v Connacht 29/9/23

[bigparahandy]

My match column for tomorrows friendly

https://open.substack.com/pub/theburghw ... medium=web

[The Feral Goat]

Looking forward to getting to the Hive tonight.

Will be interesting to see how the team goes they have had a long enough pre-season for them to be well drilled and the starting pack have plenty of experience plus there is a good chunk of exciting young talent in the wider squad as well.

However it is extremely windy at present which may put a bit of a spoiler on things.

15. Nathan Sweeney
14. Ross McCann (GB Rugby Sevens)
13. Mark Bennett CAPTAIN
12. Matt Currie
11. Wes Goosen
10. Cammy Scott
9. Charlie Shiel

1. Boan Venter
2. Adam McBurney
3. Angus Williams
4. Glen Young
5. Jamie Hodgson
6 Tom Dodd
7. Connor Boyle
8. Cameron Neild

Replacements

Robin Hislop
Mikey Jones
Patrick Harrison
Bobby Bratton (Watsonians)
Craig Miller (Ayrshire Bulls)
Euan McVie
Alfie Scopes (Watsonians)
Liam McConnell
Freddie Douglas
Tom Currie
Scott Steele
Charlie Savala
Jordan Edmunds (GB Rugby Sevens)
Chris Dean
Matt Davidson (Heriot’s Rugby)
Finn Douglas
Liam Richman (Heriot’s Rugby)

Unavailable: Luan de Bruin (back), Dave Cherry (concussion), Mitch Eadie (calf), Jake Henry (knee), James Lang (calf), Ben Muncaster (knee), Harry Paterson (ankle), Marshall Sykes (hand), Tim Swiel (ankle), Ben Vellacott.

[dolf_lundgren]

Good to finally have a game, will be the usual head scratching in the second half trying to figure out who is who!

[Impega]

If the wind remains strong it'll play right into Connacht's hands, given that's the default weather at the Sportsground.

[The Feral Goat]

Encouraged by the first half, apart from slow start thought defence was good some decent attacking moves.

Second half total SteveWalsh, nothing working.

[Pitfitter1105]

We were good in the first half, entertaining, but in the second nothing was clicking and Connaught found all the gaps. Referee seemed to be playing two sets of rules at the breakdown allowing them to attack the ruck at any angle, ah well that’s why we play friendliest.

[The Feral Goat]

Further thoughts.

Backup backrow of Dodd, Boyle and Neild was good in first half. McConnell when he came on as well.

Scott and sweeny looked good.

Defence in first 40 was a real positive, I thought noticeable our tackle height was low, good line speed and after conceding early looked pretty composed and covered width of pitch well.

Lineout went to SteveWalsh 2nd half. Timing was off, throws straight to connacht, looked like we lacked a bit of height without Hodgson and young and got picked off too easy.

Bit concerned we have Bath next week then into league that we may be undercooked, connacht looked a bit more match hardened but appreciate they had far less missing to RWC.

[Impega]

Agree with all the above, it certainly was the proverbial game of two halves. Scott and Sweeney looked good, and it was heartening to see Goosen at full fitness and scoring. McBurney never lets the side down.

Given Bath is the only other game prior to the real stuff starting, I'd hope the number of subs for that match will be fewer and the planned 23 for the URC kick-off are given most or all of the match to really sharpen up.

[dolf_lundgren]

I would agree with the comments, the first half was very good both in defence and attack.

Second half was a bit of a mess to be honest. I do wonder the value of doing that and including some S6 players who will not be getting anywhere near the pitch for a competitive game etc, but maybe thats how they find out.

Hard to know who played well in the second half as the numbers and names were all over the place. but Liam McConnell looked good, hard to juge Savala as it was all falling down around him, but Scott had looked very sharp in the first half, similar for Steele and Shiel comparison.

Hopefully things will improve as we get closer to real action.