Toulouse v Connacht Jan 22nd 2017 - Match Thread

Gotta love the effort from the lads, result didn't go our way but Toulouse were the better team on the day so can't complain too much.

Feel bad for Peter Robb, so much of what he did yesterday was good (huge hits and we only really started looking dangerous when he started to make yards in midfield) but some mistakes that were purely down to not knowing the 13 role well enough cost us

Cardiff next, should have a few more back so looking for a good performance and a win

Feel for Robb alright...... but thought on the whole he was poor if I am honest. he can tackle when in close and on the fringes of rucks, he can carry direct, but that's it for me. His size and physicality is his thing, I always think that the way he plays will lead to lots of injuries, no matter how big he is.

The player who I thought stood out and was terrific was James Cannon. Left nothing out there, huge effort.

Disappointing result, I thought it was always going to be a tough place to get a result but we should have got one.
Toulouse were tearing us to shred in the first half and yet it was only 14-3.
They were well on top and for better finishing and a kicker we wouldnt have had a chance. But we did have a chance.
All week , I was hoping that we would still be in the game with 15mins to go and we were.
With 10 minutes to go we were doing well in front of the posts and someone decides to go wide and throw a skip pass to Healy. We didnt need a try we just needed three points. People saying Carty played well but he should have demanded the ball and at least of had a shot. Very poor leadership. It was a great chance to get the three points. With three points in the bag the pressure would have been all on Toulouse.
Having been second best all day we should have been ahead ahead in the qualification stakes. We left it behind us.
I know Muldoon said they were trying for the big Try score but that was crap. Rule one take your points in that position.
Proud of how they fought against a bigger stronger side but a bit mire smarts and we could have been planing a trip to Limerick where we would have been ok going after last years result.
I still think we can put a run together to get in the top six. We have Zebre to play which should give us 5 points

Benji wrote: Disappointing result, I thought it was always going to be a tough place to get a result but we should have got one.
Toulouse were tearing us to shred in the first half and yet it was only 14-3.
They were well on top and for better finishing and a kicker we wouldnt have had a chance. But we did have a chance.
All week , I was hoping that we would still be in the game with 15mins to go and we were.
With 10 minutes to go we were doing well in front of the posts and someone decides to go wide and throw a skip pass to Healy. We didnt need a try we just needed three points. People saying Carty played well but he should have demanded the ball and at least of had a shot. Very poor leadership. It was a great chance to get the three points. With three points in the bag the pressure would have been all on Toulouse.
Having been second best all day we should have been ahead ahead in the qualification stakes. We left it behind us.
I know Muldoon said they were trying for the big Try score but that was crap. Rule one take your points in that position.
Proud of how they fought against a bigger stronger side but a bit mire smarts and we could have been planing a trip to Limerick where we would have been ok going after last years result.
I still think we can put a run together to get in the top six. We have Zebre to play which should give us 5 points

We will debate the decision making for ever and to be honest I think Muldoon was correct at the time - 5 points and a penalty/drop goal for them not sufficient. Great fighting effort and proud of the way they fronted up in second half!

Time now to move on!

Podge57 wrote:

Benji wrote: Disappointing result, I thought it was always going to be a tough place to get a result but we should have got one.
Toulouse were tearing us to shred in the first half and yet it was only 14-3.
They were well on top and for better finishing and a kicker we wouldnt have had a chance. But we did have a chance.
All week , I was hoping that we would still be in the game with 15mins to go and we were.
With 10 minutes to go we were doing well in front of the posts and someone decides to go wide and throw a skip pass to Healy. We didnt need a try we just needed three points. People saying Carty played well but he should have demanded the ball and at least of had a shot. Very poor leadership. It was a great chance to get the three points. With three points in the bag the pressure would have been all on Toulouse.
Having been second best all day we should have been ahead ahead in the qualification stakes. We left it behind us.
I know Muldoon said they were trying for the big Try score but that was crap. Rule one take your points in that position.
Proud of how they fought against a bigger stronger side but a bit mire smarts and we could have been planing a trip to Limerick where we would have been ok going after last years result.
I still think we can put a run together to get in the top six. We have Zebre to play which should give us 5 points

We will debate the decision making for ever and to be honest I think Muldoon was correct at the time - 5 points and a penalty/drop goal for them not sufficient. Great fighting effort and proud of the way they fronted up in second half!

Time now to move on!

Muldoon was wrong to not get Carty to take the drop goal. But sure we only needed to finish within 7 to go through. Get your score and tackle and defend like your life depend on it.
In regards Time to move on. Why is is time to move on ? Some are the supporters are still in France and Im sure they will have their say. Its a forum for supporters to talk about the game. I dont think its wrong to be discussing a game that only happened yesterday. There was a chance to put us ahead of them for a qtr final spot and it wasnt taken.

From what I can gather from Muldoon's and Lam's interviews the call on 76 minutes was to go for the drop goal, but a couple of the players got mixed up with calls and went blindside. You can't fault Muldoon & Carty for someone going on a solo run.

As for the one round the 70 minute mark that was Mul's call to go for the try and he defintely has to carry the can for that one. Granted there was quite a while left but you take the points when they're available, Toulouse hadn't scored for 25 minutes at that stage, and we were well set in the centre of the pitch.

it's not in the players DNA anymore to play a munster style hold on to the ball for territory, it's a shame the players don't have that in their armoury or at 76 mins the forwards would have done what every team does and that's the forwards do a pick and go edging towards the center of the pitch for a drop goal, sounds so simple when I type it

A superb effort against the odds. We nearly did it too.

So what does all this mean? Is the Pro 12 now our only hope of Champions Cup qualification for next season? If that's the case we've a lot more to play for this season.

Big D.P. wrote: A superb effort against the odds. We nearly did it too.

So what does all this mean? Is the Pro 12 now our only hope of Champions Cup qualification for next season? If that's the case we've a lot more to play for this season.

Nineteen clubs will qualify automatically for the 2017/18 European Rugby Champions Cup in the following ways :.

• PRO12: The seven highest-ranked clubs based on their finishing positions in the league. The seven qualifiers must include at least one club from each of Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.

• TOP 14: The six highest-ranked clubs based on their finishing positions in the league.

• Aviva Premiership: The six highest-ranked clubs based on their finishing positions in the league.

In accordance with the Heads of Agreement drawn up by the nine unions, federations and league bodies, the 20th place in the Champions Cup will be decided by a series of play-off matches.

The play-offs will include the following clubs:

The seventh-ranked club from the TOP 14, or the winner of the Challenge Cup if from the TOP 14 and not already qualified for the Champions Cup.
The seventh-ranked club from the Aviva Premiership, or the winner of the Challenge Cup if from the Aviva Premiership and not already qualified for the Champions Cup.
The eight and ninth-ranked clubs from the PRO12, or the winner of the Challenge Cup if from the PRO12 and not already qualified for the Champions Cup. This club will take the place in the play-offs of the ninth-ranked club.
19-21 May 2017

Play-off 1: Aviva Premiership v PRO12

Play-off 2: TOP 14 v PRO12

The PRO12 clubs' opponents to be decided by a draw

The Premiership and TOP 14 clubs will have home advantage

26-28 May 2017

Play-off Final: winner Play-off 1 v winner Play-off 2

Home advantage to be decided by a draw

The winner of the Play-off Final will take the 20th place in the 2017/18 Champions Cup

So that suggests we'll make some CC playoffs at worst.

Not too bad I suppose.

Podge57 wrote:

Big D.P. wrote: A superb effort against the odds. We nearly did it too.

So what does all this mean? Is the Pro 12 now our only hope of Champions Cup qualification for next season? If that's the case we've a lot more to play for this season.

Nineteen clubs will qualify automatically for the 2017/18 European Rugby Champions Cup in the following ways :.

• PRO12: The seven highest-ranked clubs based on their finishing positions in the league. The seven qualifiers must include at least one club from each of Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.

• TOP 14: The six highest-ranked clubs based on their finishing positions in the league.

• Aviva Premiership: The six highest-ranked clubs based on their finishing positions in the league.

In accordance with the Heads of Agreement drawn up by the nine unions, federations and league bodies, the 20th place in the Champions Cup will be decided by a series of play-off matches.

The play-offs will include the following clubs:

The seventh-ranked club from the TOP 14, or the winner of the Challenge Cup if from the TOP 14 and not already qualified for the Champions Cup.
The seventh-ranked club from the Aviva Premiership, or the winner of the Challenge Cup if from the Aviva Premiership and not already qualified for the Champions Cup.
The eight and ninth-ranked clubs from the PRO12, or the winner of the Challenge Cup if from the PRO12 and not already qualified for the Champions Cup. This club will take the place in the play-offs of the ninth-ranked club.
19-21 May 2017

Play-off 1: Aviva Premiership v PRO12

Play-off 2: TOP 14 v PRO12

The PRO12 clubs' opponents to be decided by a draw

The Premiership and TOP 14 clubs will have home advantage

26-28 May 2017

Play-off Final: winner Play-off 1 v winner Play-off 2

Home advantage to be decided by a draw

The winner of the Play-off Final will take the 20th place in the 2017/18 Champions Cup

So really it's the top 6 teams from the Pro12 when you take the Italian teams into consideration. Top 6 is a big ask for us, Ulster are the only team we have a hope of catching, and they're 12 points ahead of us...

Of the Challenge Cup quarter finalists Edinburgh, La Rochelle, Cardiff, and Stade look unlikely to qualify through the league, Brive and Gloucester are borderline, and Bath and Ospreys are looking good.

So I make that an optimistic 50% chance the playoff even happens.

If it did and the league standings were the same as now we'd have to travel to Harlequins or Bordeaux. Very tough, but doable.

Win that and I think we're at the mercy of the draw. I'd very much fancy us at home to Cardiff or either of those two.

I think we can do it

The Challenge Cup winners only make the playoffs if they don't qualify through their league, so the playoffs will happen.

If we finish 7th we're in the playoffs regardless of who wins the CC.

Mark Mostyn wrote:

Podge57 wrote:

Big D.P. wrote: Of the Challenge Cup quarter finalists Edinburgh, La Rochelle, Cardiff, and Stade look unlikely to qualify through the league, Brive and Gloucester are borderline, and Bath and Ospreys are looking good.

La Rochelle are second and 13 points ahead of Bordeaux in Top 14. I think they should qualify through the league. 7th will be between Bordeaux, Brive and maybe Racing. In Premiership, Quins or Gloucester, maybe Leicester if current form continues.