Connacht Rugby v Glasgow Warriors, 2 November

Connacht Rugby v Glasgow Warriors
 
Saturday 2 November 2013, KO 17:00
The Sportsground, Galway
 
Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU, 55th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Leo Colgan, Ken Imbusch (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Denis Templeton (IRFU)
 
Not televised
 
A. Teams:
 
I. Connacht

15. Gavin Duffy
14. Fionn Carr
13. Darragh Leader
12. Dave McSharry
11. Matt Healy
10. Dan Parks
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Brett Wilkinson
2. Jason Harris-Wright
3. Rodney Ah You
4. Michael Swift (captain)
5. Craig Clarke
6. Mata Fifita
7. Jake Heenan
8. George Naoupu

16. Dave Heffernan
17. JP Cooney
18. Nathan White
19. Aly Muldowney
20. Mick Kearney
21. Paul O'Donohoe
22. Craig Ronaldson
23. Tiernan O'Halloran
 
II. Glasgow

15. Niko Matawalu
14. Byron McGuigan
13. Mark Bennett
12. Gabriel Ascarate
11. DTH van der Merwe
10. Duncan Weir
9. Chris Cusiter (Captain)

1. Gordon Reid
2. Dougie Hall
3. Jon Welsh
4. Tom Ryder
5. Jonny Gray
6. Rob Harley
7. Chris Fusaro
8. Josh Strauss

16. Fraser Brown
17. Moray Low
18. Ed Kalman
19. Richie Vernon
20. Leone Nakarawa
21. Tyrone Holmes
22. Scott Wight
23. Finn Russell
 
B. Form - head to head
 
22 Played 22
7 Wins 12
12 Losses 7
3 Draws 3
41 Tries 55
29 Conversions 38
44 Penalties 47
5 Drop Goals 2
410 Points 498
25 Avg. Age 25
 
C. Form - last season:
 
Friday 21 September 2012, 19:35 - Scotstoun  
Glasgow Warriors 27 - 17 Connacht Rugby
 
Friday 3 May 2013  19:45 - Sportsground
Connacht Rugby 3 - 20 Glasgow Warriors
 
D. Parliamo Glasgow:
 
Alphabetty Spaghetti - D.T.H. van der Merwe, wing
Angel - Gabriel Ascarate, centre
Angela - Jon Welsh, prop
Barry - Byron McGuigan, wing
Big Boab - (see Ginger Tackle Monster, the)
Big Mike - (see Coo, the)
Big Naka - Leone Nakarawa, lock/loosie
Bluto - Josh Strauss, loosie/no.8
Centre, the - (see Lesser Messiah, the)
Coo, the - Michael Cusack, prop
Cooseetah - (see Cus)
Cus - Chris Cusiter, scrum half
DTH - (see Alphabetty Spaghetti)
Flippy - (see Toonie)
Fozzy - Christopher Fusaro, loosie
Furra Lineeeee - Peter Horne, centre
Ginger Tackle Monster, the - Rob Harley, loosie
Guns - Tim Swinson, lock
Henners - Henry Pyrgos, scrum half
Hoggy - Stuart Hogg, full back/wing/centre
Ickle Jon - Jonny Gray, lock
Jedi - James Eddie, loosie
Lesser Messiah, the - Richie Vernon, loosie/no.8
Mark of Nazareth - (see Messiah, the)
Meatball, the - Duncan Weir, fly half
Messiah, the/ - Mark Bennett, centre
Niko - Nikola Matawalu, scrum half
Niko's Mate - Jerry Yanuyanutawa, prop
No Maits - Sean Maitland, wing
Rhubarb - Ruaridh Jackson, fly half
Ruck Inspector, the - Alastair Kellock, lock
Schlong - Sean Lamont, centre/wing
Sherlock - Tyrone Holmes, loosie
Shrek - Gordon Reid, prop
Toonie - Gregor Peter John Townsend MBE, head coach
Wee P - Pat MacArthur, hooker
Weegie from Fiji, the - (see Niko)

E. Team representatives this week - actors:

Connacht - Peter Seamus O'Toole, born in Connemara, County Galway
Glasgow - Robert Carlyle, born in Maryhill, Glasgow

Need Kellock back very badly after the shambles on Friday -his leadership and good sensible captaincy was glaringly absent.  Also if Dunbar not fit play Jackson at 12.   McGuigan - not alone amongst the backs- was also poor so need Tommy Seymour back.  The big Fijian lock (Big Naka ?)   has served his sentence for going awol to the Fijian Army (he played 2 matches for them in Fiji apparently)so start him and Kellock.   Swinson must need a rest. Gray to bench.  Strauss needs a rest (reasonable on Friday tbh) so give Vernon a chance.   Front row - anyone's guess tbh.

A tricky fixture to be sure. Connacht have been improving and The Weege could be forgiven for being slightly shell shocked at the moment. I would ring a few changes for this one.
1. Jerry
2.Hall
3. Shrek
4. Ryder/Naka (share the game)
5. Big Al
6.Jedi
7.Fozzie
8.Richie Vee (fast back row to harass Dan P)
9. Henry/ Jerevic (who needs game time pre AI's)
10. Ruaridh
11. DTH
12. Angel
13. Barry
14. Seymour
15 No Maits.
Bench; Low, WeePee, Kalman, Naka, Jerevic, Messiah, Schlong, Meatball.
12-13 seems to be a problem for us this season so the sooner Dunbar is back the better. perhaps Ruaridh there with Meatball at 10 might work in the short term?

Play nice here lads...remember now, no biting ....

Well, at least Connacht will now be able to open up their creativity more given they'll be playing against a side that "wants to play rugby" for a change.

We seem to have a Scottish referee? Why does this happen? Surely they can toggle the fixtures so that a neutral referee takes charge of each game?

Glasgow need to get back on track with this fixture and register a win. It's going to be tough over there, but Glasgow should have enough to edge it.

As Schiz points out, there are a couple of players who probably need a rest (Swinson and Struass) so time for some members of the squad to step up.

I really want Seymour to start at 14, he needs a chance to further his claim to start for Scotland, and similarly I'd like Fusaro starting at 7.

How many Scotland players will be released back?  Everyone outside of the XXIII that will play Japan, or will more than that number be retained?  Connacht are unlikely to lose any, so expect a full strength oppo, and no doubt the usual blustering gale/storm that is provided for visitors to the wesht!

Leaders were sorely missing on Friday evening, so that must be the priority, to ensure that any early setbacks do not lead to confidence dropping and further points shipped.  Kellock and Ryder must start in the boilerhouse for me, and time for the likes of Vernon and others to step forward and claim the shirt - this will be their chance with so many players away

Out of interest, has Dan Parks played against Glasgow since leaving?

George Carlin wrote:We seem to have a Scottish referee? Why does this happen? Surely they can toggle the fixtures so that a neutral referee takes charge of each game?

The Welsh and Irish got tired of having to put up with a Scottish Ref evertime they played against each other, that the ruling about neutral refs got ditched, so that the Scottish sides had to deal with it too. After all it isn't fair that only the Welsh and Irish had to put up with them  

Touché, sir.

Manky-Flanker wrote:Out of interest, has Dan Parks played against Glasgow since leaving?

Yes last season in Galway. He even managed to miss a penalty  

Alright folks, I'm doing Movember again this year, so please donate: http://mobro.co/IanBru

(don't worry I will get steadily more abusive as we near 30 November).

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

George Carlin wrote:We seem to have a Scottish referee? Why does this happen? Surely they can toggle the fixtures so that a neutral referee takes charge of each game?

The Welsh and Irish got tired of having to put up with a Scottish Ref evertime they played against each other, that the ruling about neutral refs got ditched, so that the Scottish sides had to deal with it too.  After all it isn't fair that only the Welsh and Irish had to put up with them  

Owtch, Spidey  

Didn't realise the reputation was that bad. We tend to use Clownshoes or The Gibbon as a benchmark for erratic decision making.

Glasgow Warriors team to play Connacht in the RaboDirect PRO12, Scotstoun Stadium, Saturday 2 November (kick-off 5pm):

15. Niko Matawalu
14. Byron McGuigan
13. Mark Bennett
12. Gabriel Ascarate
11. DTH van der Merwe
10. Duncan Weir
9. Chris Cusiter (Captain)
1. Gordon Reid
2. Dougie Hall
3. Jon Welsh
4. Tom Ryder
5. Jonny Gray
6. Rob Harley
7. Chris Fusaro
8. Josh Strauss

16. Fraser Brown
17. Moray Low
18. Ed Kalman
19. Richie Vernon
20. Leone Nakarawa
21. Tyrone Holmes
22. Scott Wight
23. Finn Russell

Not available due to injury: Mike Cusack (shoulder), Alex Dunbar (neck/shoulder), Finlay Gillies (hamstring), Stuart Hogg (wrist), Peter Horne (knee), Peter Murchie (shoulder) and Ryan Wilson (shoulder).

By the way, that sound you hear is the bottom of the barrel being furiously scraped by Toonie.

Team's up.
15 Niko...yes the FijianWeegian is at 15
14 Barry
13  
12 Ascarate
11 DTH.. slightly surprised as he has just become a father, congrats.
10 Meatball
9 Cooseater (Does this mean that it's Laidlaw & Ruaridh for Japan?)
8 Bluto
7 Fozzie
6 Tackle Monster
5 Gray.. so no debut v Japan?
4 Ryder ... good to see him back, Swinson rested for Japan?
3 Angela
2 Hall
1 Shrek.. Grant rested?
subs
16 Brown..WeePee to start v wee Nipponese?
17 Low
18 Kalman
19 Vernon
20 Nakarawa
21 Holmes
22 Wight
23 Russell
Initial response... only two backs on the bench! Wight:shock: and Russell. Let's hope no-one pulls up lame. Niko at 15 is only slightly strange, mind you if Dan Parks looks to kick everything then it could be interesting. No Tommy Seymour or NoMaits in the back three which may tell us something about SJ's plans for next week, but then again... Behind the scrum the celestial pairing need to shine. I can see this pairing playing together for the next month and to a certain extent our Pro12 title chances could depend upon how well they do.
If we get our noses in front and Connacht start chasing the game the introduction of Richie Vee and Niko's other mate make for a harum scarum game of sevens type rugby. However, if DP keeps the scoreboard ticking over, we lose two backs to injury and constantly find ourselves starting play in our 22... it could be a very long and frustrating night.Especially without Big Al's leadership. 
Grant
WeePee
Swinson Big Al
Henners
Ruaridh
NoMaits
Schlong
Seymour
How many of these will be in the 23 V Japan?

Slightly imbalanced selection, and the bench looks odd, but the XV looks strong. Matawalu at 15 is certainly bold and innovative, he could be really dangerous running from that position. I'd be worried about him under the high ball mind!

I'd be very interested in seeing Finn Russell off the bench. Plenty hype.

Think Glasgow should win this one.

Connacht haven't been going as well as hoped so far this year with only wins over Zebre, however they have been close to beating Saracens and Leinster in the last few games.

I don't think they are far off the pace, Glasgow are the with most internationals now, and these breaks will effect them more than most, therefore I see it as a real possibility that Connacht could pull off a win.

Think Glasgow should win, but a Connacht win would not be a shock.

Niko Matawalu at fullback is a strange one, as Connacht do like to play a kick and chase game with the wingers following up very quickly.

Connacht also have home advantage, if they put out their strongest team, this could be a very close game, and I may even be so bold as to say glasgow favourites but will go for a connacht win

I agree with that Kingshu - this will be no walk in the park for Glasgow at all, and with Matawalu at 15 they are taking a gamble, no question. Any injuries in the backs, other than at 10, will mean someone playing out of position. This will be pretty close I think, although when I look at the Glasgow forwards I do think they'll have enough to see it through.

Saw IanBru mention movember earlier in this thread. And on that very subject anyone see what Strauss has done? https://twitter.com/espnscrum/status/396216147386695680 Now technically it's cheating, but damn it's impressive!  

Also Matawalu at fullback???
Bold call, no doubt Desperate Dan is planning an areal bombardment for tonight.

Think Glasgow will struggle to be honest.

I think Niko has played 15 for Fiji before, but its still a big call. Although I suppose with 4 full back options out, we don't have too much choice.

Connacht line-up v Glasgow

15. Gavin Duffy
14. Fionn Carr
13. Darragh Leader
12. Dave McSharry
11. Matt Healy
10. Dan Parks
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Brett Wilkinson
2. Jason Harris-Wright
3. Rodney Ah You
4. Michael Swift (captain)
5. Craig Clarke
6. Mata Fifita
7. Jake Heenan
8. George Naoupu

Replacements:

16. Dave Heffernan
17. JP Cooney
18. Nathan White
19. Aly Muldowney
20. Mick Kearney
21. Paul O’Donohoe
22. Craig Ronaldson
23. Tiernan O’Halloran

Unavailable/Injured: Andrew Browne, Aaron Conneely, Willie Faloon, Conor Finn, Eoin Griffin, Sean Henry, Robbie Henshaw, Eoin McKeon, John Muldoon, Miah Nikora, Rory Parata, Danie Poolman, Peter Reilly, and Kyle Tonetti


The Connacht team to face Glasgow Warriors in Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash at the Sportsground (KO: 5pm) has been named. There are four changes to the starting XV that lined out at the RDS last weekend.

Dave McSharry returns to the fray for his first start in ten months and is named at inside centre. The 23-year-old marked his return from injury last month by coming on as a replacement in the 33-6 Heineken Cup victory over Zebre.

Joining McSharry in the centre is 20-year-old Darragh Leader who made his first senior appearance away to Ospreys last season. The utility back has impressed the management through his performances in training and with the Connacht Eagles.

Connacht’s leading try scorer Fionn Carr is named on the right wing in a back three featuring Gavin Duffy and Matt Healy.

Up front, Jason Harris-Wright will start as hooker in his 25th appearance for the province.

The replacements bench includes veteran Tighthead Prop Nathan White who returns after a three-week absence due to injury. Mick Kearney is also included in the match day squad and could earn his first appearance of the season.

Head Coach Pat Lam commented on the team selection and the upcoming game:

“I’m delighted to be able to give Dave McSharry a start after a long road to recovery for him. And with our regular outside centres unavailable, young Academy back Darragh Leader gets a chance to start which we’re all looking forward to.

“Once again, it’s been a disruptive week with more players being added to our ever growing injury list. Losing Sean Henry, Andrew Browne, Aaron Conneely, and Danie Poolman to injury and Robbie Henshaw to Ireland camp has meant that we’ve had to dig deep as a group.

“On a positive note, it’s a big boost to have Jason and Nathan back in the squad. We’ve been really pleased with the form of our props Rodney and Brett in the last number of weeks and so they’ll start again tomorrow with Nathan on the bench.

“Glasgow are at the top end of the table and are a team who have been consistently improving the last number of years. I witnessed their last visit in May when I had first arrived here. They were an impressive outfit and very clinical in beating us. They are one of the best defensive outfits in the competition and will punish any errors.

“But we have been building and building on the performances and fight of the last few weeks and are really looking forward to this clash.”

George Carlin wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

George Carlin wrote:We seem to have a Scottish referee? Why does this happen? Surely they can toggle the fixtures so that a neutral referee takes charge of each game?

The Welsh and Irish got tired of having to put up with a Scottish Ref evertime they played against each other, that the ruling about neutral refs got ditched, so that the Scottish sides had to deal with it too.  After all it isn't fair that only the Welsh and Irish had to put up with them  

Owtch, Spidey  

Didn't realise the reputation was that bad. We tend to use Clownshoes or The Gibbon as a benchmark for erratic decision making.

That was back in the days of Malcom and David Changleng, and the muppet that gave a pen to the Ospreys (Vrs Connacht?) for the opposition taking too long to take a drop 22m which won them the game.

Niko at fullback could pay off quite well, he is lethal with ball in hand, and at fullback he could/should get a fair bit of ball, and in broken feild. I have a feeling that hte gamble could pay off.

He's lethal with those gnashers too...

Is this game being broadcast anywhere?

OP updated. Still a bit bummed this isn't on TV.

Shrek starts because, well, frankly our Rodney is one of the worst scrummagers I've ever seen and playing Grant is unnecessary. Connacht will need White on standby to take over at tighthead.

Niko at 15 is a glorious experiment - no tactical kicking for him. Very good looking Connacht backline with McSharry back, so we cannot be too complacent.

Gray and Ryder is a brutally large boiler house and with our standard issue loose forward trio, I expect to kick some arse.

The unspoken issue so far this season is that we were knocking out the try bonus point wins for fun last year (setting a record for consecutive achievements to this end in the process). This season we are struggling for tries a little and that's why we're currently in third despite just having lost the one game.

We need to get back on track.

George Carlin wrote:.

The unspoken issue so far this season is that we were knocking out the try bonus point wins for fun last year (setting a record for consecutive achievements to this end in the process). This season we are struggling for tries a little and that's why we're currently in third despite just having lost the one game.

We need to get back on track.

Shows how important Peter Horne was. Its obviosuly not all down to him, but he was a big part of backline last year.

Also we have had not consistency in the backs this year. When we were on our run, Dunbar/Horne were a great comobo.

For numerous reasons our key backs have just not got going this year, Hogg, DTH and Maitland have not contributed enough. Murchie has also been missed.

WTF is all this about :-

http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/top-stories/scotland-rugby-players-investigated-over-assault-1-3169317

     

Rugby players should be banned from loitering outside chipshops duing a playing season.... more dangerous than dabbling PEDs it seems.

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:WTF is all this about :-

http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/top-stories/scotland-rugby-players-investigated-over-assault-1-3169317

     

Today's lesson is that you should never jump the queue in a Glaswegian chip shop after the pubs are out.

really George it is a truth universally acknowledged that a Glaswegian in possession of a skinfu must be in want of a rammy. Chippy or no chippy.

I miss those days of 14 pints of Guinness, chips and cheese (that's how we roll in Ayrshire, mo'fos), a stagger home and I would still have a 32' waist.

George Carlin wrote:I miss those days of 14 pints of Guinness, chips and cheese (that's how we roll in Ayrshire, mo'fos), a stagger home and I would still have a 32' waist.

I've still got a 32' waist, it's just underneath the other one.

Few things about this story (or non-story being the Hootsman) :-

1.   There is way too much detail - victim dressed as Tweedledum; Viper; etc etc
2.   This is the sort of thing that would automatically appear in the Daily Ret*rd and did not.

Something stinks to high heaven about this !

Holy bad omens, Batman. Just read that we have only won 4 out of the past 11 at the Sportsground.

Mind you, I also read that Niko played 2 out of the 3 tests for Fiji in the Asian cup in the summer at full back. And they won that tournament.

Dorothy_Mantooth wrote:

George Carlin wrote:.

The unspoken issue so far this season is that we were knocking out the try bonus point wins for fun last year (setting a record for consecutive achievements to this end in the process). This season we are struggling for tries a little and that's why we're currently in third despite just having lost the one game.

We need to get back on track.

Shows how important Peter Horne was.  Its obviosuly not all down to him, but he was a big part of backline last year.  

Also we have had not consistency in the backs this year.  When we were on our run, Dunbar/Horne were a great comobo.  

For numerous reasons our key backs have just not got going this year, Hogg, DTH and Maitland have not contributed enough.  Murchie has also been missed.

others have been the issue I think - not the back three themselves but they have not got the ball

Update from The Hootsman:-
http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/top-stories/scotland-rugby-players-in-assault-inquiry-1-3169317

So Maitland, Grant and Wilson were present - presumably with many others. Who is feeding this rubbish to the Hootsman and why ?

Not even a radio link nor an irish TV one?

Warriors score from their first attack. 7-0

Parks penalty 7-3

Hi folks, new to the forum which I stumbled upon in my attempts to find coverage of this game online. Found coverage on Galway Bay FM958 but as I've just joined can't post the link, quite easy to find though, game sounds a bit scrappy so far.

Meatball pen 10-3

fairly simple. www.galwaybayfm.ie

Couttsy87 wrote:Hi folks, new to the forum which I stumbled upon in my attempts to find coverage of this game online. Found coverage on Galway Bay FM958 but as I've just joined can't post the link, quite easy to find though, game sounds a bit scrappy so far.

Welcome Couttsy - plenty of solid craic on these boards and a knowledgeable crowd so keep posting and you'll have a good time.

You also get the fastest match updates from these comments - the seconf quickest probably being the official website: http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchdaylive

As above 13-3

try the radio stream lads. far more realtime than the rabo site.

Even if the 2 commentators spend most of the time talking sh1te