Connacht V Edinburgh

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Connacht V Edinburgh

At Sportsground, 7.35pm
Live on TG4 Deferred on BBC Alba (being shown 'live' after the Glasgow game at 9:30pm)

Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU, 47th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Andy Brice, Olly Hodges (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Gordon Black (IRFU)
TMO: Dermot Moloney (IRFU)

Previous meetings

12/9/14 Edinburgh Rugby 13 - 14 Connacht Rugby 3,777
15/2/14 Connacht Rugby 11 - 7 Edinburgh Rugby 4,038
29/11/13 Edinburgh Rugby 43 - 10 Connacht Rugby 3,515

Form

1/1/15 Connacht 24 - 16 Munster 7,745
26/12/14 Ulster 13 - 10 Connacht 17,107
19/12/14 Leinster 21 - 11 Connacht 16,007

2/1/15 Edinburgh 20 - 8 Glasgow 15,810  
27/12/14 Glasgow 16 - 6 Edinburgh 6,945
19/12/14 Edinburgh 48 - 0 Treviso 2,768

Official blurb

Pro 12 website wrote:Connacht 's two game losing run in the Guinness PRO12 ended with their momentous victory over Munster on New Year's day.

Connacht have won their last five games in all tournaments at the Sportsground and are unbeaten there in all eight games this season.  

Edinburgh Rugby's only defeat in their last five fixtures in all competitions came at Glasgow Warriors in the first leg of the 1872 Cup clash. Edinburgh's only victory on the road in their last nine away games in the PRO12 came when they visited Munster on the opening round this season - their only victory over an Irish province since December 2013.

Connacht have won three of their last four encounters with Edinburgh and, following their 14-13 victory at Murrayfield in round 2, they are seeking a first ever league double over the Scotsmen. Edinburgh's only victory in Galway in their last five visits since 2008 was 24-23 in December 2012.

Teams

Connacht

15. Mils Muliaina
14. Darragh Leader
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Danie Poolman
10. Miah Nikora
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Denis Buckley
2. Tom McCartney
3. Rodney Ah You
4. Quinn Roux
5. Aly Muldowney
6. John Muldoon (captain)
7. Willie Faloon
8. Eoin McKeon

Replacements:

16. Dave Heffernan
17. Ronan Loughney
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Ultan Dillane
20. George Naoupu
21. John Cooney
22. Jack Carty
23. Dave McSharry


Edinburgh

15 Jack CUTHBERT
14 Dougie FIFE
13 Matt SCOTT
12 Phil BURLEIGH
11 Tim VISSER
10 Greig TONKS
9 Sam HIDALGO-CLYNE

1 Alasdair DICKINSON
2 Ross FORD (Captain)
3 WP NEL
4 Anton BRESLER
5 Ben TOOLIS
6 Roddy GRANT
7 Hamish WATSON
8 David DENTON

Substitutes
16 Neil COCHRANE
17 Rory SUTHERLAND
18 John ANDRESS
19 Fraser McKENZIE
20 Tomas LEONARDI
21 Sean KENNEDY
22 Jade TE RURE
23 Andries STRAUSS

Spoiler alert...









We won!!!

Real dogged display - dominated the scrums and great defence and physicality. Credit to H-C for kicking his goals in tough conditions too.


Huge result!

Amazing, thats a massive result!

Frustrating thing is we bossed possession and territory, and had plenty chances in their 22, so really could have won by more.

Still - what a result!

That's probably our best result of the season. This team are growing.

BELIEVE

Attempting some multi-tasking highlights viewing at the moment, but how did Watson play? And did Burleigh do enough to save us from Strauss a bit longer?

Couldn't comment on individuals cause I had it on my laptop while watching the Glasgow game - worth watching on alba.

I've just watched the first half. Battling performance in dreadful conditions. Difficult to single out individuals, but Watson has been busy, as has Dougie Fife. Toolis is also having a good game despite his yellow card. Hidalgo-Clyne is starting to boss things more.

Didn't see the game but well done Edinburgh.
Puts you on a bit of a run against good teams may be a corner. Makes the 6th spot now a 3/4 horse race depending on Cardiff

Did anyone see how Robbie Henshaw played?

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Did anyone see how Robbie Henshaw played?

The weather was so bad that it would be unfair to rate how the backs got on.

Farndale just said he hopes to be back next week. Expected him to be out for the whole season. Cant see him getting much if any gametime with Edinburgh, but hopefully he gets some good gametime in prem1 and puts his hand up. Crazy to think he made his debut for us almost 3 years ago and has hardly been seen since...

It's a shame we don't have a pro 12 game for over a month now - we've built up a mini head of steam these last few games.

Ospreys at home next mid February - certainly winnable!

Also just noticed we only used two subs - when he you ever seen that, not least in such energy sapping conditions?

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:Attempting some multi-tasking highlights viewing at the moment, but how did Watson play? And did Burleigh do enough to save us from Strauss a bit longer?

Watson - decent game 7. Burleigh - more than a decent game 8. toolis did well as well stole a couple of lineouts. Really good win for edinburgh. Starting to look like a team

Just watched 2nd half. Toolis and Breaker were excellent. We managed the game well too. Some great little chips and kicks from Tonks and Burleigh.

Great effort!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Also just noticed we only used two subs - when he you ever seen that, not least in such energy sapping conditions?

Slightly concerning considering that Solomans lack of using subs and rotating the team throughout last season resulted in that disgraceful run in where the players were blowing out their erses by March.

Sam's looking like a more than adequate replacement for wee Greig.

I also noticed he was listening in to the line out calls again.

des wrote:Sam's looking like a more than adequate replacement for wee Greig.

I also noticed he was listening in to the line out calls again.

Hes a proper wee sneaky d!ck. I love it!

Aye but only on the field. He's a genuine gent off it. Definitely the nicest professional sports person I've ever met.

Imperialbigdave wrote:

des wrote:Sam's looking like a more than adequate replacement for wee Greig.

I also noticed he was listening in to the line out calls again.

Hes a proper wee sneaky d!ck. I love it!

He certainly has that "annoying little git you wouldn't tire of slapping" air about him. Especially with his matinee idol looks. git!

Imperialbigdave wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Also just noticed we only used two subs - when he you ever seen that, not least in such energy sapping conditions?

Slightly concerning considering that Solomans lack of using subs and rotating the team throughout last season resulted in that disgraceful run in where the players were blowing out their erses by March.

Absolutely - especially in the front row and with Denton - they're going to be playing a lot of rugby

Just watched the game fully having only had it on in the background last night. A few points:

Another excellent display from the forwards. Front row dominated, toolis lept like a salmon at the lineouts, bresler was very physical, Grant and Watson were a pain in the arse around the contact area and Denton threw himself about.

What is also pleasing is we now have clever rugby players in the backs - H-C, Tonks, Burleigh and Scott all have a good rugby brain and all have a good kicking game. We need to stick with them as much as possible.

There's absolutely no reason to pick Strauss whatsoever!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Just watched the game fully having only had it on in the background last night. A few points:

Another excellent display from the forwards. Front row dominated, toolis lept like a salmon at the lineouts, bresler was very physical, Grant and Watson were a pain in the arse around the contact area and Denton threw himself about.

What is also pleasing is we now have clever rugby players in the backs - H-C, Tonks, Burleigh and Scott all have a good rugby brain and all have a good kicking game. We need to stick with them as much as possible.

There's absolutely no reason to pick Strauss whatsoever!

Nor Coman too!

Bresler has really come into his own of late, i trusted Biltong when he said he was a big improvement over van der Westhuizen, he is delivering. Gilchrist will have his work cut off getting into that team!
Dickinson has been scrummaging like a monster, he destroyed their number 18 like there is no tomorrow.

http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/match/233351.html

30 tackles from Dickinson (!!!), if there was any doubt he is the best loosie in Scotland, there isn't now! 210 tackles from Edinburgh only 8 missed which are some amazing numbers.

VinceWLB wrote:http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/match/233351.html

30 tackles from Dickinson (!!!), if there was any doubt he is the best loosie in Scotland, there isn't now! 210 tackles from Edinburgh only 8 missed which are some amazing numbers.

If that's true surely it is some kind of record??

Massive number of tackles throughout the team.

Looking at the passed and kicked stats, Connacht had completely the wrong game plan.  I know we usually criticise our negative tactics but they definitely tried to play too much rugby.  

I've a feeling we might struggle when the weather starts to improve though.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/match/233351.html

30 tackles from Dickinson (!!!), if there was any doubt he is the best loosie in Scotland, there isn't now! 210 tackles from Edinburgh only 8 missed which are some amazing numbers.

If that's true surely it is some kind of record??

Massive number of tackles throughout the team.

I will rewatch the game and try to count how many tackles he put in, i have never heard of a prop putting in 20 tackles let alone 30!

It was a proper workman performance. Edinburgh seem to be heading in the right direction at last.

Those tackling numbers are immense. Just as well given Edinburgh were beaten on just about every other stat

Great result for Edinburgh today - blues didn't even get a losing bp at home to Leinster, keeping them off the pace for 6th spot.

In the last two games Edinbugh's defence has been really good. Keep that up and it could lead to them being 6th.

For Connacht next game is a big one away to Scarlets so will need to not lose that. It is a month away and during the 6Nations so hopefully they can keep ahead.

From a Scottish perspective do you see the last few games having any difference to the starting 15 for the 6N or have a few Edinburgh players put their hand up

Brendan wrote:

From a Scottish perspective do you see the last few games having any difference to the starting 15 for the 6N or have a few Edinburgh players put their hand up

Not a lot of difference. Edinburgh half backs putting themselves in contention especially with Weir being out. Matt Scott getting back tyo match sharp is good news - our best centre. Roddy Grant making a claim for the "ginger tackle monster" role. Denton getting back into some decent form.

Matt Scott will surely go straight in, and Denton is playing himself into the 8 spot.

Dickinson and Ford will keep their place.

Visser might benefit from Hogg's injury.


So we could see 5 Edinburgh players starting - a better balance to the team!

I actually think that Dickinson will have done his chances the most good. Reid was a fashionable choice last year and Cotter may still remember Grant's Lions nod. However, Dickinson is in the shape of his career and has taken down much larger men in a number of games now.

It's helping a great deal that Ford is actually, for the first time in 5 years or so, starting to punch his considerable weight.

I will be absolutely furious if Fusaro makes the Scotland squad ahead of either Watson or Grant. Toolis has a chance to make the squad too, a much better player already than Swinson. Toolis and Gray (Jonny of course) could be quite a potent 2nd row pairing. So there could be a good core of the Edinburgh pack in the Scottish side.

A front row of Dickinson-Ford-Cusack could be absolutely destructive!

Is fusaro even fit?


Agree that it would be ridiculous if he was in at their expense.

Even though i heard he was recovering quicker than expected he will probably be out of contention so we should be prepared to lose either Grant or Watson if not both for the 6N. Either way this is indeed an improvement on Fusaro imo.

Ford, Dickinson, Denton and Scott should be Scotland shoe ins for the 6 Nations. Visser is a possible.

Regarding rotation I think Solomons should rotate for the next game against Lyon. We can afford to lose it frankly and pick first choice against Bordeaux ahead of the 6 Nations.

My XV for Lyon:

1. Sutherland
2. Cochrane
3. Andress
4. McKenzie
5. Atkins
6. Leonardi
7. Watson
8. Coman
9. Hart
10. Heathcote
11. Brown
12. Burleigh
13. Beard
14. Hoyland
15. McLennan

16.Berghan 17.Hilterbrand 18.Blaauw 19.A Toolis 20.Bradbury 21.Kennedy 22.Strauss 23.Farndale

funnyExiledScot wrote:Ford, Dickinson, Denton and Scott should be Scotland shoe ins for the 6 Nations. Visser is a possible.

Agree with everyone apart from Denton. Visser should probably take the left wing berth until Maitland decides to actually show up.

With Dozer, a couple of decent games does not make you an automatic call and he has a history of patchy form - to say nothing of the fact that I haven't seen him play well against very high quality opposition recently.

Let's see if he can keep this up until late spring and then we'll have a welcome selection headache.

But I'm so delighted to see an Edinburgh side with a spine and some grit. It's been a very long wait.

I guess I haven't seen Beattie play for ages so I don't have any clue how he's doing. Perhaps unfair to describe Denton as a shoe in without that knowledge.

Denton should be ahead of Wilson though, and certainly Ashe.

Just looked through Castres' last 6 games and Beattie has only played twice - injury / not getting picked?


He wasn't in the squad this weekend.

TBH a few weeks ago I had Edinburgh's season pretty much written off, not any hope of playoffs and not much chance of top 6.

These last two wins have changed that,
Connacht 33
Edinburgh 28
Scarlets 28

Means the battle for 6th play will be close and will be very intresting.

Connacht next four games Scarlets (a) Dragons (a) Treviso (h) Blues (a)
Edinburgh next four games Ospreys (h) Ulster (h) Cardiff (a) Treviso (a)
Scarlets next four games Connacht (h) Munster (h) Ulster (a) Leinster (h)

Personally I think that Connacht have the easier next block of games, these mostly occur during the 6 nations, and Connacht will be least effected by call ups from the 3 teams, that it is a very good chance to stretch thier lead, going into the final block of games.

Actually think that Edinburgh won't be too impacted by 6N callups and those we are playing will be. So I could see Edinburgh winning 3 from 4 in that list. We will then fall away to the end of the season.

Connacht's games are still tricky as 3 of them are away. They will probably only have 1 or two players away on 6N duty at most, so will be the strongest out of all the teams mentioned.

Scarlets have a fairly tough run of games but are at hom for 3 of them. We could do with them beating Connacht then losing the next 3 games.

Edinburgh's 4 games are perfectly winnable, but will still be a big ask. It will certainly be a real test of this new found form. Bare minimum we have to win 2 out of the 4, but we really need to be winning at last 3.

It's the two away games against Cardiff and Treviso I see as key. Our away record was really poor up until Connacht so if we can turn the screw and get wins on the road, particularly Cardiff, then I think we'll be in business for a top 6.

In order to keep Connacht in check we probably need the Scarlets to beat them, and that means we need also to beat the Ospreys to keep ahead of the Scarlets. It's becoming quite an exciting league season!

What will be interesting is when Edinburgh and Glasgow's needs are conflicting - we want Munster to beat Scarlets, but Glasgow fans will want the reverse!

It has certainly improved the quality of the league significantly - most teams have something to play for.

RDW_Scotland wrote:What will be interesting is when Edinburgh and Glasgow's needs are conflicting - we want Munster to beat Scarlets, but Glasgow fans will want the reverse!

It has certainly improved the quality of the league significantly - most teams have something to play for.

don't say that it improved the league to loud.

from an irish prespective i want as many in the play offs but also Connacht in the Top6 so derby games become harder to watch

if SRU get two teams or IRFU get four you would wonder what the WRU will do as I had Blues to get WRU the playoff spot so if they ended with only one in the top 7 which could happen they will need to do something.

Brendan wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:What will be interesting is when Edinburgh and Glasgow's needs are conflicting - we want Munster to beat Scarlets, but Glasgow fans will want the reverse!

It has certainly improved the quality of the league significantly - most teams have something to play for.

don't say that it improved the league to loud.

from an irish prespective i want as many in the play offs but also Connacht in the Top6 so derby games become harder to watch

if SRU get two teams or IRFU get four you would wonder what the WRU will do as I had Blues to get WRU the playoff spot so if they ended with only one in the top 7 which could happen they will need to do something.

They should take a leaf from the English play book, and just moan persistently until the whole system is changed into one where the Welsh regions can prosper....