Ospreys next up

How are our walking wounded fixed for this major clash next Saturday, we need to a bonus point win over Ospreys who are down so many with their internationals away. Any word on Copeland, O'Brien, Thornbury, Niki Ab, griffin, Ronaldson, masterson and leader.
After watching the video review of Friday's match vs Glasgow we should see a reaction next Saturday and I would expect to see Connacht hitting rucks like Connacht teams of old, a must win game at this stage and so a victory is vital

We need Jack back, Fitzgerald had an absolute nightmare of a day and needs to be taken out of the firing line for a bit. I'd even have Godwin in there at a push as you know his defence is spot on. Could do with at least one of the second rows back but marmion look alright at the weekend and should push on with the extra bit of fitness.

Attitude needs to be better, we'll never win another game if we're going to be bullied like we were by Glasgow.

Based on Inpho training pics, and my intuition

1) Buckley
2) McCartney
3) Bealham
4) Dillane
5) Cannon
6) McKeon
7) Fainga'a
8 ) Butler
9) Marmion
10) Godwin
12) Robb
13) Farrell
14) Fitzgarald
11) Healy??
15) TOH

16) Delahunt
17) McCabe
18) O'Donnell
19) Gallagher
20) Connolly
21) Blade
22) Horwitz/C.McKeon
23) De Buitlear/Joyce/Daly?

I'm sorry but if we don't have Jack Carty available this Irish setup loses huge credibility in my eyes. Bench players are usually released for the gap week games and I don't see any justification why that should change.

Carty played 2 mins on Sunday. This is a game that will go a long way towards deciding if we are in the European Cup next season. Only way to improve Ireland's options is to expose players to high level games and pressure games.

Locking them away in training camps has proven disastrous in the past. Honestly think this policy cost us a real chance in the Cardiff away game already.

Completly untrue. He played way more than 2 min. 3 and a half, nearly 4 with additional time

Copeland is back in full training, O'Brien is out for the season as he requires shoulder surgery, Thornbury is on target for mid-March return, Niyi is not quite ready for this week, Griffin is available for selection, it looks like Ronaldson is out until April at least, Masterson and Leader are not injured.
Carty, Aki and Roux still with Ireland and it is not likely that they will be available for the Ospreys.
The midweek Craggy Rugby podcast will have all the details when it comes out on Thursday morning.

tomsauce2000 wrote: Why do you think Carty won't be available? I assumed he would be.

Joe Schmidt was asked what happened to Bundee against Italy. He said he passed the HIA but the medical staff decided against letting him back on. Schmidt said Bundee was pestering him after the game to be allowed to play for Connacht this weekend because he only played a few minutes against Italy. I doubt he will be allowed though!

I hope Jack is available, my fear is, with Carbery looking dubious for France, Schmidt might not want him risked. Hope I'm wrong...

No Jack

www.the42.ie/connacht-ospreys-andy-frien...ews-4514546-Feb2019/

Bundee and carty not available and Sean out for the season, this is a must win game Saturday, it is now in our own hands, a home game and we just have to win it to have any chance of a top three finish

Connacht had a video up yesterday of all the scrum halfs practicing kicking....at that point I'd guessed Jack was out and that we'd see Godman at 10.
Might mean we'll look to run more from 10 kicking goals might be a problem though

Put McCartney, Roux and Dillane back in the front five with a 10/12/13 axis of Godwin-Daly/Robb/Farrell, ad we should have enough to overpower Ospreys, especially given the Proper Sportsground Weather (TM) predicted. Sale followed by Ospreys away remains the only time we've lost back-to-back games this season so I'd be confident we'll turn them over.

Sol_ie wrote: Remain delighted for Carty, here's hoping he gets a proper chance to show his worth on an international stage. Great to have the second rows back. No mention whether KM is staying west or not, so presume we'll have him for Saturday?

The article above doesn't say whether Bundee is being retained with Ireland or whether he's working his way through HIA protocols. Hope it's the former! Don't think anyone is surprised that he's itching to play this weekend (either with Ireland or us).

SOB out is a blow.

Gotta keep the faith with a lot of the team from last week, I think. For all of the frustrations, if the error count had been a touch lower, the defense a touch tighter, and kicking accuracy a touch better I think we would've had a result (even if only a BP). I would've taken that before the game.

I think Conor Fitz deserves a start at 10 this weekend. Friend was saying after the game that he know's he'll take a lot away from the loss against Glasgow. He's only 21, that was his first start for us (I think?), obviously still not where he wants to be himself. A good weeks training under his belt and a supportive home crowd could be the difference and provide a boost. We need options at 10.

Started away to Sale I think? I remember seeing him for the first time he made a big line break right at the start of the game and De Klerk got carded for an intentional knock on to stop a certain try from it.