Connacht v Ospreys Fri 26th Nov @19:30

Once again we struggle to defend against a team who play fast unstructured rugby. We are ok against sides who like us play a slow game going from one set play to another but when things speed up we struggle. Our midfield is slow off the mark and lack the flair and agility to react to something different all our centres are very similar and rely on physicality and strength to play the game and a slow fullback adds to the problem. On the plus side it was good to see a side willing to play attacking rugby even though it wasn’t us and proving rugby doesn’t have to be the boring arm wrestle it’s becoming.

I know it is all too easy to pick on the ref/TMO but a few things do need to be said -

What about the Cross incident at the lineout? That deserved a referral at the very least.

There was a neck roll and a dangerous looking clear out on at least one of the second half tries.

Luke Morgan was off for more than 12 minutes.

That being said, the ref was not responsible for our complete lack of any form of defence.

We desperately need North and Cuthbet back to increase our physicality in the wide channels.

hawkins, Naggy and Dan Evano we’re just brushed aside with little effort all game.

Defence wasn’t an issue v Munster, in fact it was superb. there Seemed to be some bad decisions made to tackle players who were already covered by team mates, which left huge gaps which were then exploited. missed tackles by those who are normally so dependable really didn’t help either. Just seemed to me we had no idea how to play in such bad conditions and let it affect us in every facet of the game. Connacht in contrast looked like they were fully at ease with the gale force winds…probably cos it’s like that quite a lot there. But that’s no excuse for a very poor performance tonight by us…very disappointing indeed.

A defence coach improvement would only paper over the cracks. We have slow, immobile players on the pitch in positions which need pace.

No defence coach in the world can be successful with poor players. Yes, we can improve on Pugh but the reality is that when you lose more games with bad selection than by bad defence coaching.

Pugh going to Wales 7s. hopefully we’ll get a D-coach worth his money.

Booth is a fantastic coach, but his tactics and selections are questionable at best. Persevering with Cross, Dan Evs and TTW is baffling.

Well we were second best in every department tonight. Some pretty poor defence tonight with dog legs everywhere. Completely schooled by Ireland’s worst region. I don’t think we’d have had enough in the locker to beat them if they had 14 men, but I am completely bewildered as to how they didn’t see red or at least a card for taking cross out…he landed on his head!!!!

That just isn’t good enough. It was as embarrassing as anything we’ve seen over the years. That selection just wasn’t good enough from Booth and it again throws up serious questions. He can’t go on picking slow, ineffective and poor defensive players and expect a different outcome.

Booth lost that in selection. Hasn’t learned from the Sharks defeat.

I think we better play the Ospreys A side next week!! More pride in the Jersey

That is almost 2 hours I will never get back.

Worst performance by a back line I think i've seen for a very long time.

Inept, naive, slow and like men and against boys

Wow.

We started off poorly and it went downhill from there.

It goes from worse to really worse.

I know we haven't played for 4 weeks but it looks more like 4 months.....

Connacht penalty try and a yellow card for Luke Morgan.

I'll shut up - pack taking control

Then why was he picked?

Hawkins defending like a schoolboy