Great insight here. Snazzy dressing room, for the home side.
That Connacht dressing room is a major step up from ‘The West’s Awake’ documentary around six years’ back.
A few weeks ago, TG4 were given kudos for putting a microphone onto the lapel of Munster assistant coach Jerry Flannery as he ran through some pre-match drills.
The former Munster and Ireland hooker was in top form as he doled out support and advice to his charges and it was a nice glimpse of how a professional rugby side prepares for a big match.
Ahead of Connacht’s Guinness PRO14 clash with Cheetahs, at The Sportsground, the Irish broadcaster were at it again.
Match referee Nigel Owens was the man mic’ed up, on this occasion, and the cameras followed him into the dressing rooms of Connacht and Cheetahs to issue some last-moment instructions and provide a pep-talk of sorts.
The forwards and scrum-halves from both sides were told their scrummaging was in good nick and they’d be flying it if they kept up their standards.
“The important thing is we get the stability and we have to have that space… as long as you are dominant and legal, then you get the rewards. No problem at all.”
Two things stood out for us in the clip TG4 then shared – Caolin Blade’s casual bin-leaning and Ultan Dillane traipsing through the middle of the huddle with a woolly hat on and his ear-phones perched atop.
Credit: TG4The Cheetahs dressing room was a little less fancy but there was an ample supply of the sponsor’s tipple, and a slab of water, in the corner.
Great stuff all round and well worth a watch.
Fuair @Rugbai_BEO deis éisteacht le @Nigelrefowens & é ag caint le @connachtrugby roimh an cluiche inniu
Nigel Owens telling the Connacht Team what he expects from them in today's game vs the Cheetahs.
@PRO14Official beo ar @TG4TV #CONvCHE pic.twitter.com/UpcIVPRTcm
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) February 16, 2019
Owens is one of the leading referees in world rugby but he had no issue with letting the cameras follow him through this important pre-match ritual.
More of this, please.
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