Connacht Rugby who could make the difference?

Boots09

Guys just a thread for the small province in the west wondering who you guys reckon we could sign to help us improve for the season ahead genuine suggestions please as I dont think well be seeing Dan Carter wearing number 10 for us just yet!:D

tHE vAGGABOND

I think you need new blood in coaching. When Gatland game, and indeed when Bradley came first the new ways of doing things seemed to work and you had brilliant runs in the challenge cup..

Bradley has been there 5 years now, and has not done a huge amount for the last 2 or 3 seasons. You came close to getting a HC cup place, but were still well last in the ML [again] - and only Ulsters implosion kept it interesting..

You need to find the next 'big thing' in coaching again, and give him a chance [easier said than done, clearly!]

Tim Robbins

Boots09 wrote: »

Guys just a thread for the small province in the west wondering who you guys reckon we could sign to help us improve for the season ahead genuine suggestions please as I dont think well be seeing Dan Carter wearing number 10 for us just yet!:D

Get more of the lads who are not getting a game in Munster / Leinster.

zAbbo

They've got a few prospect young backs from Leinster, so a coach who can work on some back play will make the world of difference.

As for what play, certainly not Dan Carter, he's been woeful recently, any 90% goal kicker who can tackle and put players into space.

Contepomi / Cipriani / Hook

But I think they've recruited well so far, and will finally make the step up next season.

Boots09

Carter was just an example lol I think Murphy could hopefully proove to be a good signing along with the 2 young Leinster lads!

Podge_irl

Connacht badly need a new coach, I remain thoroughly unimpressed by Bradley. The signings this year have been pretty decent though I must say, they certainly seem to have addressed some of the major problems in Connacht. They may have a rough time of it at first with Keatley (depending on how much they play him), but half-backs was certainly an issue for Connacht.

il gatto

Eddie maybe? It may have all went wrong at the end, but he's still a good coach. If he could lower himself to return:D
I've often thought about our plight here in the whest. I think the club really has to work at expanding it's fanbase to generate income. Maybe play the odd game in Athlone or Sligo. Soccer is summer season now, so it might be worth approaching the likes of Sligo Rovers with a view to playing a ML match of two there over the winter. I'm pretty sure with advertising in papers and local radio, you could get a big crowd. 4,000-5,000. Provided it was against an Irish province or Scarlets, Blues or Ospreys.
Connacht has suffered because although it has supporters scattered all over the province, you don't tend to feel very included away from Galway city and immediate area. Tbh, the Sportsgrounds have f-all atmosphere anyway due to the layout. It's hard to encourage people to go when it's a 200 mile round trip to Galway. If they got to watch it live a couple of times, you might snare some of them into trailing down every few weeks (as long as they don't get in my way on the road:))
Player wise, they're being run as a development side (apparently) yet players like Luke Fitz spent years in and out of the Leinster squad and warming the bench and Keith Earls is now doing likewise at Munster. My understanding was that such players would be sent to Connacht (or hell;)) and after getting a season or two's regular rugby there, they'd move on to one of the other three provinces. Never worked out like that.

Pemba

il gatto wrote: »

Player wise, they're being run as a development side (apparently) yet players like Luke Fitz spent years in and out of the Leinster squad and warming the bench and Keith Earls is now doing likewise at Munster. My understanding was that such players would be sent to Connacht (or hell;)) and after getting a season or two's regular rugby there, they'd move on to one of the other three provinces. Never worked out like that.

Fitzgerald went straight into the Leinster Squad after leaving school. Kearney spent one year in the Leinster Academy and then went into the Squad. These players had something to offer Leinster straight away without the need for them to be be railroaded over to Connacht for the sake of 'development.'

Flannery, Reddan and Jackman all had stints at Connacht when they could not get a look in at their own province earlier in their careers.

Keith Earls made the Heineken Cup 22. Clearly he is considered by the coaching staff as First Team material. If he has something to contribute with Munster, why send him to Connacht?

Keatley and Carr on the other hand have hardly played for the Leinster Senior side. Their transfers make sense, for the players, Connacht and Leinster.

Stev_o

They need money at the moment and a bloody new stadium!

il gatto

Pemba wrote: »

Fitzgerald went straight into the Leinster Squad after leaving school. Kearney spent one year in the Leinster Academy and then went into the Squad. These players had something to offer Leinster straight away without the need for them to be be railroaded over to Connacht for the sake of 'development.'

Flannery, Reddan and Jackman all had stints at Connacht when they could not get a look in at their own province earlier in their careers.

Keith Earls made the Heineken Cup 22. Clearly he is considered by the coaching staff as First Team material. If he has something to contribute with Munster, why send him to Connacht?

Keatley and Carr on the other hand have hardly played for the Leinster Senior side. Their transfers make sense, for the players, Connacht and Leinster.

Fitzgerald had very little game time for a long time. Maybe we would've seen his recent fantastic improvement in performances had he got regular first team game time earlier.
Earls hasn't actually played in the HEC yet though. He's not had much first XV time either.
This thread is about helping Connacht. Sending players that are of no use to Leinster and Munster wouldn't help. It's supposed to be a symbiotic relationship. Sending cast offs in the hope that they may become good enough is no good to Leinster or Connacht.
A new stadium would be great, but I'm sure the finances aren't there. If they'd got it together a few months back and took the third HEC spot, it would've been exactly what they needed.

Pemba

il gatto wrote: »

Fitzgerald had very little game time for a long time. Maybe we would've seen his recent fantastic improvement in performances had he got regular first team game time earlier.

Fitzgerald went straight into the first XV after leaving school and has hardly been out of the 22 since. I would imagine he has benefited more from being at Leinster in that time.

Fair point about Earls. I would not clarify this season's AIL top points scorer and an U20 Grand Slam Out-Half as cast-offs.

death1234567

Stev_o wrote: »

They need... and a bloody new stadium!

Yeah they should grond share with Wegians and build a proper stadium outside the city. Doesn't have to be massive just have good facilities. It could easily be done now that wegians got a fortune for their old ground.

Abercrombie Dud

Stev_o wrote: »

They need money at the moment and a bloody new stadium!

The first problem creates the second! we have SFA money and with no money how do we get a stadium???

what connacht really need is one more backrower and a quality center.

anyone in leinster or munster not getting game time?

i think donnacha ryan should come to us for the season as he is at this moment and time 4th choice 2nd row.

and bradley needs to be shown the door!time to hit the step!elwood and mcfarland most likely combination

quagmire69

carr, keatley and murphy are three potentially very good signings. Carr and Keatley could turn out to be a gems, me thinks.

Will take another few good signings to get HC place though. Need real international talent for that.

themont85

Pemba wrote: »

Fitzgerald went straight into the first XV after leaving school and has hardly been out of the 22 since. I would imagine he has benefited more from being at Leinster in that time.

Fair point about Earls. I would not clarify this season's AIL top points scorer and an U20 Grand Slam Out-Half as cast-offs.

Ye Fitzgearld went straight into the Leinster Academy, which is an incredible achievment in itself. Then they saw how good he was and he got a full contract after a couple of weeks. He's a special case really, playing for Ireland just 4 or 5 months out of school. Staying with Leinster is far more benefical for a guy like him. You can add Kearney to that list.

Love to see a few more of the problem areas for Ireland go to Connacht. There has been a crazy amount of very talented props through the Leinster academy who never got a shot. Props need a few years maturity, especially at the pro game and Connacht could offer that. A guy like Sexton could have done with a year in the pros just before he joined the Leinster senior squad.

[Jackass]

Absolutley agree that between the IRFU, sponsors and naming rights to a ground, maybe even get an AIL side like Galwegians in there, or the GAA or FAI to go in on a joint venture, get a 10,000 capacity stadium with good facilitys.

It reminds me of Bordres a bit with them being from a region that is so disperssed in population and no MAJOR city around (Galway city is quite small population wise isn't it? c.100,000 people?) and fan base is really scattered, plus there isn't a major pedigree there with either rugby in schools or many AIL sides, so there are a lot of obsticales.

But investment is the main thing really, and signings have been good so far, your man Fionn Carr was REALLY highly rated in the academy for Leinster and it's a surprise he's been let go, but hopefully it works out for Connacht.

I really like Connacht as a rugby team (always root for the little guy) and as a place and I'd love to see them do well. I'd consider them my second team. It's amazing that all they need to do is finish ahead of Ulster to get into HEC and it just wont happen!!

The problem is that Ulster have gotten in a very good coach now and have made some excellent signings, so they will be considerably better next season imo and may begin to challenge for the ML again, so Connacht may have to look at entry through the play-offs...I mean..all they have to do is finish above 1 team, and they should be able to manage that! imo they are better than Dragons anyway as it is, so hopefully they can step up.

But continue signings of young players, main thing imo is a new coach (isn't Bradley off to Munster? ) for fresh ideas and fresh approach, and in the long term some investment in the team and the facilitys and they should be fine.

Progress in Europe seems to have gone backwards though too and I always really hoped to see Connacht win the challenge cup but it just hasn't seemed to happen so I think next season that should be a massive target for them. Get sucsess in Europe and go for a good run and although maybe not realistic for next season, try and win the damn thing, (didn't you get to semis a couple of years ago?) and go for at least 8th place in the ML (ahead of Dragons and Glasgow) for automatic HEC entry.

Crash

Abercrombie Dud wrote: »

i think donnacha ryan should come to us for the season as he is at this moment and time 4th choice 2nd row.

Ryan beat out Micko for the bench spot for the HC final, so i don't see him going anywhere.

To be honest, as provinces go, I'm a Leinster fan followed by connacht - they've played quite exciting rugby when they're firing, just can't get the finish in. Dunne has done miles better at Connacht getting reasonable game time than at Leinster or Munster, Johnny O'Concrete has been fighting for an irish spot better than he has in the previous year or so thanks to the continuous game time and freedom he's had in Connacht. Really hoping having a solid scrumhalf could make a huge difference, and I promise I'll wear my connacht jersey with pride for yee

Abercrombie Dud

crash_000 wrote: »

Ryan beat out Micko for the bench spot for the HC final, so i don't see him going anywhere.

micko actualy came on for paul o'connell in the final when he was blood binned!remember munster started losing lineouts for once!
which proves he is fourth choice!

Ekels

Pemba wrote: »

Fitzgerald went straight into the first XV after leaving school and has hardly been out of the 22 since. I would imagine he has benefited more from being at Leinster in that time.

Fair point about Earls. I would not clarify this season's AIL top points scorer and an U20 Grand Slam Out-Half as cast-offs.

Any time I have seen Carr, he has been excellent. He was superb with that u20 side. Assuming he'll get plenty of game time at Connacht, there's no reason why he won't be back in Leinster in 2 years time.

Kieran Lewis is a man Connacht could do with. And I think he could do with the move. I doubt he'll want to play bench-warmer for another year anyway.

What's this Keatley lad like?

Webbs

death1234567 wrote: »

Yeah they should grond share with Wegians and build a proper stadium outside the city. Doesn't have to be massive just have good facilities. It could easily be done now that wegians got a fortune for their old ground.

Hadn't really thought about the Wegians new ground being built (on moycullen road isn't it?). As you said would be a great opportunity to get a small well equipped stadium set up (max 10,000) its hard enough for visiting teams in the west and if the ground could generate better atmosphere than the sportsground (not difficult!!) then who knows we can dream of a HC spot!!

zAbbo

This is slightly impractical, but watching Stephen Larkham reminded me what a great Fly Half can do with the ball in hand. His distribution was excellent, and for someone who's out of contract - if he went for a 1 year contract could really help Connacht.

On the flip side they already have Andy Dunne and Ian Keatley who are both Irish

Crash

Abercrombie Dud wrote: »

micko actualy came on for paul o'connell in the final when he was blood binned!remember munster started losing lineouts for once!
which proves he is fourth choice!

You are, of course, correct my apologies, brain melt.

Podge_irl

Ekels wrote: »

What's this Keatley lad like?

Kept Niall O'Connor on the bench for the U20 grandslam team. Haven't seen him in action much myself, though I've heard good things.

quagmire69

Ekels wrote: »

What's this Keatley lad like?

I would rate him very highly. Can move a backline well. Remember seeing him play in Leinster Senior Cup Final (schools) a few years back, had a cracker. Delivered perfect cross field kick for a try and scored winning drop goal if i remember correctly.

Hope he gets a decent chance at Connacht.

Sparky14

quagmire69 wrote: »

I would rate him very highly. Can move a backline well. Remember seeing him play in Leinster Senior Cup Final (schools) a few years back, had a cracker. Delivered perfect cross field kick for a try and scored winning drop goal if i remember correctly.

Hope he gets a decent chance at Connacht.

He looks a very tidy player, with a nice bit of pace at the level hes playing at now. Always difficult to know how someone will make the step up.

Was it not Eoin O'Malley who gave the cross field kick in that game, I think they used to alternate positions, I could be wrong.

Goodluck2me

Sparky14 wrote: »

He looks a very tidy player, with a nice bit of pace at the level hes playing at now. Always difficult to know how someone will make the step up.

Was it not Eoin O'Malley who gave the cross field kick in that game, I think they used to alternate positions, I could be wrong.

he's a good player, very confident, bordering on arrogant, but overall a good guy. He is not a goal kicker though, so I'd imagine he won't be slotting in there, AFAIK, unless this has changed recently.
He is also an excellent passer and distributor and isn't afraid fo a tackle or two.

dc69

I like connaught as much as the next man but just to hear all this talk about they should get all the young Leinster and Munster players,where are their own young players.?
If no one is playing rugby in connaught,then surely it should be ditched?

Zzippy

dc69 wrote: »

I like connaught as much as the next man but just to hear all this talk about they should get all the young Leinster and Munster players,where are their own young players.?
If no one is playing rugby in connaught,then surely it should be ditched?

They're coming.... think the Youths won the Inter Provincial series last year, beating all 3 other provinces. So they're starting to come through. 11 of the current squad are from the province and came through the ranks, 10 of them have represented Ireland at underage, A or senior level. Hopefully we'll see more home grown players coming through, however it takes time as rugby is growing from a small base here.

Rugby in Connacht is growing fast, more clubs, more schools and more players. Why shouldn't they have a professional team to follow, or aspire to play for one day?

TBH your comment smacks of arrogance and the old IRFU attitude to rugby here, to hell or to Connacht eh. But having read a lot of your posts, I'm not surprised. Condescending talk doesn't make you any friends.
I know what a lot of other Connacht fans would say to you, but it would get me banned here.

dc69

Zzippy wrote: »

TBH your comment smacks of arrogance and the old IRFU attitude to rugby here, to hell or to Connacht eh. But having read a lot of your posts, I'm not surprised. Condescending talk doesn't make you any friends.
I know what a lot of other Connacht fans would say to you, but it would get me banned here.

Say it if you want mate?I can take it.

I dont know what your problem is?
I asked a question and you answered it,you didnt have to fill the end of your post with crap to bait me.I would love to reply to it but I have just come off a ban,so will refrain.

I think its understandable that young rugby players dont want to go to Connaught,alot of them are studying in college aswell as playing rugby as a fallback and I can imagine none of them are too keen to ditch their friends,college and family,to up sticks to go.

When you look at players like,Kearney,FItzgerald,Earls and Hurley all young player who basically have made it quite quickly into their own provincial squads,it gives the impression to a player that is asked to go to cannaught,that they are not good enough .So I would imagine alot would just quit to go college full time if asked to go.

Zzippy

dc69 wrote: »

Say it if you want mate?I can take it.

I dont know what your problem is?
I asked a question and you answered it,you didnt have to fill the end of your post with crap to bait me.I would love to reply to it but I have just come off a ban,so will refrain.

I think its understandable that young rugby players dont want to go to Connaught,alot of them are studying in college aswell as playing rugby as a fallback and I can imagine none of them are too keen to ditch their friends,college and family,to up sticks to go.

When you look at players like,Kearney,FItzgerald,Earls and Hurley all young player who basically have made it quite quickly into their own provincial squads,it gives the impression to a player that is asked to go to cannaught,that they are not good enough .So I would imagine alot would just quit to go college full time if asked to go.

In fairness your original post could be regarded as baiting. I'm not going to get in a flame war with you. The fact you're just back from a ban confirms my opinion about the tone of your post.
WRT to the rest, meh, I doubt many good prospects would give up a professional contract to go back to college. They can do that anytime, but only get one chance at a rugby career.

Stev_o

There's a great chapter in the book"From there to here" [or the other way around i dunno] that deals with the crisis in Connacht back in 2002 its a good read to give a insight into how much they were and to a certain degree still are being shafted by the IRFU.

I still believe that Connacht need one:more investment and two:a new stadiuum

Abercrombie Dud

Stev_o wrote: »

I still believe that Connacht need one:more investment and two:a new stadiuum

you couldnt be any more right!great minds think alike!:pac: