I believe it's being replaced altogether

RogueXV wrote: I also would have liked to have seen the scoreboard tick over some earlier in the second half.

I would have liked to see the scoreboard working at any stage. It's about time they got it fixed.

It was clearly a very good win for Connacht. It was encouraging to see the defense much improved and the backs moving the ball around so well, when they ran out from their own 22 it was not in some panicked headless way but with confidence and purpose. But there is definitely work still to be done. Leinster gained more than just a slight edge in the scrum after they changed their front row and I felt they might use that edge to get themselves back into the game, but after Madigan missed the penalty just after the arrival of Healy, Ross and Cronin Leinster seemed resigned to coming in second best. I also would have liked to have seen the scoreboard tick over some earlier in the second half. 22-6 is a comfortable enough lead especially when the defense is going well, but it probably would have taken only a converted try from Leinster in that 35 minute dry spell to get their tails up and Connacht would have had a game on their hands. Still a strong performance which needs building on against Ulster.

Clan match report up on main site:

www.connachtclan.com/news/194-connacht-34-leinster-6

Henshaw was at the Buccaneers v Ballinahinch ail game on saturday with his dad.

He gave an interview with midlands radio and said that they were really dissapointed with their defence and concentrated almost exclusively on defence all week leading up to the leinster game. Really honest and forthright opinion of build up and game which is refreshing. He said most satisfying part of win was how the defence performed and that whole team were really pleased to keep them tryless.

Creedence wrote:

RonanL wrote: For me there was one negative - the lads playing the drums on the Clan side. And if that's all I've got to complain about at the rest of our home games this season, I'll be a happy man.

I was talking to a Munster fan over the summer. He was emigrating and said how he's probably leaving a a good time as the glory days look to be behind them and he'd sort of lost interest over the past few years as the culture on match days had changed due to commercial pressures. I told him how there was little prospect of that happening anytime soon in the salubrious surroundings of the Clan. He had a bit of advice, I had forgotten about until now - 'when you see the drummers it is over'.

:woohoo: :woohoo:

Still can't be as bad yet as at the Madjeski where they spend the whole game battering the drums to no discernable rythm, and they are usually located where the visiting supporters are located. I would suggest sending a comment to the marketing chaps at the branch, I'm sure they will take on board feedback about the match day experience..

The Hurling apart it was a great weekend of sport, lads were great on Friay night played what was in front of them and kept focused for the full duration. Good leadership by Parks kept the young lads making their tackles, using the ball well and hitting their lines hard...

Delighted to see such mature performaces from Buckley, Henshaw and my MOM Marmian...

Very pleasing result, far too early in the season to get over-excited though. Hopefully much more to come...

Very happy after that performance, but trying not to get too carried away. Impressed by the control and direction Parks brought to the backs, but we won that up front. The entire pack deserve a massive thank you from the fans for that.

Madigan is a very good player, but it was shown again that even the best 10s will struggle behind a toothless pack. We bossed up front and never let Leinster settle. Tackling and fringe work was excellent.

In the end, though, just look at the table. We haven't really stolen a march on anyone. Dragons, Treviso and Ospreys were all behind us and they all won. Losing that match would have been terrible for us, it would have dropped us to 11th with everyone else in danger of disappearing into the distance.

With teams above us losing and teams below winning we're all bunching up in the middle with nothing between 3rd and 10th. That shows us just how much we're going to have to work to raise ourselves out of the bottom half group that we've been a part of for so many years.

So, great win, and we move on!

Still pinching myself after Friday. That's probably the best I have ever seen a Connacht team play, I almost couldn't believe what I was watching and I can't get over how different we looked to the first few matches this season. No need to repeat what everyone else has already said about performances but what about Robbie Henshaw? He was an absolute revelation! Is he really only 19?? He has a very bright future ahead of him.


That drummer was a bit annoying alright but I think they can add to the atmosphere, the guys on the pitch before the Heineken Cup games last year were great. Saw a few people wearing beanies that had Official Supporter 2012/2013 embroidered on the back, I presume these are the ones season ticket holders are getting, are they posting them out or what's the craic does anyone know?

RonanL wrote: For me there was one negative - the lads playing the drums on the Clan side. And if that's all I've got to complain about at the rest of our home games this season, I'll be a happy man.

I was talking to a Munster fan over the summer. He was emigrating and said how he's probably leaving a a good time as the glory days look to be behind them and he'd sort of lost interest over the past few years as the culture on match days had changed due to commercial pressures. I told him how there was little prospect of that happening anytime soon in the salubrious surroundings of the Clan. He had a bit of advice, I had forgotten about until now - 'when you see the drummers it is over'.

:woohoo: :woohoo:

RonanL wrote: the lads playing the drums on the Clan side.

True, yer man down the Bohermore end of the Clan would have been happier in a jazz trio.

Repeat after me:

Bang bang.
Bang bang bang.
Bang bang bang bang.
Conn-acht!

Nothing more complicated required.

Tis little we have to complain about this morning though, as you said.

I think the many posters before me have said all that needs to be said about how great Friday night was, and what a legend each of the players, especially Dan Parks is.

For me there was one negative - the lads playing the drums on the Clan side. And if that's all I've got to complain about at the rest of our home games this season, I'll be a happy man.

highlights, cant believe they only got 10mins, infairness it was leinster who put it together



side note, if one of the mods could fix it properly thanks

www.mixcloud.com/CountFurlo/eric-elwood-post-match-thoughts/

www.mixcloud.com/CountFurlo/joe-schmidt-after-the-match/

Spotted this on twitter for anyone interested!

Don't think I can say anything that hasn't been said already

Just so so proud of all the lads, it was phenomenal stuff, from 1-23

But that has to be the start of our season now. We're not going to hit that standard every week but we must strive to try to.

Really great to see George Naoupu back to his rampaging best, making line breaks, 3/4 carries in one attack, offloading, ball in one hand, popping up everywhere. He's back. he was good last week, but that last night was the George I love so well.

The key is that we have a set of half backs now. Parks is not an all singing all dancing 10, but what he does provide is leadership and key decisions at key times, such as sticking the ball in the corner. Also some lovely crisp passing. He really liberated our young backline, who were electric.

The other thing to come out of this game for me was the depth. JHW was excellent when he came on, Loughs and Wilko are great lads to have in reserve and Johnny can wreak havoc for 50/60 and then unleash the pacy Faloon. Add in Muldoon, Duffy, Poolman, Browne, Reyneke(provided he improves his darts), Tonetti to come back in. It's a very good mix.

This can't be a once off. We must strive to improve consistency of performances. The real test lies at Ravenhill next week. Can we go up there and make a game of it

I don;t think anyone saw that result coming. I still don't know how to react. We out Leinstered Leinster. But I'm not going to get carried away. That was the performance I was expecting against Cardiff. They need to build on this now. It should be a great boost to the lads

No arguments here. Just wanna mention Hemshaw again. Leinster threw a lot of high balls at him to test him out and he wasn't found wanting. Loved that he had the confidence to try a drop kick as well which he was pretty close to going over. With Ulster putting 7 trys past Cardiff its going to be one hell of a humdinger next week.