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Frank Murphy injured or not selected?

From Connacht Rugby site:

Connacht have announced a 22 man squad for their Magners League clash with Edinburgh in Murrayfield on Friday (kick off: 7.30pm).

Adrian Flavin has recovered from a leg injury to be included for the first time since featuring against the Ospreys in February and Kieran Campbell returns to the squad after returning from Ireland's 7's campaign in Dubai.

Connacht squad:
Liam Bibo, Andrew Browne, Kieran Campbell, Fionn Carr, Sean Cronin, Mel Deane, Gavin Duffy, Andy Dunne, Andrew Farley, Adrian Flavin, David Gannon, Ian Keatley, Ronan Loughney, Keith Matthews, Robbie Morris, John Muldoon, Troy Nathan, Johnny O'Connor, Ray Ofisa, Conor O'Loughlin, Michael Swift, Brett Wilkinson.


Considering injuries it should be a strong enough squad. Typically they do not mention why Murphy is not in the squad.

I'm assuming there's a good chance the likes of Gannon, Bibo and maybe Browne have been told they are surplus to needs for next season. I wonder how that might affect their play?

what the feck is "CONNECT"??????????

jay-sus LDTT didn't think all ye lads in Sligo had changed yer accents.

I'd be disgusted if Connacht let Andrew Browne go.He has made massive strides this season,he's very young yet so hopefully there is more to come and he's a local lad.I'd imagine Mel Deane will be let go.For David Gannon he's playing for his rugby future.His recent repositioning may see him be kept on.Bibo?I hope he stays but he may be let go or he may want to head home?

Most of the players being released I'd imagine are outside this 22 so we are unlikely to see many changes in the last few games even if they mean nothing.

I'm glad we will see Campbell/O'Loughlin will get a start tomorrow as they will be here next season so we need to start looking at them as players who need to be given a chance.

Yeah, I don't think Browne is likely to be let go. I'm just trying to work out who the several players mentioned in the Irish Times piece might be and he, like Bibo and Gannon, is out of contract at the end of the season I believe.

Bibo has been handy enough to have around but if it meant Connacht could get their hands on a genuine finisher, I would give him up. Gannon might be the most likely of the three to be shown the door. He hasn't quite lived up the promise he showed a couple of seasons ago. A change of scenery might do him some good.

Would expect it too be only a handfull of fringe players being axed, never a good sign for a team that already lacks depth. Is bringing in 1 player from down under justified by axing a lot more from a small squad!!

To the Edinburgh game, hope the likes of Patterson are rested, should be travelling down for it friday to make some noise. Heard about travelling numbers and hope to see ye over here. Murrayfeild generally isnt a good fixture for Connacht in the past, but neither was beating Munster and Leinster at home!! Still disappoined over the Scarlets, Ospreys and Cardiff games (all really seemed to slip after losing at the RDS!!)

Andrew Browne should be getting more game time, once heard Brads apoligising to him after sending on Swifty by accident instead of Browne, said something stupid like "sorry, thought it was a backrow replacement" when Farley was coming off. Hes an up and coming player. Lets just hope that Bradley has something up his sleeve for the summer signings. Im sure he has, he always leaves us suprised (and occasionaly confused)

To be fair to Bibo, he did pretty alright to keep a lid on Howlett for 80mins, justs lacks a killer attacking edge. Always fed into the perception of wingers being essentially tryscorers

Quote:

Bull Thick With Drink
what the feck is "CONNECT"??????????
jay-sus LDTT didn't think all ye lads in Sligo had changed yer accents.

Oh Jaysus.... MORTO!!! I am never gonna live this one down. If anyone needs me, I'll be hiding under this rock here

Hopefully Browne will get some more game-time. After all he is the Aer Arainn player of the month!!

FMurphy being left out is probably because of contract talks (with someone else). Leinster are probably sniffing around looking for a scrum-half. They can have him if Campbell can deliver on the sparks of quality he showed in the few appearances he has made.
It's a strong team, so hopefully we'll be able to deliver a good performance.

I think Frank Murphy is on a two year deal so if he left to go elsewhere it would be a decent windfall for us as they would have to pay up the value of his contract.I wonder is it Munster after him? With Stringer linked to Leinster and their big prospect Duncan Williams permanently injured and with Mike Prendergast being released who will be fightin it out with O'Leary next year.Leinster have been linked with virtually every scrum half in the northern hemisphere.Thats one signing they need to get right.

1 question on the team what is Andrew Browne doing in the back row?He was doing very well in the 2nd row and he doesn't seem the type of player who is suited to the back row.David Gannon had been doing ok in the back row.It makes no sense.

No real complaints with the rest of the team.i would prefer carr at full back and Troy on the wing but Troy did ok at full back v Cardiff so I'm prepared to see how he does there again.

In relation to the injuries I think Colm Rigney is injured as well.Also if ever conformation was needed of the need to ship certain players out it is in the injured list.Donnelly,Hearty and Mike Roberts are permanently injured and if they and their likes are in the Connacht squad for next season we can forget it.

Nothing against those players but we have a small enough budget without carrying baggage.

From main site:

Connacht have made two changes and one positional switch ahead of their Magners League clash against Edinburgh in Murrayfield on Friday (kick off: 7.30pm).

Kieran Campbell starts at scrumhalf while Michael Swift is recalled to the second row with Andrew Browne reverting to the backrow.

Connacht team (v Edinburgh):
T Nathan; L Bibo, G Duffy, K Matthews, F Carr; I Keatley, K Campbell; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Morris; M Swift, A Farley; A Browne, R Ofisa, J Muldoon (C).

Replacements: A Flavin, R Loughney, D Gannon, J O'Connor; C O'Loughlin, A Dunne, M Deane.

Not considered due to injury:
T Donnelly (knee), J Hearty (hip), M McCarthy (foot), M Roberts (hip), N Ta'auso (leg).

Browne in the backrow??? Seriuosly somethings up there!! With JOC on the bench, its a certainty that Browne wont get 80mins in at the backrow. Might even move into the second row after a while for Swifty. Any word on Ta'ausos injury at all? To have such a player injured for the time that hes been, softens the squad.

Glad to see Campbell getting a turn with the reins, quality player but with the chance of Murphy available he would definetly get the nod. Looking forward to this one!!

Any of the Munster cast-off's any good for us. Could we make use of Pucciarello for instance?

Was just lookin the Edinburgh team looks strong.No resting players or anything.Their season hinges on a strong finish to the ML at this stage.Can't see us getting a win there but a good,competitive performance with further signs of progress is a reasonable goal.

Its a big few weeks coming up for Connacht.By the time the Northampton game is over we will know whether we are making sustained progress and we will know the line up of the squad for next season.

Anyone know if it's on radio (or any other medium)?

If it's on at all, it'll be on here.


http://www.magnersleague.com/live

Select "Live Updates", then choose Edinburgh V Connacht from the drop down field on the right.

10-0 down. could be more. Why was johnny not picked? is he injured?
Is Bradley not targeting this game? What's the deal?

From Edinburgh Rugby site:

HALF TIME: EDINBURGH 13-0 CONNACHT
Friday, 27 March 2009

A lethargic opening from Edinburgh was brought to life by a bundled over try from rookie prop Kyle Traynor on 20 minutes with Chris Paterson adding the extras. Paterson has since added a further six points with two penalties.

Edinburgh started brightly and attacked Connacht’s line with real purpose, but the away side were awarded a penalty on 10 minutes.

Nevertheless the home side were let off when Connacht stand-off Ian Keatley scuffed his effort at goal. He has since missed another effort as well to keep the scoreline intact.

Alan MacDonald was forced to go off to receive treatment for a cut head, so Matt Mustchin replaced him in the pack.

The opening exchanges were stop-start with neither side seizing control. Edinburgh seemed to have superior quality, but repeatedly fell foul of referee David Bodilly’s whistle; including one for checking which seemed slightly wide of the mark.

We might be being hammered on the pitch, obviously not a targeted match, but at least Eddie the Eagle won the half time race between the team mascots - GO EDDIE!!!!

For Connacht to have any hope they needed to be the first to score in the 2nd half and, with Ross Ford going over for an unconverted try, that has not happened. It looks very bleak at 18-0 down.

Correct that down 25-0. Just awful.

25 - 0 with 54 minutes played.




ouch

yellow for Connacht. Thats all we need.

Ofisa to the bin. Me thinks that signals the end of my interest as far as the prediction league is concerned.

In the grasping at straws department; apparently a Connacht team a man down are able to contain a full strength Edinburgh side. Victory!

Looks like Nathan in for a score which does not appear to have been converted. Keatley left his boots in Galway maybe?

My apologies to Ian, it was Dunne that missed the last kick.

It is done. They could not even prevent giving up a try bonus point (which really sunk my prediction). Again fron the Edinburgh site:

FINAL SCORE: EDINBURGH 32-5 CONNACHT
Friday, 27 March 2009

During a frustrating night for Edinburgh, Connacht reduced the deficit through Troy Nathan but the home side scored their fourth try of the night through vice captain Allister Hogg with only seconds remaining.

In the second half, the colossus from Kelso, hooker Ross Ford bulldozed his way over the line to score following an enterprising move involving the entire team, but Chris Paterson struck the post with his conversion attempt.

Then moments later the 'pocket rocket' Andrew Turnbull turned on the gas down the right wing to score a thrilling try in the corner to give Edinburgh a sizeable lead.

A lethargic opening from Edinburgh was brought to life by a bundled over try from rookie prop Kyle Traynor on 20 minutes with Chris Paterson adding the extras. Paterson has since added a further six points with two penalties.

Edinburgh started brightly and attacked Connacht’s line with real purpose, but the away side were awarded a penalty on 10 minutes.

Nevertheless the home side were let off when Connacht stand-off Ian Keatley scuffed his effort at goal. He has since missed another effort as well to keep the scoreline intact.

Alan MacDonald was forced to go off to receive treatment for a cut head, so Matt Mustchin replaced him in the pack.

The opening exchanges were stop-start with neither side seizing control. Edinburgh seemed to have superior quality, but repeatedly fell foul of referee David Bodilly’s whistle; including one for checking which seemed slightly wide of the mark.

Connacht were struck a double injury blow in the second half when scrum half Kieran Campbell and Michael Swift limped off with injuries to be replaced by David Gannon and Conor O'Loughlin.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:03:27:21:25:54 by RogueXV.

I know it's Edinburgh at home with 14 Scottish internationals, but you do hope for a better showing. I think a fork can definitely be stuck in Connacht's ML campaign as a route to the HEC now.

Full time: 32-5
Good work Bradley. Clown!

Well another hammering.Worryingly this is the first bad hammering we have had with effectively our first choice available XV this season.Really we should have been able to put up a better show.I have great respect for Edinburgh and Andy Robinson.They are a solid mid table team and play a nice brand of rugby as well but having said all that we should not be 27 points worse than them.It was Edinburgh's first game together in 2 months and they have come off the back of 5 bruising test games in the space of 7 weeks.

While everything else in the world of Irish rugby is rosy with the senior team winning the gs,women and u20's doing well in the 6n and Munster and Leinster well on course to be in contention for 2 big trophies.Ulster are going the right way again and are developing lots of young Irish players.Where are Connacht cut adrift at the bottom of the league again.

The only positive I am clinging to is a lot of players will be released this week.Its time to get serious or get off the pot.That goes for all parties involved with Connacht Rugby.We need to see proper investment in the squad.Having not seen the game tonight I can't comment but even allowing for the fact our squad is quite lightweight in terms of quality We still had enough quality on the pitch tonight to be competitive.

As supporters we can't tolerate this anymore look at our closest rivals the Dragons under the shrewd coaching of Paul Turner they have dragged themselves up from being a laughing stock like ourselves to being a team that is starting to be treated with due respect.They brought in quality not quantity form the southern hemisphere to back up their existing pool of talent within the squad and in the last couple of days have signed an all black scrum half and a former junior all black with experience at 4 different super 14 teams.While we have signed Upton for next season we need 3-4 players of the sort of experience and quality that Dragons are bringing in and supplement this by bringing in players in the positions where they are desperately needed like prop and wing.

I personally have enough of wasters the likes of (I'd like to mention names but it won't achieve anything).These sort of fellas who are going around town like they are somebody.Thing of all the people who desperately need a job to keep their bills and mortgages paid and these guys have the chance to be guaranteed payment of wages every week for doing a job they love while getting all the perks associated with it.

This is where the budget of Connacht is going and has been going for years and frankly I don't wonder why the other provinces say we don't deserve any more.Local players like Peter Durcan who need a start in the game being replaced by journeymen who have no pride in the Connacht jersey and who will move on to bleed some other club dry.Other former players like Van Myburgh,Venter,Gallagher the list goes on.

Give Irish and Connacht players a chance and if we are bringing in players from abroad let them have a record of not having been out for half their career with injuries and let them have some track record in the game.

Why are the IRFU happy to see their money and precious playing resources being wasted to the high heavens by a coach who is out of his depth/doesn't give a fling @#$%&.Ian Keatley I see missed 2 pens in first half tonight and this continues the downward spiral in his performances.

Fionn Carr started the season from full back like a player who'd finish the season in the top 3 of the ml try scoring list and has since been exploited defensively on the wing while offering very little in attack.Frank Murphy,David Gannon are other players who have gone backwards,the list goes on.Danny Riordan has been criminally underused and has been completely cut adrift by Bradley who prefers to have a 34 year old journeyman on the bench.

I don't know is it just a case with some players that they have slipped in to a comfort zone or that they know they will play every week or whatever but the coach is not getting the most out of the player.Maybe its the demands of a first full season of pro rugby getting to some guys but that is not the case with the likes of frank murphy and david gannon who are experienced pros.

Also the whole Frank Muphy thing has been handled terribly.Diom was suggesting here that he was in contracts with another club and that was the reason why he wasn't selected.Fair enough if you like and no word on the list of injured players and then comes word on knockon.ie that he was ruled out by a calf injury.Now surely if that was the case they would have known that on Wednesday as he wasn't listed in the squad of 22 on Wednesday.

We have seen snippets this year to indicate real progress but as with everything these weren't converted to wins despite our clear superiority.Discipline,composure,decision making,substitions all got wrong at vital junctures in the games we lost.

It really continues to look a hopeless situation.Progress has been made in certain areas and we had a couple of key injuries tonight I won't deny that but ultimately sport is measured in results and for as long as I can remember all I have heard coming out of Connacht is aww we have been unlucky,bounce of the ball,refereeing decisions,linesman decisions,injuries,performance level was good,lots of positives to build on and all this bullshit.Connacht winning and putting points on the board and making progress in Europe is the only thing that matters in professional sport and this amateur ethos needs to be removed.You will always find a scapegoat.I am following the Galway hurlers for long enough to realise that.There's always some excuse at the ready.

A fresh broom to wipe the slate clean and a fresh start or else extinction.Its an easy choice and its one that can't be put off any longer.

Gerry Kelly said in his interview at the start of the season that the aim was to finish ahead of Dragons and Ulster.It was clear from after the defeat to Llanelli that we were not going to achieve that or even come close.

Us supporters have been quiet for far too long its time to take a firm stance now and accept the future of Connacht rugby is hanging by the slimmest of threads.In an economic recession with jobs going,businesses closing and with people not knwoing how they are going to survive the next week let alone the next year its time to say either use the publics money wisely or step aside.

I don't expect us to be challenging at the top of the lague but I expect our season to stay alive at least until the clocks go forward.I was kidding myself thinking we had a chance of beating Northampton with the mess Connacht rugby is in.

To finish on a positive well done to Mervue on their win tonight.There's is a spirit and a well run club that Connacht would do well to replicate albeit on a much larger scale.

when are the rugby loving public of connacht wake up and shout out that this (and a host of other results this year)is simply not good enough!!!.
I said before and i will say it once more for the cheap seats.
BRADLEY WALK & WALK NOW!!!

Every season we are saying to ourselves "Ah sure there is always next year" and the horror of this is that year on year we are saying it earlier and earlier in each season.

I used to love going to the games (the targeted ones whichever they are) at home,season ticket holder and used to get people to go along to the games from work.

Not so anymore.

The present Staff have made no improvments on the pitch with their lack of guidanceand as for the ECC connacht would be doing very weel to get within losing bonus range!i know that its a win-lose game but you get my drift!

Edinburgh 32 Connacht 5 27/03/2009 More to follow ....

thats all the branch can say!
looking forward to the usual
"Connacht went down to a very stong Edinburgh team BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!

Is there any ray of light out there???
slan
S

Firstly, good to see a good crowd over, hope the Galwegian 3rds enjoyed themselves along with Eddie the Eagle.

Bibo and Nathan were just dreadfull in defense, no excuses! Moments of pure comedy came from Troy in the first half while chasing his own up and under, was caught by not looking for the ball and running blindly towards the Edinburgh 22 only for the ball to bob off his head. Duffy isnt a centre, cant break a tackle, just seemed to be going through the motions - get the ball in, run a bit, go down, recycle- to me thats not really rugby!

Got to say JOC was unlucky not to collect the intercept in the second half. Conor O'Loughlin was imense when he came on, just a pity he was left isolated as his forwards werent in the same attacking mind from tap penalty situations. Another strong performer was Matthews who put in bonecrushing tackles throughout. Also the dependable Hookers (Cronin and Flavin) had good games putting in the hits and Cronin neasrly outpacing the wingers to collect his kick through.

Any word on Swiftys injury?? seemed to be out cold for sometime.

There was one comical try for Edinburgh, cant remember who it was who scored, but having a constant overlap a forward decided to take it on himself and was apparently wrapped up by 2 Connacht players (Bibo, Nathan - I think) being still 7-8m out the forward knew he couldnt offload and after sometime just decided to go through the soft defense to be pulled down over the Connacht line - pathetic defense!! Couldnt have helped him anymore by pulling him down over YOUR tryline from a position several metres out.

To add to the comical theme, Patterson missed 2 kicks. The outcome of the first miss shocked me on two accounts. First that Patterson missed and sadly also for Troys attmpted catch of the ball dropping under the post. All be it, dropping low towards his feet, he fumbled it only for it to bob around behind the tryline for an eternity, and nearly lead to another Edinburgh try, amaturish at best!

Jim Hamillton is a monster - FACT! the question could start being taken literally "Are we in the same league as these teams?" - Just reflect on the great times this year of beating Leinster and Munster and take into consideration of getting rid of Connacht Rugby. We all know what this team is capable of, but we dont have the squad to produce results through times of injuries. Lets hope that if/when the Italian teams enter the Magners League that we can use this to our advantage.

Quote:

YoungBlood
We all know what this team is capable of, but we dont have the squad to produce results through times of injuries. Lets hope that if/when the Italian teams enter the Magners League that we can use this to our advantage.

Ya but we were only missing McCarthy,Rigney and Ta'auso last night.I know what you are saying and I agree with you but it isn't like other stages in the season when we had the injuries piling up.The team fielded last night surely is much better than 32-5 v Edinburgh.Having said that its time to get real from the cb or get out.

Where's the F**king pride?????

God that was depressing, definitely time for Bradley to go, there's no way he's getting the best out of those players

Yuck.

BN2 I 100% agree. It's time for the cull to begin. Get rid of all the old useless rubble that is lying about (we all know who they are).
Replace them with young Connacht talent. The start of the next season replace the ones who will never make it with new young talent from Connacht (or in the worst case scenario with youth from other parts of Ireland). Incentivise the youth of Connacht, make sure they know that they are going to get a chance at the big time if they play rugby in this province.
Sure we are gonna get messed up a bit for the first year, heck we could even finish last for a couple of seasons (!!), but in the end we would have a team of motivated players, playing for THEIR team, playing with pride and not just looking at it as a stop-gap.
Of course all of this starts with heads rolling from the top down. Bradley, I have no doubt, has tried his bloody best with this team. The fact of the matter is that he is a failure. There is no other way of looking at it.
CBIRFU also have a lot to answer for. They are meant to be protecting and promoting rugby in Connacht. They are meant to be providing young Connacht players of the highest caliber, but they are not. They have let their team become the play thing of a Cork man! They have sat by and watched a whole generation of Connacht players waste away under a man without a clue.
ACTION REQUIRED.

BN2, by the way, it seems that Mr. Murphy might have been injured afterall.

Close the place down. The current personnel have no pride. It's time for the IRFU to look at value for money in the current economic climate.
It's come to that because Bradley won't just fu@k off, and the Branch seem unable or unwilling to cut his cord.

Don't close the place down. Get some new people in there. Ones who aren't afraid to give something new a go.

Yes in these times re-invention is key.Now is the time where Connacht need to go back to the grassroots and build up a community spirit around the team.The 6.30 kick offs have alienated supporters outside Galway.Even talking to some people at the football yesterday its clear that supporters are being lost with this 6.30 craic.

Building up contacts with local businesses,training sessions with local schools,training sessions around the province,A/u18/u20 games around the province,people want something to distract them from everyday realities in these times and if Connacht can rebrand itself as a team representing Connacht it has a chance of holding its own.

There are lots of rugby people around the province who don't support Connacht for one reason or another.Coaches and Administrators from the local clubs should be met with to discuss how best to get all the rugby playing and supporting population as is possible with kick off times into the sportsground.

Either way whatever view is held it is abundantly clear that things can't continue to drift along as they are.We don't need a massive overhaul in the squad to make it competitive but we need a massive overhaul of the structures and the lack of planning or goals being set on the professional side of Connacht Rugby.

If there's one thing that will convince people to come to The Sportsground it'll be that they know they are coming to watch a team that is playing to the best of its ability and is giving itself a good shot at winning games. That is not happening and I believe it will never happen under the current coaching regime. I don't know anything about the politics that go on, or what kind of coaching budget we have but surely we can do better? I doubt Bradley would get a Job at any other Magners League team or team of a similar level. We shouldn't let superb victories over Leinster and Munster and another decent cup run gloss over the fact that, unbelievably, our away form actually seems to be getting worse and once again we are firmly rooted to the foot of the table with our annual dream of Heineken Cup qualification dashed long before the season is over. All of us who go to the sporstground regularly can see that these players are capable of much, much better, would anyone disagree with that?



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2009:03:31:14:32:13 by denisdmenace.

Quote:

denisdmenace
All of us who go to the sporstground regularly can see that these players are capable of much better, would anyone disagree with that?

Cue silence....



===============================================
I see the future, and it's Green again...

Attendances in Galway are always difficult.
Galway United were top of the league going into a
'Connacht Derby', yet only 1389 travelled up the dyke road including about 200 from sligo.
I agree though that they should experiment with changing the kickoff times and days. 630pm on a friday with the cross town traffic is difficult.

Let's throw maroon jerseys on the lads and tell everyone they're playing Mayo. Maybe that will help draw a crowd.