Was at the Zebre game, watching from the Clan Terrace, fairly focused on the game until my better half nudges me during a break in play to tell me that Bundee's other half has gone back to New Zealand!!! A few lads standing behind us were talking to my missus about it. You know the saying "happy wife/happy life", judging by her Twitter account she's over the moon........to be back home. There could be trouble ahead.

Looking at the matches Edinburgh have played, they have 4 of the 5 hardest away games already played and despite getting 3 trouncings, they did pick up 4 points from Munster, if we got 4 points from the corresponding four games we'd be delighted.

Our win away to them was very important even if it was a poor game. I no longer calculate up potential points as it inevitably goes haywire and wrecks my head but suffice to say if we are hoping to finish above them its crucial we do the double over them.

If you look to the fixtures till the end, Edinburgh has 6 games to win in my opinion. So we need 4 wins, very realistic. I Think if we beat Scarlets our chances for a 7th play-off spot are up to 75%.. For 6th it would be a 50/50, I don't imagine we can edge Scarlets though, I will be already happy to grab the best result we would ever have had..

Oh really? BP with only 24 points on the board... doesn't matter, we'll be ahead of them by winning in the RDS :whistle:

And this time I'm sure, No BP for either Edinburgh nor Cardiff, good for us

connachta wrote: Watched London Welsh

Ps Leinster draw in Treviso, we're 5th in the table :ohmy:

Leinster did pick up 4 tries so get 3 points to put us down to 6th but they'll be desperately disappointed with that result. Fanning with two more tries to add to his growing collection. Jamie Hagan got some action off the bench.

Watched London Welsh

1) probably worst team in top tier european rugby
2) probably best jersey in top tier european rugby
3) I insist till last spring but I really consider Peter Browne as a very good potential recruit for us : he's IQ, he should not have many choices if he wants to escape relegation (so low money), he's a solid tackler, decent lineout catcher, very correct ball carrier able to offload, can play 5/6/8, in brief the perfect squad player...

Ps Leinster draw in Treviso, we're 5th in the table :ohmy:

Bundee to score a couple of tries, Mils also a brace!

little risky bet :
With White Heenan and McCartney in the team, in February, Connacht will officialy be named New-Zealand A team :woohoo:

Mils had his first full contact training session today. All went well apparently. Available for Friday.

Mills is on bbc 2 now !!!

Tom Court Eoin Griffin and fergus Mulchrone lost 38 to 6 at Sale

But we're at this point of emergency. LH is the indirect problem of TH shortage, because of White.
Loughney is the natural cover for Buckley, but in my opinion he HAS to be moved back to TH to provide cover for Ah You
Than, for LH, who will be put on the teamsheet with Buckley?
You've the choice between Bealham, Dever and McCartney. I'd like to see the last one for his darts and the experience you underline, even if he will be out of his regular position...

connachta wrote: I Think Lam saw him as a prop as much as a hooker till the beginning. He knew how light we are for LH when he signed him after Wilko retired.
Look at the indications of that on the official statement

"Connacht Sign Super XV Hooker/Prop Tom McCartney"

Highly rated for his impressive strength and work ethic as well as the core skills of throwing, tackling and carrying, the 28-year-old, who weighs in at 110kg, has the ability to play both hooker and prop. Last season, he played in the number 1 jersey in the absence of All Black Tony Woodcock, but has transitioned back to hooker with the Blues this year.

Lam "the coaching staff are excited about bringing in such an experienced hooker who has also proven skillful at Loosehead prop where he played for the Blues and Auckland Rugby. With the unfortunate loss of Brett Wilkinson due to injury, this type of versatility is invaluable for the squad going forward.”

I don't believe he did despite the article tone, Pat saw his as a Hooker who in an emergency can Prop. We have cover at LH in both Loughney & Rodney who can and have played either side of the front row for us...

In terms of our Hooker resources, when you look at JHW as the senior Hooker at the start of the season; even he is still very much a rookie. Since his début for Leinster back in 2009/10 he has made (including appearances form the bench) barely 69 appearances for all his clubs spread over five seasons and a third of those from the bench.. So it's absolutely clear that the area Pat was focusing on was Hooker, the prop experience is a happy bonus which may prove useful at some point n an emergency...

I'm surprised that they haven't looked at getting Heffernan to put on a few pounds, he seems to me to have the frame to bulk up into a prop. listed as 6ft 1" and 107kg but would need to get to 115kg minimum. he's becoming an effective scrummager this season so he could make it as a prop, loosehead obviously. look at Buckley he's not much more than 110kg, different build though

I Think Lam saw him as a prop as much as a hooker till the beginning. He knew how light we are for LH when he signed him after Wilko retired.
Look at the indications of that on the official statement

"Connacht Sign Super XV Hooker/Prop Tom McCartney"

Highly rated for his impressive strength and work ethic as well as the core skills of throwing, tackling and carrying, the 28-year-old, who weighs in at 110kg, has the ability to play both hooker and prop. Last season, he played in the number 1 jersey in the absence of All Black Tony Woodcock, but has transitioned back to hooker with the Blues this year.

Lam "the coaching staff are excited about bringing in such an experienced hooker who has also proven skillful at Loosehead prop where he played for the Blues and Auckland Rugby. With the unfortunate loss of Brett Wilkinson due to injury, this type of versatility is invaluable for the squad going forward.”

salmson wrote:

connachta wrote: Was watching the 15 final minutes against 'spreys. Heff is a very important addition at the breakdown. Buckley played a lot this year until far. If McCartney prooves he's a good enough loosehead, I think Lam must try a McCartney/Heff/Loughney front row, with lineout throws taken by the N-Z newcomer..

I'd agree that with White out McCartney could be used to back up/alternate with Buckley, with Loughs shifting across (again!), especially as we have 3 other fit hookers (JHW, Heff, Delahunt). But if Heff is playing as hooker then he has to throw. Given he couldn't scrummage worth a damn last year and has been brilliant this year, I'm sure he'll iron out any throwing issues in no time at all.

McCartney is coming as a hooker, to bolster our inexperienced resources. He'd have to go on a bulking up program to play prop.....

The Idea I pointed out is Connacht was smashed in the rucks in last 2 games. Except the final 15 minutes of each.. Which had 1 similarty : JHarrisWright off, Heffernan on.

Ok, the opponent teams had nothing to play for, but still. When you look to the Connacht matches until now, including Ospreys, Heff is THE most efficient to clean the rucks. Coincidence : McCartney arrives, Buckley needs a good rest

So, for the Zebre/Scarlets, basically we have to evaluate

What we lost with newcomer McCartney instead of tired Buckley
What we win with Heff ahead of JHW (darts aside, because of McCartney)

The soustraction says if we have to try this or not... For me it's a 50/50, depending on McCartney fitness...

PS : Of course not in long term, with White back, Loughney will be back to LH with Buckley, and we won't have this problem.. Except with lineouts, but we can hope Heff will improve himself.