Connacht v Saracens

Friday 11th October 2013, Kick-off 20:00

Connacht
15. Gavin Duffy, 14. Fionn Carr, 13. Robbie Henshaw, 12. James So'oialo, 11. Danie Poolman, 10. Dan Parks, 9. Kieran Marmion, 1. Brett Wilkinson, 2. Sean Henry, 3. Rodney Ah You, 4. Michael Swift (capt), 5. Craig Clarke, 6. John Muldoon, 7. Jake Heenan, 8. George Naoupu,
16. Jason Harris Wright, 17. Peter Reilly, 18. JP Cooney, 19. Ally Muldowney, 20. Andrew Browne, 21. Paul O'Donohoe, 22. Craig Ronaldson, 23. Tiernan O'Halloran,

Saracens
15. Alex Goode, 14. Chris Ashton, 13. Joel Tomkins, 12. Chris Wyles, 11. David Strettle, 10. Owen Farrell, 9. Neil de Kock, 1. Mako Vunipola, 2. Schalk Brits, 3. Matt Stevens, 4. Steve Borthwick (capt), 5. George Kruis, 6. Kelly Brown, 7. Will Fraser, 8. Billy Vunipola,
16. Jamie George, 17. Rhys Gill, 18. James Johnston, 19. Alistair Hargreaves, 20. Ernst Joubert, 21. Richard Wigglesworth, 22. Duncan Taylor, 23. Michael Tagicakibau,


Paul Hackford make Saracens his favourites for the title, so come on Connacht

I just hope Connacht can competitive. They already have a big issue with players out injured, so hopefully no more injuries.

Farrell always plays better with De Kock inside him.............

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Farrell always plays better with De Kock inside him.............

 

...

  

Good try by Marmion 14-10 SAracens.

C'mon Connacht.

Last 2 penalties against Connacht very questionnable to say the least.

Try Poolman.

17-17.

Great spirit.

Evening Everyone

Good match this, Sarries pretty on top of everything in first 20 but credit to Connacht they have stuck at it never given up and are right back in it now....... good stuff both teams

17 all at ht.

Parks missed pen just before ht to put Connacht ahead.

That's was bloody close by Parks.....

Can't believe how well Connacht are doing. But I do fear that Sarries will pull away 55-60 mins in.

I agree LeinsterFan, and its not just dogged defence, they are playing an exciting offensive running game that's got Sarries worried.

Great, cant watch second half, got to dash.

Be amazing if Connacht can pull this off.

Like Leinsterfan says, think Sarries will be to strong near the end.

Second half kicked off yet?

17-20 Saracens by the looks of it...

Can't believe how competitive Connacht were. Very impressed.

Is it FT now?

17-23 Saracens?

Sounds condescending, but that's a hell of a result for Connacht - it shows they're nobody's fools, and certainly not begging for scraps at the Euro table.

That's the spirit, Connacht's fans can be very very proud of these guys.

Its all the more impressive when you consider how many players they were missing through injury.

Well done Connacht, what a performance by the the sounds of it  

Well done Connacht for once again hitting harder than you're expected to - again.

What a performance from Ah You, carried and scrummaged very well.

Parks missed a very important kick just before half time.

These new scrum rules seem to suit Ah You. He was terrible in the scrum the past few seasons. Connacht are being rewarded for being very faithful to him.

Oh Wow! Nearly a heroic result. Connacht attacking the line at the end.

Beshocked must have had to change his cacks several times.

How about a bit of respect for Connacht now?

Not sure why everyone is harking on about plucky old Connaught. They LOST at home which has ruled them out of qualifying from their group.

wrfc1980 wrote:Not sure why everyone is harking on about plucky old Connaught. They LOST at home which has ruled them out of qualifying from their group.

You expected Connacht to slay Saracens?

wrfc1980 wrote:Not sure why everyone is harking on about plucky old Connaught. They LOST at home which has ruled them out of qualifying from their group.

Did you watch the game? Everyone expected a drubbing, Saracens haven't had a game this close this season yet, Connacht were a few cm away from sneaking it and they were playing their 3rd choice TH (though i'm not sure the other 2 would have done better).

wrfc1980 wrote:Not sure why everyone is harking on about plucky old Connaught. They LOST at home which has ruled them out of qualifying from their group.

I suppose you are right. Basement Rabo club should be disappointed missing out to the recent champs of an inferior league.

ps Connacht didn't rest 11 players last week.

Just pointing out that every team in the hk should fancy winning heir home games. Connaught lost so already blown their chances. The fact that people are talking about how well they did jut shows the problem with the hk. There are teams involved that have NO chance of qualification from their group. Zebra and Connaught have highlighted this tonight.

I though the object of the game was to WIN not be gallant losers.

wrfc1980 wrote:Just pointing out that every team in the hk should fancy winning heir home games. Connaught lost so already blown their chances. The fact that people are talking about how well they did jut shows the problem with the hk. There are teams involved that have NO chance of qualification from their group. Zebra and Connaught have highlighted this tonight.

Ah! You were watching a London hotel team. I see where the confusion comes in.

wrfc1980 wrote:I though the object of the game was to WIN not be gallant losers.

Please tell us who you support.

wrfc1980 wrote:Just pointing out that every team in the hk should fancy winning heir home games. Connaught lost so already blown their chances. The fact that people are talking about how well they did jut shows the problem with the hk. There are teams involved that have NO chance of qualification from their group. Zebra and Connaught have highlighted this tonight.

Yet Connacht can beat anybody at home as Quins fans can attest.

wrfc1980 wrote:Just pointing out that every team in the hk should fancy winning heir home games. Connaught lost so already blown their chances. The fact that people are talking about how well they did jut shows the problem with the hk. There are teams involved that have NO chance of qualification from their group. Zebra and Connaught have highlighted this tonight.

What complete bullshythe, wrfc.  Maybe its simply the shock that has you trying to pick needless needles out of a haystack.  Connacht - second last in our league, put it up to rampant AP top leaguers.  Your slipping and sliding doesn't change that.

Good luck to Saracens, congratulation and I'm sure their players and coach will be a little bit more realistic about Connacht's merits on the night than your attempts.

Also its Zebre, Not Zebra.

I didn't see any black and white 4 legged  animals running round The Sportsground.

What a signing Jake Heenan is. Have seen him against Ulster, Treviso and Saracens, he is just about the best openside i have seen this season yet.

How bad must London Irish and Harlequins be as Saracens beat both of them by more than Connacht away? How on earth do Harlequins justify inclusion in the elite European competition?

The Great Aukster wrote:How bad must London Irish and Harlequins be as Saracens beat both of them by more than Connacht away? How on earth do Harlequins justify inclusion in the elite European competition?

Put that question to beshocked when next you see him, Aukster. He's sure to have an interestingly complex theory.

Saracens struggling to put away a Connacht side who have lost five on the bounce and have an injury list as long as your arm- better pick their game up if they want to sell some shirts in Dubai or Cape Town.

Not exactly convincing anyone the English clubs are indispensable to European rugby.

wrfc1980 wrote:Just pointing out that every team in the hk should fancy winning heir home games. Connaught lost so already blown their chances. The fact that people are talking about how well they did jut shows the problem with the hk. There are teams involved that have NO chance of qualification from their group. Zebra and Connaught have highlighted this tonight.

 
Who the hell are they? some sort of rugby league outfits?

Great work by Connacht. Unlike them to let the game slip at home. Saracens were very lucky there.

Well done for losing Connacht. Ha ha ha.       

Just watced the recording there. It took some last ditch defending and one great tackle in particular to deny Connacht who where camped on the Saracens line in the last 2 or 3 min.


Kieran Marmion was the official MOTM despite being on the losing team. He was very good and capped it off by scoring a fine try.

wrfc1980 wrote:Just pointing out that every team in the hk should fancy winning heir home games. Connaught lost so already blown their chances. The fact that people are talking about how well they did jut shows the problem with the hk. There are teams involved that have NO chance of qualification from their group. Zebra and Connaught have highlighted this tonight.

It's a real shame 'wuss' can't win anything in the 'hk' too though... But I guess you'll just continue to coat-tail any team you see fit anyway, so...  

Hope you enjoy ND1 next season.       

The Great Aukster wrote:How bad must London Irish and Harlequins be as Saracens beat both of them by more than Connacht away? How on earth do Harlequins justify inclusion in the elite European competition?

What a dull posting. Scorelines between teams mean nothing. The fact of the matter posters are raving about Connaught as if they won, they didn't, they lost. They are unlickly to win a game. Sarries are almost guaranteed a place in the quarters even if they don't win the group as a best placed runner up due to he weakness of Connaught. It's the same with zebra. How's that fair to the other groups who know unless they finish top they are out as the 2nd place runner up spots were sown up when the draw was made? Don't get me wrong Connaught played well a I was good to see it go down to he wire. However they LOST! This thread reminds me of the one on zebra where they have been applauded for winning ONE game in the rabbo out of 27 attempts!

wrfc1980 wrote:Scorelines between teams mean nothing.

... interesting post. I take it you disagree with the LBP, but if the scoreline means nothing how do you determine who wins?