All good points, borders, but I'd point out you don't know that nothing's on until after a few phases, and our biggest problem in the 22 is coughing up possession cheaply before finding out!

Cheers Sea Point. Thanks for the advice and apologies to Borders!! :whistle:

Getting used to the technology. Also ,I am not fortunate enough , like our Harlequins friend is, to watch the match from the posh seats........................

Wasrednowgreen wrote: You got your win , so stop annoying us with justifications...............

Hope the we get the same 'home' ref at the Sportsground when you lot come over!!

Would help if you quoted that which offended.Quote button below each post inserts it into your reply.

As is looks like your responding to Borders who is definitely one of us...

You got your win , so stop annoying us with justifications...............

Hope the we get the same 'home' ref at the Sportsground when you lot come over!!

I think the drop goal issue is an extremely relevant point, how many times have we seen brilliant work by the forwards, multiple phases, in opposition territory and then turn it over at a key juncture over a number of seasons. This isn't a new problem though. I think I remember 2009/10 against Worcester (possibly) was our first ever successful drop goal in a European game or it could indeed have been Bourgoin(could be wrong on that, but think I heard that) that is just extraordinary.

I just don't know have we the half backs with the quality, leadership or the vision to try and take the 3 points when nothing else is on. Dragons away last year is one game that sticks out where the forwards carried very well, worked the ball into the 22 to set up a drop goal to win the game but the call wasn't coming from the scrum half to get the ball out when the chance was on and when we eventually bundled the ball out, we were pushed wide and the dg effort had no chance.

Very frustrating overall to see poor basics undoing lots of good work. Their try was very similar to the try we conceded against them in the Amlin last year, strong defence at other stages in fairness but its the small things that are letting us down in most games, the problem is its the same issues on a consistent basis.

Excellent points. I was shouting at the screen for O'Connor to drop into the hole at 17-19 and go for the drop goal. O'Gara showed how its done at the weekend. We've got to be smart about it. I think the last drop goal I saw Coonacht score was Nikora against Bayonne during the Amlin quater final at the Sportsgrounds. I have to say again, I have severe doubts about O'Connor's consistency with the boot.

The other thing that Connacht are painfully prone to is losing the ball for the oppostions tip-off. Maybe becuase the forwards are having to work so hard that they are too knackered to concentrate ? Don't know , but its poor.

Overall though, I was proud of what I saw in the csecond half and we all should embrace the positives. I was at the Sportsgrounds today helping to hand flags along the green mile and some of the Connacht rug by people were saying that Gavin was nearly in tears at the end of the game. If it means that much to the players, then there is always hope of an upset along the way in the HEC!!

When are we going to get the marquee signing we need to really kick on should be big question?

The major sticking points with me from Friday were

1. Quins try, scored off a quick tap penalty with only a few minutes to halftime. Third game in a row that we have gone to sleep and shipped unnecessary points at that phase of the game.

2, Is there a ban on attempting drop goals in scoreline positions, or is the team obliged to huff and puff literally for ten or more phases until we run out of support players and cough the ball up? We had golden five minutes at 17-19 and were deep in Quins territory after a great defensive turnover and wonderful kick by Gav. A cheeky three pointer would have put us ahead and would have put huge pressure on an already rocked Quins. It would have conserve some energy and lifted our lads, and even if Quins had come back with a converted try or a couple of penalties we would have walked away with a bonus point.

You could count on both hands the number of drop goal attempts by Connacht in the last three seasons. But it strikes me as incredible that a team coached by a flyhalf with a rep for the odd three pointer is not directing his charges to above all else come away with some points when in the oppo red zone...

Guys, I HATE it when Connacht loose, but this was definitely a performance to be be proud of as a Connacht Supporter. Well done lads........

Try rte or tg4 for their players. Not sure, though.

Are there highlights available of the game anywhere?

Thanks

You are correct about both sides lying over the ball and being off side !!! unfortunately only one team was being penalised and that wasn't Quins !!!!
Take a bow the defensive coach !!!! WE STOOD UP AND ROSE UP. Well done Connacht.
If playing hard is dirty play, then we were fithly. Muldoon the Loon, awesome.

Ref missed a lot of offsides Arlecchino, it's true. But there were two teams playing the ref last night

He was very poor at the breakdown, too. Both sides were lying on the wrong side.

a different ref would off cost ye the game. he was a bit one sided.
not rolling away, after ye lost the first line out, the rest of them were not straight.

Enjoyed the match, I was sat in front of all the Connacht fans in the North Stand, who were loud and proud.

Your guys came out and weren't afraid of hurling the ball around and offloading, made it enjoyable to watch and had me half out of my seat most of the match. You had us pushed back far more than anybody else has this year.

The one thing that other Quins fans who sit in the more expensive seats and have a better view is that Connacht were offside a lot of the time and not getting pinged for it. I am not complaining, we got our win, but with a different ref could cause you problems if it is true.

Welcome to the Clan Forum, Darragh and Deckoo!

Awesome display last night, couldn't be prouder but we really left that game behind. Some of the stats are pretty revealing

Quins errors: 7
Conn errors: 10

Quins turnovers won: 10
Conn turnovers won: 5

Quins pens conceded: 6
Conn pens conceded: 10

Quins lineouts won/lost: 7/2
Conn lineouts won/lost: 9/0

Quins scrums won/lost: 2/1
Conn scrums won/lost: 2/0

Quins freekicks won: 1
Conn freekicks won: 2

Basically we dominated the set plays but made too many errors, turned the ball over too often and gave away too many penalties.

They are all very fixable, a bit more composure on the ball and belief will start turning these defeats into victories.

Connacht stood up and fronted up - we couldn't ask for more.

Bring on Toulouse