Connacht v. Bordeaux - 13th October - 3.00 p.m. KO

salmson wrote:

connachta wrote: Sale going full-strenght in Perpignan, will they rotate a bit next week to prepare their domestic league?

Sale don't have a league game until November 17 (the not-Anglo-Welsh Cup kicks off straight after Europe) so they may be fully loaded against us.

Shit. We're done then. We won't win away vs their main, except if injuries happen tonight in France. Beating 14 Ulstermen in crisis has already been hard

Driving down from the East tomorrow morning if anyone wants a lift. Dublin about 9:30 - 9:45 planning to be in Rabbits for the lunch at 12:00

Lovely day for it!
A win, hopefully bonus point, and to get a few young lads a run out is what today is about.
They won't be writing folk tales about this game.

Underwhelming game. Lack of bonus point is disappointing but I think our focus appears to be on the league. It was the sort of game we were always on top but never comfortable. Bordeaux made a reasonable fist of it in fairness.

With the likes of Clermont and La Rochelle in this and looking like they mean business along with the usual English contenders plus Ospreys our chances of winning this are very slim.

Last year I thought it was a weak competition there to be won but I think quarters would be a decent achievement this year and focus on the league.

Especially after today Ospreys away is a far more important game than Sale.

You have to happy with the win. Not getting a bonus point will put us under next week.

It was great to see the fringe players getting a run out.
McCabe was on fire, and his going off seem to have a big impact on the tempo of the pack. Hope he is available next week.

Very disappointed with the ball carriers they seemed to be running into dead ends all day.
It was a shame we did not got wide more their back 3 looked very poor.
I think we should have tested them more.

Our discipline is the worst l have seen in years.
We must be giving away 15 plus penalties a game.

Jack looks he has no gas in the tank when he came off.
He needs a rest. Could we get a joker with Reese budget?
Fitzgerald looked very nervous and it affectedis game, fingers crossed he can improve. We need him to be a strong back up

The question is who will be available for next week Will bundee be allowed to play?

Well I eventually sold my spare ticket for todays game, but one Kind Bordeaux supporter gave me a free spare ticket for the Clan Terrace, so I had a second Grant Thornton Stand ticket to get rid of, which I eventually did.

Not the best of games weather wise but a win nonetheless, pity we couldn't get the try bonus point.

Anyway here is my video of today's game.

damiengmullen wrote: Hello again.
I still have one spare ticket which I am selling for the @connachtrugby v @Bordeaux @epcrugby @ERChallengeCup match on October 13th. The ticket is for the @GrantThornton Stand. The Face Value is €40 But I am selling for €25.
I will be in Murty Rabbit's this Saturday to hand over the ticket to the buyer.

Tall Paul wrote: You have to happy with the win. Not getting a bonus point will put us under next week.

It was great to see the fringe players getting a run out.
McCabe was on fire, and his going off seem to have a big impact on the tempo of the pack. Hope he is available next week.

Very disappointed with the ball carriers they seemed to be running into dead ends all day.
It was a shame we did not got wide more their back 3 looked very poor.
I think we should have tested them more.

Our discipline is the worst l have seen in years.
We must be giving away 15 plus penalties a game.

Jack looks he has no gas in the tank when he came off.
He needs a rest. Could we get a joker with Reese budget?
Fitzgerald looked very nervous and it affectedis game, fingers crossed he can improve. We need him to be a strong back up

The question is who will be available for next week Will bundee be allowed to play?

McCabe was having a great game, it was his line break that lead to the first try, and scrum was dominant while he was on. He was initially injured in that break, but I don't think it was a re-occurence of the shoulder/arm issue that has blighted him. Some nice running lines and hands from Goodwin, looks a good player. At the end of the first half I was sure we'd get the 5 pts, pack was dominant. We had territory and possession and while it was 15 vs 15, and were on for the 5pts. Copeland getting the bin, Bordeaux sensing they might get something, lots of subs coming on, all caused us to lose shape for a bit. After the 3rd try I thought we were on for the 5pts again, but McKeon’s injury ended that hope.

Bordeaux were not great, but they did not wilt or give up, they fought to the end.

Magpie wrote:

Tall Paul wrote: You have to happy with the win. Not getting a bonus point will put us under next week.

It was great to see the fringe players getting a run out.
McCabe was on fire, and his going off seem to have a big impact on the tempo of the pack. Hope he is available next week.

Very disappointed with the ball carriers they seemed to be running into dead ends all day.
It was a shame we did not got wide more their back 3 looked very poor.
I think we should have tested them more.

Our discipline is the worst l have seen in years.
We must be giving away 15 plus penalties a game.

Jack looks he has no gas in the tank when he came off.
He needs a rest. Could we get a joker with Reese budget?
Fitzgerald looked very nervous and it affectedis game, fingers crossed he can improve. We need him to be a strong back up

The question is who will be available for next week Will bundee be allowed to play?

McCabe was having a great game, it was his line break that lead to the first try, and scrum was dominant while he was on. He was initially injured in that break, but I don't think it was a re-occurence of the shoulder/arm issue that has blighted him. Some nice running lines and hands from Goodwin, looks a good player. At the end of the first half I was sure we'd get the 5 pts, pack was dominant. We had territory and possession and while it was 15 vs 15, and were on for the 5pts. Copeland getting the bin, Bordeaux sensing they might get something, lots of subs coming on, all caused us to lose shape for a bit. After the 3rd try I thought we were on for the 5pts again, but McKeon’s injury ended that hope.

Bordeaux were not great, but they did not wilt or give up, they fought to the end.

How did O'Donnell go at 1 as was in fairly got a good run and looks like he is going to be needed this season.

O'Donnell's scrumaging held up well.

Didn't do too much wrong. I'd be worried about his tackle technique he was just throwing his shoulder into the opposition and not wrapping will get into trouble with it going forward