Wow things are starting to feel really bare bones now. We were doing well to be have a starting 15 all in their preferred positions more or less but now we've no actual fullbacks and a hooker on the flanks.... Still optimistic but would easily take a 3 point win at this point rather than thinking about bonus points.

Hopefully not too serious, best not to risk anything with Daragh Leader out already. Healy probably the best stand in option for an unfamiliar position again. He has a decent boot for full back. High ball is generally ok for him but obviously that isn't at the same level as O'Halloran. It does give us good wing options though and the chance for McSharry to get a hit out at some stage hopefully.

Another matchday, another injury ... could only be Connacht. O'Halloran out with calf strain, Healy to FB, Poolman on wing and McSharry on bench.

connachta wrote:

CONN8 wrote: A couple years back due to injuries we introduced a young guy (just out of school), a certain Robbie Henshaw, so who knows what will happen with this new batch.

Each of the new lads to Leinster in 3 years??? :lol: :dry: :huh:

Yeah, their image will hopefully suffer for all this poaching. The eyes and sticky fingers were also interested in Bundi and Padraig Lam. At least some commentators are beginning to realise that they cannot complain about the buying power of France and England if they keep this up. Wallace below is just adding to some others who have broken ranks with Dublin.
www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/guinness-...tional-34277953.html

CONN8 wrote: A couple years back due to injuries we introduced a young guy (just out of school), a certain Robbie Henshaw, so who knows what will happen with this new batch.

Each of the new lads to Leinster in 3 years??? :lol: :dry: :huh:

I know that we are plagued with injuries but that's not a bad looking side, this injury crisis gives the young guys a chance to shine which may make it tougher for the other players to resume their place in the team . A couple years back due to injuries we introduced a young guy (just out of school), a certain Robbie Henshaw, so who knows what will happen with this new batch.

Just looking at the other pools, Harlequins and Gloucester are going to rack up points totals we can't match but it looks like from the games to date that the 2nd place totals in a few of the groups will be fairly low. With no EDF Cup this year it looks like a few of the lower Premiership sides are running their squads, Worcester had a young squad out against Gloucester tonight.

A win tomorrow puts us in a good position to progress. Winning by 8 or more would be a significant boost. You'd hope we'd get the 5 at home to Enesei so given our situation doing the business tomorrow evening would do us a huge favour in terms of being in a better position to pick our battles in the weeks ahead. As has been flagged everywhere, Ulster is huge in terms of our league ambitions.

Its a decent Connacht team given our injuries but I wouldn't be expecting miracles, a lot of new partnerships coming in to play. I'm sure with the way the first team are struggling the Newcastle players will feel a strong performance here could put them in the reckoning for further starts so we need to be hungry for this one and with the number of new players we need to try and walk before we can run in this game.

the bookies are offering a 8 point spread in our favour, if we beat them at home then i can't see them taking next weeks game all that serious, so resting as many as of our frontliners is the wisest choice. weather conditions look good for running rugby but i still think we'll struggle to beat them by more than 10 points although they've been the whippng boys of the premiership. hopefully their A-team is a good level below that

Connacht team looks pretty good, if it wasn't all injury enforced you would say that's a positive selection. The bench is where it becomes obvious that we're on thin ground. I haven't seen much of him but I've a lot of time for Shane O'Leary hopefully he can make an impact now, he came here as 10/12 cover afaik, almost certainly better kicking percentage than Carty but never got a look in. Has seemingly converted to a wing and gave good performances last year when called upon but didn't get many chances. Its interesting that Tiernan is captain as Muldowney has been a massive leader for us so far, but it speaks to Tiernan's confidence and his standing among the squad I guess.

salmson wrote: Newcastle are sending their A-team. Given we have 13 of the Thomond 23 on duty and Ah You and Poolman back we should be looking to give them a pounding.

www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/rugby-unio...-15-changes-10575603

While that may be true technically, the Premiership has a much more challenging competition in pace for their A Teams.
So they will be well prepeared and as they article states most have plenty of first team experience,

It will be a very physical challenge for our weakened squad. "If" we win, it'll be done over a very testing 80 minutes..

salmson wrote:

Oranmoron wrote: I guess Porter must be our kicking cover if anything happens to Carty. Anyone seen Shane o Leary play and what should we expect from him?

Came on at wing against Ospreys last year, as centre away to Zebre (scored a belter) and Munster (scored a fluke). One other appearance last year in the league (2 more sub appearances this season) but can't for the life of me remember who it was against. Saw him play a few times at 10 for the Eagles last season, looked good. Not the tallest (like I can talk) but stockily built and very very fast. Wouldn't be in any way concerned about pitching him in.

He also provide kicking cover, pretty decently too...

wp_rathead wrote: Heffernan covering backrow kinda sums up our injury situation
Still a strong side we able we put out in the circumstances

Was thinking the same thing on both counts.

Where is McSharry? I guess if you're not going to start him, Poolman is the better option on the bench since he can cover more positions which with the way things have been going is very important. I wonder does he have any experience at outhalf or in the backrow?

Oranmoron wrote: I guess Porter must be our kicking cover if anything happens to Carty. Anyone seen Shane o Leary play and what should we expect from him?

Came on at wing against Ospreys last year, as centre away to Zebre (scored a belter) and Munster (scored a fluke). One other appearance last year in the league (2 more sub appearances this season) but can't for the life of me remember who it was against. Saw him play a few times at 10 for the Eagles last season, looked good. Not the tallest (like I can talk) but stockily built and very very fast. Wouldn't be in any way concerned about pitching him in.

I guess Porter must be our kicking cover if anything happens to Carty. Anyone seen Shane o Leary play and what should we expect from him?

Was thinking we might see Buckley in the 21 shirt, oh well.

Heffernan covering backrow kinda sums up our injury situation
Still a strong side we able we put out in the circumstances