Connacht v Glasgow Warriors, 25 April

                   
Connacht Rugby v Glasgow Warriors
Saturday 25 April
KO: 13:05
The Sportsground, Galway

Live on TG4/BBC ALBA

Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR, 40th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Andy Brace, Oisin Quinn (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Dennis Templeton (IRFU)
TMO: Dermot Moloney (IRFU)

A. Head to Head

25 Played 25
7 Wins 15
15 Losses 7
3 Draws 3
44 Tries 62
32 Conversions 43
50 Penalties 54
5 Drop Goals 2
449 Points 564
24 Avg. Age 26

B. Form

Fri 26 Sep 2014 - Glasgow Warriors 39 - 21 Connacht Rugby

Sun 9 Feb 2014 - Glasgow Warriors 8 - 6 Connacht Rugby

Sat 2 Nov 2013 - Connacht Rugby 12 - 19 Glasgow Warriors

C. Teams

Connacht Rugby

[tbc]

Glasgow Warriors

15. Stuart Hogg
14. Tommy Seymour
13. Richie Vernon
12. Peter Horne
11. Niko Matawalu
10. Finn Russell
9. Henry Pyrgos
 
1. Jerry Yanuyanutawa
2. Fraser Brown
3. Euan Murray   
4. Leone Nakarawa
5. Jonny Gray (Captain)
6. Rob Harley
7. Chris Fusaro
8. Adam Ashe
 
16. Kevin Bryce
17. Ryan Grant  
18. Jon Welsh
19. Tim Swinson
20. Josh Strauss
21. Duncan Weir
22. Peter Murchie
23. Lee Jones

25 Played 25
7 Wins 15
15 Losses 7
3 Draws 3
44 Tries 62
32 Conversions 43
50 Penalties 54
5 Drop Goals 2
449 Points 564
24 Avg. Age 26


Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Hard to decide how it might go.

Edinburgh certainly need Connacht to not get any points from this!

I wonder how many Glasgow players will be injured this weekend then?

Connacht have a very useful scrum, they had Ulster in reverse all game long 2 weeks a go which is no mean feat, in particular their loosehead, Dennis Buckley, can feel particularly unlucky not being considered in the Irish squad.
To counter that i would start with big Mike Cusack, he has looked to be getting back up to speed recently, such that Cardiff had to change their loosehead after 30 odd minutes!

I see this game as make or break for Glasgow, as far as home semi is concerned.

Yes, it will be very tough at the Sportsground but we need nothing less than 5 points.

What we cannot have is any more injuries - Maitland, DTH, Bennett, Dunbar all out really is a disaster and if we eventually manage to win this league it will be a testament to our less heralded squad players.

Saying that, we can still put out:
09 Pyrgos
10 Russell
11 Matawalu
12 Horne
13 Lyle/Vernon/Braid
14 Seymour
15 Hogg

which still looks serviceable (although we are creaking at centre) but if we get any more injuries then we are absolutely duffed up the bum.

Yep, we need you to wipe out Connacht here, preferably denying them any points.

I'd go unchanged from the team that duffed up Cardiff, perhaps bringing back Brown, Gray and Naka.

Hard to say what team selection's best.

Weir could definitely do with some gametime and perhaps Hogg should be considered at centre?

Weir is turd and Hogg is the best fullback in Scotland by a distance, so I suppose I disagree.

I'm not meaning (Hogg) permanently, but given the injuries would it not be advisable to give Hogg a run at centre in case, come the playoffs, he is needed at centre but hasn't had gametime there for ages?

Other option is to play Nakarawa at centre!

I still maintain that this is must win game as the next two are eminently losable. (That looks really weird but spellcheck says it's correct).
Horne and Richie V are our form backs and should play. Preferably at 12 &13.
I wouldn't be shocked if Toonie goes with a 4-4 split on the bench with Russell, Horne, Vernon and Hogg coming off as soon as the win looks safe. Otherwise we run the risk of playing Parks-Morrison-Dewey in the semi. No need to ponder on the line up for the final in that case.

Nematode wrote:I'm not meaning (Hogg) permanently, but given the injuries would it not be advisable to give Hogg a run at centre in case, come the playoffs, he is needed at centre but hasn't had gametime there for ages?

Other option is to play Nakarawa at centre!      

With Horne, Vernon and Lyle fit and in form I'd just leave the centres to play centre.

I think we'll see a pretty urgent first half from Glasgow.

Toonie will be keen to give a few of the backs some rest early so we'll blitz it for the first 40 to try and wrap it up early. It worked well in the last couple of home games against Zebre & Blues but away against Connacht is a different matter altogether.

Personally, I think we will win but I don't see a bonus point in this one. I'm starting to think that we will need 3 wins to make the top 2. My confidence is in the process of evaporating.

I'm not too sure - Glasgow have developed a habit to disintegrate in the second half which I'm sure GT will want to erase.

Nematode wrote:I'm not too sure - Glasgow have developed a habit to disintegrate in the second half which I'm sure GT will want to erase.

I'm not sure they have disintegrated so much as put five points in the bag and then eased off slightly. Except for the Leinster game which was an anomaly to say the least: we took off our internationals just as they brought theirs on.
I think we will still need to beat either Ulster or Ospreys to guarantee a top two spot (assuming we beat Connacht) so really the winning bonus point is not that important. As in ; four points pus us beyond Leinster and into an away berth, five means we still need one more win to get a top two finish. I still think ; Bryce, Lyle, Murchie and Meatball will feature on Friday. Probably from the bench as soon as we have a defendable lead. Probably with the Jedi covering lock and flanker and three front rows making up the replacements.

It's worth looking at the remaining fixtures for the top four. I have ruled out Leinster because, well just because I can.


Glasgow (1st) 65 Points
1 Connacht (Away)
2 Ospreys (Away)
3 Ulster (Home) We could easily lose all three. Connacht is simply a must win. Four points there and LBP's in ,our last two would put us on 71 pts.


Ulster (2nd) 62 Points
1 Leinster (Home)
2 Munster (Home)
3 Glasgow (Away) At home to a battered and bruised Leinster, should be a win. A win at home to Munster puts them on 70 and needing to win against Glasgow, who by then will be playing Schiz and Tattie Scones in the centres, for a home berth. 71 or74 points


Ospreys (3rd) 61 Points
1 Blues (Away, Neutral Venue)
2 Glasgow (Home)
3 Connacht (Away) Can easily see them winning all three: 73 pts.


Munster (4th) 58 Points

1 Treviso (Home)
2 Ulster (Away)
3 Dragons (Home) Should get 5 pts against Treviso and Dragons. 68 pts.

My logic would seem to say Ospreys come top and Munster fourth and Glasgow and Ulster have the other two places with the last game of the season deciding home advantage.
Of course if Munster win at Kingspan and Glasgow win at the O's then everything changes. I've just got a feeling that Ulster will get a home semi and final. And win.

Ospreys will NEED to win all 3 remaining fixtures to stay in contention IMO. They should beat Blues and Connacht, not so sure about Glasgow - but if they stay third and Glasgow first then this will be interesting match, assuming that 1st plays 3rd in the play-offs? Glasgow vs Ulster is a great match-up so close to the play-offs. We might be treated early.

1st plays 4th, 2nd V 3rd

Saint, I'm pretty certain it's
1st at home to 4th
2nd at home to third.
If the O's pick up ten points, possible, against Caahdiff and Connacht then they should be in the top two. Eight points from those two fixtures would probably see them third and away for their semi.

jimbopip wrote:It's worth looking at the remaining fixtures for the top four. I have ruled out Leinster because, well just because I can.


Glasgow (1st) 65 Points
1 Connacht (Away)
2 Ospreys (Away)
3 Ulster (Home)  We could easily lose all three. Connacht is simply a must win. Four points there and  LBP's in ,our last two would put us on 71 pts.


Ulster (2nd) 62 Points
1 Leinster (Home)
2 Munster (Home)
3 Glasgow (Away) At home to a battered and bruised Leinster, should be a win. A win at home to Munster puts them on 70  and needing to win against Glasgow, who by then will be playing Schiz and Tattie Scones in the centres, for a home berth. 71 or74 points


Ospreys (3rd) 61 Points
1 Blues (Away, Neutral Venue)
2 Glasgow (Home)
3 Connacht (Away) Can easily see them winning all three: 73 pts.


Munster (4th) 58 Points

1 Treviso (Home)
2 Ulster (Away)
3 Dragons (Home) Should get 5 pts against Treviso and Dragons. 68 pts. 5 points from EACH of those 2 surely = 73 points.

My logic would seem to say Ospreys come top and Munster fourth and Glasgow and Ulster have the other two places with the last game of the season deciding home advantage.
Of course if Munster win at Kingspan and Glasgow win at the O's then everything changes. I've just got a feeling that Ulster will get a home semi and final. And win.

Spare a though for us poor Leinster fans. We need Ulster to lose all 3 just to have a chance to get near a playoff spot.

Playing Ulster away 5 days after an extra time Semi final against Toulon - I can't see Leinster winning that one!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Playing Ulster away 5 days after an extra time Semi final against Toulon - I can't see Leinster winning that one!

And that's only the first hurdle

I concur with my well-groomed friend from the east. Ulster at the weekend will probably prove a bridge too far. If you do manage to win it is not impossible that Ulster lose to Munster and then fail to turn up at Scotstoun on the last day. Possible but as unlikely as Natalie Baye finally realising she has been wasting her time with unworthy suitors and beating down my front door.

jimbopip wrote:I concur with my well-groomed friend from the east. Ulster at the  weekend will probably prove a bridge too far. If you do manage to win it is not impossible that Ulster lose to Munster and then fail to turn up at Scotstoun on the last day. Possible but as unlikely as Natalie Baye finally realising she has been wasting her time with unworthy suitors and beating down my front door.

Had to google her. wow! as far as women in their 60s go. She just jumped to the top of my list.

If Leinster make the playoffs I'll expect you to provide me with her phone number.

Ah Jen, if I had her phone number do you think I'd be sharing it? Is she in her 60's already? As John Miltom said, "Time, that subtle thief of youth."
Still can't see Leinster making the play offs, mind.

Forget the f**king playoffs. I'm with the Welsh on this one now. The Pro12 is a dead, overblown, undercooked, over-rated and discredited sack of schidt!

We're not going to participate no more in such a venture (this year).

Onwards for the Leinster warriors to the bussom of the cotton wool embalming cocoons - ready to be awakened in time for World Cup handling practice sessions sometime in July.

jimbopip wrote:It's worth looking at the remaining fixtures for the top four. I have ruled out Leinster because, well just because I can.


Glasgow (1st) 65 Points
1 Connacht (Away)
2 Ospreys (Away)
3 Ulster (Home)  We could easily lose all three. Connacht is simply a must win. Four points there and  LBP's in ,our last two would put us on 71 pts.

My prediction: v Connacht 1pt, Ospreys 1pt, Ulster 4pts Total = 71pts.


Ulster (2nd) 62 Points (Ulster are 3rd with 63pts)
1 Leinster (Home)
2 Munster (Home)
3 Glasgow (Away) At home to a battered and bruised Leinster, should be a win. A win at home to Munster puts them on 70  and needing to win against Glasgow, who by then will be playing Schiz and Tattie Scones in the centres, for a home berth. 71 or74 points

My prediction: v Leinster 4pts, v Munster 4pts, v Glasgow 1pt = t[b]otal 72pts/



Ospreys (3rd) 61 Points [b](Ospreys are 4th with 61pts)
1 Blues (Away, Neutral Venue)
2 Glasgow (Home)
3 Connacht (Away) Can easily see them winning all three: 73 pts.

My prediction: v Blues 5, v Glasgow 1, v Connacht 4. = 10pts Total: 71pts.


Munster (4th) 58 Points (Munster are 2nd with 63pts at the moment)

1 Treviso (Home)
2 Ulster (Away)
3 Dragons (Home) Should get 5 pts against Treviso and Dragons. 68 pts.

My prediction: v Treviso 5pts, V Ulster 1pt, v Dragons 5. Total = 74pts

1. Munster = 74pts
2. Ulster = 72pts
3. Glasgow 71pts (win more games than Ospreys)
4. Ospreys = 71pts

SecretFly wrote:Forget the f**king playoffs.  I'm with the Welsh on this one now.  The Pro12 is a dead, overblown, undercooked, over-rated and discredited sack of schidt!

We're not going to participate no more in such a venture (this year).

Onwards for the Leinster warriors to the bussom of the cotton wool embalming cocoons - ready to be awakened in time for World Cup handling practice sessions sometime in July.  

At least Joe will have a few Leinster player to play against the Barbarians in Thomond Park

Sin é wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Forget the f**king playoffs.  I'm with the Welsh on this one now.  The Pro12 is a dead, overblown, undercooked, over-rated and discredited sack of schidt!

We're not going to participate no more in such a venture (this year).

Onwards for the Leinster warriors to the bussom of the cotton wool embalming cocoons - ready to be awakened in time for World Cup handling practice sessions sometime in July.  

At least Joe will have a few Leinster player to play against the Barbarians in Thomond Park

As good a place to practice 21st century passing and line breaking techniques as the next, Sin I look forward to seeing the progress:

jimbopip wrote:Ah Jen, if I had her phone number do you think I'd be sharing it? Is she in her 60's already? As John Miltom said, "Time, that subtle thief of youth."
Still can't see Leinster making the play offs, mind.

I can't see it either.

She's 66 though. That's pushing it for me. Her and perhaps Sophia Loren (when she was in her 60s) is as far as I would currently go.

Guys, yous don't know what real beauty is

Francoise Hardy as a young vixen:

and as a 70 year old doll:

Jen, I must admit to being frozen in time as regards my penchant for French actresses from the 1980's. That's when I met Mrs Pip who introduced me to French cinema. Shocked to discover that they have dared get older.
Fly a man after my own heart.
Sin E your predictions could come to pass, quite easily.

Sine,

I would agree with your predictions as well. Munster are in a good position to get a home semi. However, there needs to be a winner in the Glasgow vs Ospreys game, one team needs to get 3 extra points. I'll plug for the O's with home advantage.

Connacht will have a big say with home games against the O's and Glasgow.

How has this thread become a geriatric lady appreciation club?

Glasgow need to throw the kitchen sink at Connacht and go for 5 points. Had no idea the World Class soap dodgers had such a brutal finale to the season.

RDW_Scotland wrote:How has this thread become a geriatric lady appreciation club?

Fine wine and all that jazz, RDW. You're too young to know. Don't worry about it until you hit your late teens

RDW_Scotland wrote:How has this thread become a geriatric lady appreciation club?

Some of us appreciate "geriatric ladies" some of us appreciate Mike Coman and Mr Chinhook.  I say potato and Fes says, "Dauphinoise! Or possibly hasselback, depending on which chef is in the main kitchen this evening."

Can't help but think this thread has lost its focus ....

InjuredYetAgain wrote:Can't help but think this thread has lost its focus ....

Or, given his exploits against Italy, losing foucs = 'to do a Peter Horne'

the-goon wrote:Sine,

I would agree with your predictions as well. Munster are in a good position to get a home semi. However, there needs to be a winner in the Glasgow vs Ospreys game, one team needs to get 3 extra points. I'll plug for the O's with home advantage.

Connacht will have a big say with home games against the O's and Glasgow.

Made a mistake there. Os to beat Glasgow at home (additional 3pts to previous total).

1. Ospreys = 74pts (16 wins)
2. Munster = 74pts (15 wins)
3. Ulster = 72pts
4. Glasgow 71pts

I leave this thread for a day and it's 'grab-a-granny' night.

However, when I was 25 I dated a hot 38 year old for three months and I can confirm that it was completely awesome. I expect that you all wanted to know that.
You're welcome.

Sorry George, when I was 23 I had a fairly torrid time with 46 year old (woman) and life was never the same after that. When I as in my mid-forties I kept asking myself where she had found the energy (never mind the inclination) as a 23 year old girl would have killed me.

jimbopip wrote:Sorry George, when I was 23 I had a fairly torrid time with 46 year old (woman) and life was never the same after that.

You need to pick the ones who don't need a hip replacement and are not marinated in bitterness.

Jeezo, didn't realise so many of you were into the MILFs/GILFs

RDW_Scotland wrote:Jeezo, didn't realise so many of you were into the MILFs/GILFs

Class is permanent.

And also, yoga seems to be a great way to keep in shape at any age.

It would appear that one win assures us of a play off spot (sorry to go back to rugby but GC seems strangely unwilling to find tenuous excuses to post pix of a selection of French actresses) and two wins should be enough to get us a home semi.
If we accept that a win at Connacht is the most likely, which of the other two is our next target?

Option 1 The pragmatic approach.
Best XV against Connacht, hell for leather and 5 points.
Rest/protect crucial players against O's.Give game time to players who may be needed ; Meatball, Lyle, Murchie, Grant.
Best XV against Ulster, hoping that two Irish derbies will have left them dead on their feet.

Option 2 The cynical barsteward Gatland approach.
Rest key players against Connacht. We'll beat them anyway.
Ditto against O's, we'll lose at the Liberty whatever side we put out.
Best XV against Ulster. They will already be in the play offs and will field a weakened side anyway.

[b][/Option 3 The Niko approachb]
Play all three Fijians in each game.
Forget centres: put your five fastest backs behind Dancer, let them grab the jerseys out the kit bag with their eyes shut. Get Gibson to give the pre-match team talk, "Believe".

I find myself being drawn to option three. mainly because while we have all been saying that Connacht will have a lot to say about who will get a home semi we seem to have forgotten the effect that derby matches will have. derby matches often go against form and received wisdom.
Blues might beat O's Although any side that get stuffed by the MFL can't be relied on.
What better place to assuage the pain of Toulon than Kingspan?
Munster can win at Kingspan.
The more I try to predict the next three weeks the dizzier I get.

Can I ask why everyone is convinced we will lose to the Ospreys at the Liberty?

We have won on at least the last 3 occasions we have played there and you need to go back to March 2011 (I think, feel free for the pedants to give me an e-wedgie) for the last team the Os beat us.

I know that there are playing well this season, but why are we suddenly so fearful?

Toonie has been resting a few key players over the past few weeks and with the weeks off and the fact that the last game did not take too much out of us, I don't think fatigue should be quite the problem it has been in previous years.

He needs to put a strong team out against Connacht, it is a potential 5 pointer and if we get that, it keeps us in the driving seat and keeps the pressure on the rest. Then it is another recovery week before the hardest of hard 4 weeks in a row. Managing those last games will be key, how do you keep something back for the final knowing it will take everything to get there. We peaked a match to early last year, hopefully lessons have been learnt.

George Carlin wrote:Can I ask why everyone is convinced we will lose to the Ospreys at the Liberty?

We have won on at least the last 3 occasions we have played there and you need to go back to March 2011 (I think, feel free for the pedants to give me an e-wedgie) for the last team the Os beat us.

I know that there are playing well this season, but why are we suddenly so fearful?

Agree, win all three games and then all the permutations mean nothing, it is simple really and quite doable!

Glasgow don't need to rest players - they've had rest weeks. Plus they don't have enough backs fit to rest players!

Team is up -

Jerry, Brown, Murray
Gray (c), Naka
Harley, Fusaro, Ashe,
Pyros, Russell,
Horne, Vernon,
Niko, Seymour & Hogg

Bench - Kevin Bryce, Grant, Welsh, Swinson, Strauss, Weir, Murchie, Jones.

Decent enough given who we have out. Great to see wee Jonny as captain.