Connacht (H) - Sunday 19th December 2021 - KO 13:00

[ABClub]

Connacht are 3 from 7 this season. They've won 3 out of 4 home games but lost all 3 games on the road. 2 of the away games were Leinster and Munster though to be fair, they pushed a very strong Munster side extremely close. The home wins include a very convincing win against a strong Ulster side too. Not a team to be underestimated.

I'd expect near full strength with most the rotated players coming back in.

1.Genge (c)
2.Montoya
3.Cole
4.Wells
5.Chessum
6.Martin
7.Reffell
8.Wiese

9.Youngs
10.Ford

11.Nadolo
12.Kelly
13.Moroni
14.Potter
15.Steward

16.Dolly
17.Leatigaga
18.Heyes
19.Green
20.van Staden
21.JvP
22.Hegarty
23.Porter

Notably Genge played the full 80 against Bordeaux which is unusual for a prop these days. I think he'll start here though then potentially get a rest in the away games with Bristol or Falcons.

I really liked having van Staden's power coming on in the second half at the weekend. Reffell and a fresh van Staden together as the opposition tires is a brutal combination at the breakdown.

[markharbtiger]

Well, I am not sure many of us would have chosen the team for Bordeaux, so it's difficult! I vote for whatever team SB chooses...

[Offside]

Well, I am not sure many of us would have chosen the team for Bordeaux, so it's difficult! I vote for whatever team SB chooses...

Absolutely and he can substitute who he wants when he wants.

[markharbtiger]

Well, I am not sure many of us would have chosen the team for Bordeaux, so it's difficult! I vote for whatever team SB chooses...

Absolutely and he can substitute who he wants when he wants.

I'm waiting for Ellis to be selected on the wing. If you heard the recent 'The good the bad and the rugby' podcast with guests Ellis and Freddie, I think he said he scored two tries in a final at a more junior level in that position!

[KiwiTig]

I agree fellas ..not sure what side will be selected but I think we all know it will be a squad capable of winning and will compete with anyone

[tigerburnie]

I hope we maintain our home record and like others am more than happy with whoever from our squad is chosen, we have no weak links in the armour that I can see.

[RagingBull]

currently 10 points up against stade

[Scott1]

1. Van Wyk
2. Montoya
3. Cole
4. Green
5. Wells
6. Martin
7. MVS
8. Weise
9. Youngs
10. Ford
11. Nadolo
12. Kelly
13. Moroni
14. Potter
15. Steward

Genge,Clare,Ladygaga,Chessum,Reffell,JVP,Hegarty,Murivalu

[Offside]

I hope we go full on with a scrummaging scrum looking at Connaught vs Stade. Connaught scrum going backward. They do have a bonus point try though so we will need to be, now customary, tight and hard working in defence.

[TigerFeetSteve]

After spending 80 min on the bench vs Bordeaux, I'd be disappointed if Whitcombe wasn't in the 23 again. (If you had Montoya and Cole on the bench with him it would be a good support around him)

Rest of the team I think go with a similar type of team with some rotation.

If Ford needs a breather, I'd look to have Hegarty at 10 as Ford has a lot of miles under his belt this season even though he didn't play in the prem cup.

Something like this

Steward
Saumaki
Scott
Kelly
Nadolo
Hegarty
JvP
Genge
Dolly
Heyes
Wells
Chessum
Martin
Reffell
Van Staden

Montoya
Whitcombe
Cole
Synman (unless Henderson is back fit)
Wiese
Youngs
Lancaster
Murimurivalu

[OakhamTiger32]

Connacht just beaten Stade Francais 36-9! Not sure about the strength of the Stade side but impressive nonetheless.

I would go:

1. Genge (c)
2.Montoya
3.Cole
4.Wells
5.Snyman
6.Martin
7.Van Staden
8.Wiese

9.Youngs
10.Ford

11.Nadolo
12.Scott
13.Moroni
14.Potter
15.Steward

16.Dolly
17.Leatigaga
18.Heyes
19.Chessum
20.Reffell
21.JvP
22.Hegarty
23.Kelly

[Old Hob]

Interesting stadium, I thought but noticed that a lot of the crowd were masked - very sensibly in my view. Perhaps Robespierre can help us out with what we should make of their result against SF. Weak traveling side?

[LE18]

Interesting stadium, I thought but noticed that a lot of the crowd were masked - very sensibly in my view. Perhaps Robespierre can help us out with what we should make of their result against SF. Weak traveling side?

I thought it was a very strange game, didn't see the start, but Stade seemed very poor to me but strangely were very strong in the scrum, Lots of poor handling, maybe the wind caused that. Connaught scored the tries due to some very poor kicking and defence by Stade, Vieanu had a poor game. I didn't see anything to frighten Tigers, they had a big lad in lineout, just got to watch where we throw it but looks like a comfortable home win to me. COYT.

[ay2oh]

I thought that Stade looked very flat and showed no ambition at all . Their scrum was ok but apart from that were very average. In saying that Connaught took their chances but I would be surprised and disappointed if we did not win comfortably next week.

[ABClub]

Stade haven't been good this season and it was a weak side for an away game. I think the strong Connacht away performance in Munster is probably a better indicator than that win against Stade.

Skipper Yoann Maestri and Sekou Macalou have been injured since October who are big losses. Antoine Burban, Romain Briatte, Pierre-Henri Azagoh, Vasil Kakovin, Giorgi Melikidze, Joris Seconds, Waisea Nayacalevu and Harry Glover were all rotated out. Then Ngani Laumape dropped out late on. Very much a second string.

Harry Glover seems to be doing really well over there since the switch from Sevens which is great to see. He's actually been preferred to Veainu in a couple of recent home games.

I'd expect Tigers to win at home but Connacht will be a good test. They are well coached by Andy Friend, in Carty and Marmion will have a halfback pairing that can control a game very well if given the chance.