Zebre vs Connacht

Delighted with another 5 points but I'm sure Pat Lam is unhappy with many aspects of that display.

The best and the worst of Connacht in that performance. Great tries scored but some ridiculous mistakes to give Zebre a lifeline every time we looked like we could pull clear. I'm sure next week will be less chaotic but if we want to play with the big boys coming into the business end we'll have to be more professional at the basics. Restarts are a big part of the game and our management of them was shoddy to put it mildly.

There has to be a greater level of control than there was tonight. Only felt fully comfortable when MacGinty slotted the penalty to make it a 17 point advantage.

Masterson doesn't look good which is a blow with the season he is having, Heenan also going off early. George may be needed as back row cover. Hopefully will get Dillane back but looks like he may be in contention for the Irish 23.

Must say fair play to Zebre, they leaked a lot of tries but played some good rugby and stretched us on a number of occasions. Have made progress this season and deserved at least the 1 point they got.

Really looking forward to Ospreys now.

Thought AG MC Ginty had a great game. Looks like he can have a good run in the team with all of the injuries at 10. Which may be just what Connacht need , 1 person to nail down the spot. He kicked well from the dead ball this eve. Some of the tries conceded were very poor. The no 8 intercept, Healy looked like he did not want to catch him. Still great result.

A bit of unnecessary stick on here for Healy I think. He did get man of the match after all. The whole Connacht defence was all over the place. I wouldn't read too much into it though. It happens at times when games are just mental. I guarantee next week will be much different.

eezipc wrote: A bit of unnecessary stick on here for Healy I think. He did get man of the match after all. The whole Connacht defence was all over the place. I wouldn't read too much into it though. It happens at times when games are just mental. I guarantee next week will be much different.

Agreed. The criticism is harsh, Healy had run the length of the field on several occasions when that intercept happened, I think he was out of legs and the distance to close was too great.

It looked as if the team were told to play an open and expansive game, and score trys. They tried to score from everywhere, and kinda did, but that kind of a game plan leaves you open, and Zebre took advantage. They only time we planed keep ball and did any game management was in the last 5-6 mins.

Restarts are a worry, have been for a while.

Robb did well, coming along nicely. McGinty really attacks the line well, makes the opposition d-line work hard. Marshall did not have much of an impact, but this was not a game for locks and he has not played a lot recently so this run out should help him along. Our bench was a big asset in this game, nice to be able to say that.

robb is a fine player. cringe every time tiernan collects ball. he simply knows no fear. he throws his body out there every weekend. and we have no replacement for him.

A mixed bag of emotions;delighted at a great win,though muddled play at times.But for me my memory will be of Masterson in agony; absolutely awful.I hope to God its not career ending.Right now for me our position in the Pro12 is a second thought.

connachta wrote: AJ MacGinty tackles made 13 missed 0
But there's more impressive McCartney did 16 missed 0! Stunning

Thought McCartney was excellent,put in a lot of work.

mikey wrote: A mixed bag of emotions;delighted at a great win,though muddled play at times.But for me my memory will be of Masterson in agony; absolutely awful.I hope to God its not career ending.Right now for me our position in the Pro12 is a second thought.

Any further news on Masterson? Besides the tweet by Connacht Rugby from a few hours ago saying he's gone to hospital for scans. Looked so bad, hope he's alright. Puts a bit of perspective on things.

green13 wrote:

mikey wrote: A mixed bag of emotions;delighted at a great win,though muddled play at times.But for me my memory will be of Masterson in agony; absolutely awful.I hope to God its not career ending.Right now for me our position in the Pro12 is a second thought.

Any further news on Masterson? Besides the tweet by Connacht Rugby from a few hours ago saying he's gone to hospital for scans. Looked so bad, hope he's alright. Puts a bit of perspective on things.

Simply could not watch the replays. First time was bad enough

Still no update on young Masterson on Twitter,Facebook or Connacht website....anyone know how he is?

he's going back to galway for further assessment. at least it's not a leg break although a bad knee ligament could be worse.

clanman wrote: he's going back to galway for further assessment. at least it's not a leg break although a bad knee ligament could be worse.

Torn ligaments was on my mind.Lets all hope for something simple and easily repairable.

What was the nature of the injury to Heenan?

McNamara wrote: What was the nature of the injury to Heenan?

So far nothing on Heenan or Ronaldson; as for young Masterson today's Indo says "bad news expected".