PRO12 Play Off 2: Connacht v Glasgow Warriors, 21 May

First topic message reminder :

                  
Connacht Rugby v Glasgow Warriors
Saturday 21 May 2016
KO: 18:30
The Sportsground, Galway

Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR, 53rd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Nigel Owens (WRU) Stefano Penne (FIR)
Citing Commissioner: Gwyn Bowden (WRU)
TMO: Carlo Damasco (FIR)

Live on Sky Sports/TG4/BBC ALBA and BBC Sport Scotland

A. Head to Head

28 Played 28
8 Wins 17
17 Losses 8
3 Draws 3
508 Points 635

B. Form

7 May 2016
Connacht Rugby 14 - 7 Glasgow Warriors

11 September 2015
Glasgow Warriors 33 - 32 Connacht Rugby

25 April 2015
Connacht Rugby 13 - 31 Glasgow Warriors

26 September 2014
Glasgow Warriors 39 - 21 Connacht Rugby

C. Teams

Connacht Rugby 

T O'Halloran; N Adeolokun, R Henshaw, B Aki, M Healy; AJ MacGinty, K Marmion; R Loughney, T McCartney, F Bealham; U Dillane, A Muldowney; E McKeon, J Heenan, J Muldoon (capt).

Replacements: D Heffernan, JP Cooney, R Ah You, A Browne, S O'Brien, John Cooney, S O'Leary, P Robb

Glasgow Warriors

S Hogg; T Seymour, M Bennett, P Horne, S Lamont; F Russell, H Pyrgos; G Reid, F Brown, Z Fagerson; L Nakarawa, J Gray (capt); R Wilson, S Favaro, J Strauss.

Replacements: P MacArthur, R Grant, D Rae, T Swinson, A Ashe, G Hart, D Weir, T Naiyaravoro

jimbopip wrote:Gee, there's plenty of ball-carriers in the pack and Horne will operate, as our antipodean cousins would say, as a second five-eight. I don't think it's a wet weather team. However, if they play to their potential they could be a wet dream team.

Lets hope so!!

Hazel Sapling wrote:Glasgow Team up

Hogg
Seymour
Bennett
Horne
Lamont
Russell
Pyrgos

Reid
Brown
Fagerson
Naka
Gray
Wilson
Favaro
Strauss

MacArthur, Grant, Rae, Swinson, Ashe, Hart, Weir, Big T

As expected, although Harley is certainly unlucky losing out to both Wilson and Ashe. The selection of Lamont over Big T is also pretty conservative. Big T hasn't shown a huge defensive work ethic, but ball in hand he cleans the floor with Lamont.

Well hello there chaps! I'm going to apologise for my recent absence - I know you were all worried.

One of my many, many bosses dropped by my desk last Monday and said "Ian, you wee s***e, you're going into court on the 19th". After a quick trip to Marks to buy new underwear and a salmon sandwich, I've been burning the midnight oil since then. You'll be delighted to know that in my first attempt at arguing in court (well, a judge's chambers) I... did not win. Alas, the law's a bugger sometimes, especially when your client is absolutely bang to rights, but I did at least argue successfully that the other side should pay our costs so... drinks on me tonight.

Anyway, the team... Well highlight number one is the half-back combination. Seeing Pyrgos at 9 is more soothing than being caught in a flood at a shea butter factory. His skills are great, he tracks the players outside him when they break the line, and he makes so much time for Russell that wee Finn is like a completely different player with Henry P inside him. It's no coincidence that Glasgow were pretty poor up to February, then Henry returns from injury and they go on an eight-game winning run. Again, they play without him last match, and they look tactically inept, devoid of invention and totally strangled in midfield (taking nothing away from the Connacht line-speed, which was exceptional).

Secondly there's Nakarawa. I spent a fun Saturday watching Naka playing in the Paris 7s, and he is in such a rich vein of form, it's ridiculous. The only problem is that we rely on a dry ball for his offloading game to stick. Thankfully the forecast is for light rain tomorrow morning and then dry thereafter (with a balmy 16°c Galway heatwave on the cards). So Naka might just be the point of difference in the teams.

This is all going to sound startlingly arrogant, but Connacht played out of their skins last game, and Glasgow were decidedly poor, plus played for half an hour with 14 men. Connacht won by 7. I think we can win this, and win it well.

Bold stuff there Bru. I think this one will be tight and go down to the wire - it's the Connacht centres that really worry me. Bit of a physicality mismatch there and I'd have liked to see Bob Harley in the team to counter that (not that Favaro won't do a good job in defence).

Sorry to hear you lost your first case. I've practiced for 12 years and made it to court once! Still, delighted to hear that they've got your nose to the grindstone. I've had a quiet few weeks as it happens.....

Who was it that 'leaked' the info that Ali Price was starting??

He's not even on the bench!

I hope Finn Russell was watching the master class from Sexton tonight in how to close down and close out a game. Those kicks to the corner just kept the squeeze on Ulster and eventually it told.

It could easily come down to that tomorrow. It is a cup semi final and may not be pretty.

Got my tickets booked for next weekend - looks like they're going to sell out the existing blocks before opening new ones.

Hardly any 20 quid ones left - I went for 30 quid. There probably won't be many of those left too once Leinster snap them all up!

Hopefully the two finalists get several blocks released just for them.

Glasgow are 5/6 favourites for this one with Connacht 6/5

RDW_Scotland wrote:Got my tickets booked for next weekend - looks like they're going to sell out the existing blocks before opening new ones.

Hardly any 20 quid ones left - I went for 30 quid. There probably won't be many of those left too once Leinster snap them all up!

Hopefully the two finalists get several blocks released just for them.

The Blessed Bru, he of the 100% losing trial record, called me last night to say he had "sourced" me two tickets to the Library.

This did lead to a slight moral dilemma ; do I take young Pipetto and remain reasonably morally upright or one of my grown up buddies (I do have some)?

The good father in me won out.

On the plus side my head shouldn't hurt too much on the Sunday morning.

Only eight hours to kick off.

p.s. Bru informed me that he had made one o'clock reservations for us with "Iris, Thistle Street". I knew the streetwalkers in Brotheltown were well organised but that is impressive.

I don't want to jinx things by buying tickets in advance, so am hanging on till this evening.

I did however make a provisional attempt to secure a bed for the night only to find that pretty much every hotel bed in Edinburgh other than the Balmoral was already booked up.

As my usual lodgings in Glasgow are unavailable that weekend, I have provisionally booked a premier inn in Falkirk, though even that was a lot more expensive than I would have expected (supply and demand and all that), which I will hopefully confirm tonight.

It is going to be a flying visit for us if we make it, except we won't even be flying as flights were also expensive, so it will be the long drive up the road. Anyway parking will be straightforward and it will be a quick whizz into Edinburgh on the train, so that will do for us.

All we need to do is win tonight!

Well Glasgow gents, I am hoping for a great game and it will take a massive game to beat ye! It's all new territory for us, but Lam I hope has the lads heads screwed on right. I am in Da Nang praying my dodgy proxy survives the whole match, will be shouting at my brother's texts otherwise

Wolfball, here's hoping your proxy lasts. I think it'll be a close run thing, one way or t'other, and I wouldn't care to bet anything on it.

Gee, like you I didn't want to get tickets/book a hotel before the game for fear of jinxing it. We're driving up overnight on Friday in order to get MrsPip to her mother's in Ayr and still leave me time to get through to Embra early enough to soak up "the atmosphere". We should arrange a rendezvous for all the 606ers who will be there. Mind you if the Craggy Islanders have their way I wont be there at all.

feick sake

What happened?

Hate to see players injured like that

Russell and Fagerson both flew into the same tackle on Aki from different sides - met head to head.

Glas 3 and 10 collide heads when making tackle. Both off for match, in 1st min.

John Beattie also really does talk a lot of p!sh at times!

Huge blow for Glasgow - massive uphill task now

Glasgow giving away needless ruck penalties

highland_scot wrote:Russell and Fagerson both flew into the same tackle on Aki from different sides - met head to head.

Are they both definitely off for the entire game? Ironically, this is actually the kind of game that may suit Duncan Weir. Thank feic it's him on the bench and not a non-specialist 10.

I am actually more worried about losing a prop in the first minute. Puts huge pressure on Rae - he's only a youngfeller and I've no idea what his match fitness is like.

You can't say that we aren't giving Connacht every chance in these matches. We don't need an opposition - we do pretty well by ourselves.

George Carlin wrote:

highland_scot wrote:Russell and Fagerson both flew into the same tackle on Aki from different sides - met head to head.

Are they both definitely off for the entire game? Ironically, this is actually the kind of game that may suit Duncan Weir. Thank feic it's him on the bench and not a non-specialist 10.

I am actually more worried about losing a prop in the first minute. Puts huge pressure on Rae - he's only a youngfeller and I've no idea what his match fitness is like.

You can't say that we aren't giving Connacht every chance in these matches. We don't need an opposition - we do pretty well by ourselves.

Not been confirmed yet - Russell stretchered off and I think the 10 mins HIA time must be over about now for Fagerson too.

Agree though on the concerns about losing a prop.

Glasgow haven't been too clever so far, and are missing too many first up tackles.

The Glasgow defence is very good and very well organised (as you would expect). Connacht will struggle to break through.

Another stupid ruck penalty!

Not helped by Weir missing touch

Hugh Dan curses Weir by saying he can kick... Promptly misses touch.

Too many hands in the ruck, Mitrea being difficult and refusing to have 2 way communication with Gray.

Fuvaro is going to smash someone eventually, but he's getting stepped every time!

Wasted attacking line-out too!

Too easy Connacht - all from Glasgow's mistakes!

Knock on!

Well spotted Mitrea!

Confused at Connacht putting in :s

Are Scottish teams brain dead

Why oh why go for a line out when an easy 3 points on offer in this sort of game at the start

I dispair. I think we have for the last 10 years had the award for least tactically aware nation in world rugby

Btw. I am only seeing the match updates in bbc. So I may be entirely wrong lol

Glasgow having to do a lot of tackling this game

Horrible luck for Glasgow here.

Riskysports wrote:Are Scottish teams brain dead

Why oh why go for a line out when an easy 3 points on offer in this sort of game at the start

I dispair. I think we have for the last 10 years had the award for least tactically aware nation in world rugby

To be fair I don't think there was ever an "easy" 3 points Glasgow turned down. The one they turned down was quite wide.

highland_scot wrote:Confused at Connacht putting in :s

Aki's knockon came after the first Glas knockon closer to touchline. Where the scrum was set was wrong.

Another head injury for glas!

wolfball wrote:

highland_scot wrote:Confused at Connacht putting in :s

Aki's knockon came after the first Glas knockon closer to touchline. Where the scrum was set was wrong.

Another head injury for glas!

Ah ok, cheers. Didn't realise they were playing advantage.

So many head injuries! Though Favaro has little idea about the concept of self-preservation!

Once again straight from Glasgow mistakes!

Pyrgos didn't commit enough to his quick tap, and Strauss should never have thrown that offload.

Should have kicked deep into the 22 and tried to get some points before halftime.

For all the injuries Glasgow have had in the first half they have played well and kept themselves in the game. Just not so sure how they will fair after 60mins with not having many fresh players to call on.

Connacht first recievers taking the ball very static for 30mins. We have been super sloppy. A more clinical team would be up 20 - we are winning lineouts, linebreaks, glasgow a rake of injuries and only up a score. Need to get around this glasgow flying defence.

There's really very little between the teams but Glasgow are making a lot more mistakes

Another stupid quick tap from pyrgos!

Glasgow desperately needed that!

Yet more stupid ruck penalties!

Glasgow looking tired - need impact off the bench

Mitrea not playing advantage anymore?

My pet hate in rugby is maul collapses always leading to penalties - who collapsed that??

To me it looked like Glasgow drove it back and it just collapsed.

Mauls are very unstable by nature!

Connacht lineout falling to pieces.

RDW_Scotland wrote:My pet hate in rugby is maul collapses always leading to penalties - who collapsed that??

To me it looked like Glasgow drove it back and it just collapsed.

Mauls are very unstable by nature!

I was going to say that but less eloquently... WTF are you meant to do with a maul?
Same when the opposite scrum disintegrates on one side!

How was that not a Glasgow scrum penalty?!