myself getting really angry for Ryan Grant and to a lesser extent John Barclay and Big Al Kellock. Then I thought if I'm angry how must they feel? Take it onto the pitch on Friday and out on the Leinster team, who are totally to blame. I'll think of a reason later.

Al Kellock?? He isn't good enough to start for Scotland, let alone the Lions!

Detail, dear boy, mere detail !!

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

jimbopip wrote: I looked aghast at the WITS (Welsh Invitational Touring Squad) and found myself getting really angry for Ryan Grant and to a lesser extent John Barclay and Big Al Kellock. Then I thought if I'm angry how must they feel? Take it onto the pitch on Friday and out on the Leinster team, who are totally to blame. I'll think of a reason later.

Al Kellock?? He isn't good enough to start for Scotland, let alone the Lions!

Detail, dear boy, mere detail !!

Perhaps he should have been captain....

I'll go further, Al Kellock isn't good enough to start for Glasgow.....

Really fES,

well he certainly duffed up the MFL lineout (twice) in December - right enough 2 wee girls from the local Brownie pack could have achieved that.

We play better with him in the side is all - call it captaincy. See how when Feckwit Robinson (i'd better watch out as Mrs Robinson, aka Imperial Bawbag, gets awful cranky when anyone dares criticise the Bath Bel1end!) dropped him in RWC11 it really went to ratshieze.

I just think Swinson and Ryder are both better allround players.

Hamilton and Gray are as well.

I agree in terms of play but he galvanises the team with his leadership and he is Mr Glasgow Warrior. I would take issue with you re Hamilton - lazy, penalty magnet with a bad temper.

WARRIORS - WHATEVER IT TAKES

BBC Scotland interview with Toonie :-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/scotland/22369781

funnyExiledScot wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

jimbopip wrote: I looked aghast at the WITS (Welsh Invitational Touring Squad) and found myself getting really angry for Ryan Grant and to a lesser extent John Barclay and Big Al Kellock. Then I thought if I'm angry how must they feel? Take it onto the pitch on Friday and out on the Leinster team, who are totally to blame. I'll think of a reason later.

Al Kellock?? He isn't good enough to start for Scotland, let alone the Lions!

Detail, dear boy, mere detail !!

Perhaps he should have been captain....

I'll go further, Al Kellock isn't good enough to start for Glasgow.....

I usually enjoy your posts, but I do think you're missing a couple of points here. On form Kellock has recently outplayed POC and AWJ + Ian Evans. (not single-handedly but as part of a mean, mean pack). Also Schiz is spot on, he is the kind of player who galvanizes his team mates. If the MFL had a similar player we would not be calling them MFL's. And don't get me started on Hines and Hamilton!!! I've got till June to get over it but at the moment Gatland is coaching the WITS. and it's getting on my.....

Aye Jimbo man - Gatland is one ugly wee bawbag

Only about 45% of the touring side are actually Welsh.
So I'll call them the Half-WITS.

Just to be clear Jimbo - I'd take Kellock at Edinburgh in a flash, don't get me wrong. This certainly isn't an Edinburgh vs Glasgow battle in the lock stakes, you win hands down. Swinson has probably made more tackles this season than all our locks combined.

I just happen to believe that Ryder and Swinson is your best pairing - frankly they do more - and that Hamilton, Swinson and Gray are the best locks available for Scotland.

I wouldn't bring Nathan Hines into the debate. There is no comparison between him and Kellcock, there really isn't. Kellock is to Scotland what Steve Borthwick is to England, and from a Glasgow perspective, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. I wish we had him at Murrayfield.

Kellock is a fine club player, and seemingly a passionate block. He shouts alot on the pitch, and is an able lineout operator.

However from a Lions perspective, it would need about 20 locks ahead of him to get injured before he'd tour.....

Looks like Toonie's been listening to you, fES:

Forwards: moray low, pat macarthur, Jon Welsh, Tim Swinson, ryder tom, Rob Harley, john barclay, ryan wilson (C)
Backs: Peter Murchie, tommy seymour, sean Lamont, Peter Horne, DTH VDM, ruaridh jackson, henrique Pyrgos

Subs: Doug Hall, ryan 'should'vebeeninthefrickinlions' grant, ed kalman, James Eddie, Josh Strauss, NikolaLeka Matawalu, Sean Maitland, Stuart W Hogg

At least somebody does!!

Welsh back from injury for this game, a few big names dropped to the bench so it looks like they are looking to keep players fresh for the playoffs in some cases, but with the option of bringing them on if necessary. Still a strong looking side though, testament to the current strength in depth. Dunbar has picked up a hip injury, fingers crossed for that being only minor.

15 Peter Murchie
14 Tommy Seymour
13 Sean Lamont
12 Peter Horne
11 DTH Van der Merwe
10 Ruaridh Jackson
9 Henry Pyrgos

1 Moray Low
2 Pat MacArthur
3 Jon Welsh
4 Tim Swinson
5 Tom Ryder
6 Rob Harley
7 John Barclay
8 Ryan Wilson (C)

16 Doug Hall
17 Ryan Grant
18 Ed Kalman
19 James Eddie
20 Josh Strauss
21 Niko Matawalu
22 Sean Maitland
23 Stuart Hogg

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Looks like Toonie's been listening to you, fES:

@GlasgowWarriors: Forwards v @connachtrugby: @moray_low @patmacarthur Jon Welsh @TimSwinson5 @ryder_tom Rob Harley @johnbarc86 @ryanwilson89 (C)
@GlasgowWarriors: Backs v @connachtrugby: Murchie @tommy_seymour14 Lamont, Horne @DTHVDM @ruaridh_jackson Pyrgos

@GlasgowWarriors: Subs v @connachtrugby: Doug Hall @ryangrant85 @therealedkalman @James_Eddie @JoshStrauss1 @NikolaLeka Sean Maitland @StuartWHOGG_15

At least somebody does!!

Well I always said Toonie was a great coach and a great appointment at Glasgow.....