Wednesday 25 November 2020
‘I love the fact that the players, when they got into the red zone backed themselves and executed.’
Kieran Marmion and Jack Carty will hope to be back in the international fold.
Andy Friend has been pleased with how his new back three has gelled so far.
Connacht boss Andy Friend was pleased with how his side sorted out their discipline against Glasgow.
Andy Friend is able to field his strongest available side as his team bid to bounce back from their ‘A’ defeat to Munster.
“I know we’ve got the talent,” Friend said as he looked back on a heavy A inter-pro loss to Munster, “to me it’s a mental thing.”
‘We’ve got to be much smarter than that,’ said the frustrated Connacht coach.
Andy Friend’s coaching ticket formalised some processes in their training week, but left players to their own devices come matchday.
Head coach Andy Friend was also pleased with his Ireland international halfback pairing.
The first half of Kieran Marmion’s season was an emotional rollercoaster, but he looks like a player in his prime after the summer break.
Bundee Aki scored a powerful try on his 100th appearance for the province.
The Ireland international will earn his 100th Connacht cap this weekend when the Pro14 resumes.
Connacht hooker Dave Heffernan is determined to add to his one Ireland cap.
The western province have several new faces in their squad ahead of next month’s restart.
Andy Friend has added Ben O’Donnell and Kiwi number eight Abraham Papali’i to his squad.
28-year-old Eoin McKeon’s time with Connacht is over after 137 appearances for his native province.
Connacht wing John Porch could have retired from rugby as an U20 player.
The prop suffered the injury in last Friday’s defeat to Edinburgh.
The head coach also provided an update on prop Finlay Bealham, who was taken off on a stretcher in the opening minutes.
The reason Connacht aren’t flying higher in the Pro14 comes down to their four-game losing streak in this season’s inter-pros.
Denis Buckley, Shane Delahunt, Joe Maksymiw and Niall Murray all come into the starting XV.
The western province defeated Cardiff 29-0 on Saturday, their first shut-out since 2001.
The Australian openside proved a shrewd signing for the Westerners.
The scrum-half returns to the Connacht team for the first time since November against Montpellier today.
The Australian believes it would benefit everyone if those down Leo Cullen’s pecking order got game time elsewhere.
The Australian also welcomed news confirming €20 million-worth of grants to go towards the Sportsground’s redevelopment.
After last week’s unraveling in Leinster, Andy Friend was pleased with how his side took on another European Cup favourite.
Bundee Aki and Jack Carty are among a raft of players in line to play this weekend as Andy Friend’s side bid to keep their slim European hopes alive.
Head coach Andy Friend is keen to bolster his squad with some of the talent floating under the radar in Leinster.
The effort from unheralded prospects was one of very few positives Andy Friend could take from last night’s loss to Leinster.
‘I totally get that we need to protect the player, but we play a collision sport where accidents do happen.’
Friend says he is keen to give them time to rest up after a hectic few months.
Ulster came out on top in the interpro showdown.
Connacht coach Andy Friend tells The42 about his nomadic coaching journey.
The head coach took delight in the simplicity of Connacht’s expertly executed winning try.
Late tries from Shane Delahunt and Robin Copeland turned the game on its head in a frenetic finale.
The western province were unable to claim a point on their travels and Andy Friend can feel his resources getting tighter.
Head coach Andy Friend will also be without Tiernan O’Halloran and Kieran Marmion for the games.
The out-half is under increasing pressure from Conor Fitzgerald.
‘Instead of captialising on the half-time lead, we give an interception and given them a reason to believe.’
![Dr Con Murphy [file photo].](https://c0.thejournal.ie/media/2020/11/inpho_01577131-80x50.jpg)
