Anyone know when Jake is due back?

Newcastle have a dour struggle to the end of the season just to stay ahead of London Irish who are getting worse with each passing week. Newcastle are now 8 points adrift of Worcester in 10th. Even with our injury problems this one should be a good chance to put Friday night behind us.

The weekend as a whole has been disappointing but looking at Munster against Dragons, things could be a lot worse.

Judging by the appearance stats for Newcastle that was pretty much the best team they had available.

Hard to judge Newcastle accurately just on the Saracens game alone but 3 points from the entire game says a lot. They were fairly toothless in attack, made some metres in the final 15 minutes but never created anything. Strong maul and maul defense and good at the breakdown but that's it. Don't know how many of todays team would be considered first choice.

For Newcastle not many choices to build the team, but still looks good though

1) Lough
2) Heff/JHW
3) AhYou
4) Qualter
5) Marshall
6) SOB
7) Connolly
Naoupu
9) Blade
10) Carty
12) Robb
13) McSharry
11) Niyi
14) Parata
15) Leader

16) Dela
17) O'Donnell
18) Bealham
19) Dillane
20) ??? Browne maybe
21) ????
22) ?????
23) TOH

for 21 we just have to pray for one of Marmion/Porter to be fit
for 22 Shane O'Leary isn't out anymore though, played for Galweygians this W-E with Blade (who scored 2 tries, and 1 for O'Leary btw). But same problem as C.McKeon, he's not listed for Europe, I guess Lam will use this article to have O'Leary in the mix "Each club may register up to two additional players during the pool stage, each to replace a player previously registered. "

But It means one of McGinty/Ronaldson cannot play in European competition until k.o stages. No other solution except playing Carty for the full 80 min (what an unnecessary risk!!) or having Parata, McSharry or Leader to play outhalf in the end?

Healy, Bundee and Loughney could all be injured. Healy had a wrist issue I think. Bundee had an ankle problem and Loughney limped off too with a few minutes left.

There is still a lot of good players available but another few injuries in these games against Newcastle would be disastrous. I definitely agree Bundee and Muldowney are vital and need to be rested.

Healy could be out - he was in alot of pain and holding his arm towards end of the match

Accidentally Onside wrote:
My thinking: Bundee and Muldowney need a game off, Connolly I wouldn't risk as he's our only 7 left standing. I'd give Healy and O'Halloran the second game off.

For the next game I'd go
Loughney,
Delahunt (JHW if fit),
Rodders (get him some fitness back)
Qualter
Dillane
SOB
Muldoon
George

Blade
Carty

Niyi
Robb
Parata
Healy
Leader/Tiernan

I'd like to see O'Donnell play a good chunk of the next two days- a 19 year old holding his own in a professional scrum is impressive

That's still a fuc*** good team dare I say!! Assuming we've 15-20 players injured, that's impressive for next season in European greatest competition!!!

I think we should risk Connolly at 7 as Heenan is very close to come back now. And give McSharry some gametime

We'll have to see who is fit and who isn't as the week goes on and take it from there. The only advantage going into this game is we have almost two extra days recovery over Newcastle which given the volume of games and the toll they are taking these days is significant. Both sides are probably more concerned with the league for various reasons but its still more than possible to get out of this group.

We let Brive escape with a bonus point and almost the win last time out so beating Newcastle and denying them anything in Galway takes on extra importance.

Accidentally Onside wrote: After todays game thought it best to get see who's available to us for this game, euro squad below *ed players are either injured or possibly injured and therefore I wouldn't risk:

Ronan Loughney
Denis Buckley *
Conan O'Donnell

Shane Delahunt
Jason Harris Wright (half a *)
Tom McCartney *
Dave Heffernan

Nathan White
Finlay Bealham
Rodney Ah You

Andrew Browne *
Ultan Dillane
QUin Roux *
Ben Marshall *
Aly Muldowney
George Naoupu
Danny Qualter

Sean O'Brien
James Connolly
Eoin McKeon *
Nepia Fox Matamua *
Eoghan Masterson *
JOhn Muldoon

Caolin Blade
John Cooney *
Kieron Marmion *
Ian Porter

Jack Carty
AJ MacGinty *
Craig Ronaldson *

Dave McSharry *
Bundee Aki
Rory Parata
Peter Robb

Fionn Carr *
Niyi Adeolokun
Matt Healy
Danie Poolman *

Robbie Henshaw *
Darragh Leader
Tiernan O'Halloran

My thinking: Bundee and Muldowney need a game off, Connolly I wouldn't risk as he's our only 7 left standing. I'd give Healy and O'Halloran the second game off.

For the next game I'd go
Loughney,
Delahunt (JHW if fit),
Rodders (get him some fitness back)
Qualter
Dillane
SOB
Muldoon
George

Blade
Carty

Niyi
Robb
Parata
Healy
Leader/Tiernan

I'd like to see O'Donnell play a good chunk of the next two days- a 19 year old holding his own in a professional scrum is impressive

Sobering list facing into our next few matches. McKeon is injured too after tonight though McSharry was supposed to be ok again and available for the Blues match.

After todays game thought it best to get see who's available to us for this game, euro squad below *ed players are either injured or possibly injured and therefore I wouldn't risk:

Ronan Loughney
Denis Buckley *
Conan O'Donnell

Shane Delahunt
Jason Harris Wright (half a *)
Tom McCartney *
Dave Heffernan

Nathan White
Finlay Bealham
Rodney Ah You

Andrew Browne *
Ultan Dillane
QUin Roux *
Ben Marshall *
Aly Muldowney
George Naoupu
Danny Qualter

Sean O'Brien
James Connolly
Eoin McKeon *
Nepia Fox Matamua *
Eoghan Masterson *
JOhn Muldoon

Caolin Blade
John Cooney *
Kieron Marmion *
Ian Porter

Jack Carty
AJ MacGinty *
Craig Ronaldson *

Dave McSharry *
Bundee Aki
Rory Parata
Peter Robb

Fionn Carr *
Niyi Adeolokun
Matt Healy
Danie Poolman *

Robbie Henshaw *
Darragh Leader
Tiernan O'Halloran

My thinking: Bundee and Muldowney need a game off, Connolly I wouldn't risk as he's our only 7 left standing. I'd give Healy and O'Halloran the second game off.

For the next game I'd go
Loughney,
Delahunt (JHW if fit),
Rodders (get him some fitness back)
Qualter
Dillane
SOB
Muldoon
George

Blade
Carty

Niyi
Robb
Parata
Healy
Leader/Tiernan

I'd like to see O'Donnell play a good chunk of the next two days- a 19 year old holding his own in a professional scrum is impressive

Another league game Friday first but coming up to Christmas this should hopefully be a good night to get a big crowd up to the Sportsground. Crowd for the matches during the World Cup wasn't hectic but then again it wasn't for other teams either. The crowd was a bit bigger for Brive the last evening so hopefully the lads get the support they deserve as the games continue to grow in importance.

clan terrace also sold out for Ulster Game, still tickets for main stand avaialble but I would advise buying them this week as it will also be sold out soon

PMed you there Ronan

Starting the Newcastle thread as it's the next home game. my first home game of the season...

Clan Terrace Sold out already I see...