Keatley and Carr staying put

d-gal

Reported in the galway independent that both players have extended their contracts ending speculation of a move back to Leinster

ozt9vdujny3srf

I have a feeling such contracts could easily be transferrable between the provinces.

Amazotheamazing

Whatever about Carr, it's widely rumoured that Keatley won't go back to Leinster while Cheikia is there. Would like to see both moving to the GP tbh, Connacht can only take them so far, especially if Bradley stays on.

Robbo

Great news. I'd like to see Carr get a bit more time at fullback rather than on the wing in the future.

LeeroyJones

Next year theres a real possibility of Irelands 2 most promising out-halves, Keatley and Sexton, being first choice out-halves... I do not understand the logic of putting them at the same club where only one can play

Amazotheamazing

Robbo wrote: »

Great news. I'd like to see Carr get a bit more time at fullback rather than on the wing in the future.

With Bradley involved, I'm eagerly anticipating his switch to scrumhalf.

Zzippy

Titus Square Shamrock the Uncivil wrote: »

I have a feeling such contracts could easily be transferrable between the provinces.

Legal expert now, are ya? I don't think your "feeling" matters a whit in legal terms. :rolleyes:
He's staying here, get over it and make do with Sexton or sign someone else.

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

With Bradley involved, I'm eagerly anticipating his switch to scrumhalf.

A bit over the top. So you hate Bradley, whoop de doo. I suppose his team beating your province this year had nothing to do with him...
Besides, we've a promising enough SH here as it is, and Carr is a good wing AND fullback, as are a lot of players. The way the game is these days the back 3 are interchangeable in many teams.

LeeroyJones wrote: »

Next year theres a real possibility of Irelands 2 most promising out-halves, Keatley and Sexton, being first choice out-halves... I do not understand the logic of putting them at the same club where only one can play

WTF, 2 Leeroys on the rugby board? :eek:
Agree with your point BTW.

Amazotheamazing

Zzippy wrote: »

A bit over the top. So you hate Bradley, whoop de doo. I suppose his team beating your province this year had nothing to do with him...
Besides, we've a promising enough SH here as it is, and Carr is a good wing AND fullback, as are a lot of players. The way the game is these days the back 3 are interchangeable in many teams.

Tbh, I think Connacht would have beaten Munster years ago except for Bradley's messing. I remember two games in Munster, one in Musgrave, one in Thomond, where Connacht were all over us until Bradley did his usual "change everything at 60 minutes" routine, brought off players who had been doing well and brought on subs for no apparent reason. Tempo of both games changed and Munster went on to win in Thomond and draw in Musgrave.

Added to that the number of players who haven't progressed as players under his coaching, guys like Gannon, Wynne, Riordan, Duffy, Durcan, and then adding the fact that he often falls out with players and refuses to play them (Bracken, Warwick) I just don't really rate him as a manager.

Tbh, it didn't bother me that Connacht beat Munster this year, what bothers me that he can allow his team beat both Munster and Leinster in the ML, and still find a way to keep it rooted to the bottom of the ML.

Connacht deserve better than that joker, imo.

[Jackass]

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Connacht deserve better than that joker, imo.

Except he's the IRFU's love child and the only way they will ever take him out of the Connacht job is to give him the Leinster / Munster / Ireland job. I agree he's a cancer in Irish rugby, but he knows the right people so he's not going anywhere unfortunately.

As for Keatley - Rumours of his refusal to play for Leinster are the most unsubstantiated and b0llox internet myths around. As I pointed out before, he was behind the pecking order with a world class out half in Contepomi and another out-half who was out of the academy a few more years than him and had more game time, Keatley was a year out of the academy.

I doubt he was demanding first team action or quit, I doubt he would be stupid enough to burn his bridges at Leinset, his home provinces, I doubt he would turn up his nose at Heineken Cup rugby to stay in the west and I doubt he would be stupid enough to snub Leinster, there by snubbing the IRFU who I can assure you would quickly see him playing AIL rugby unless he got a move to GP. IRFU is very much a boys club and if you don't play ball, forget about it.

I'm of the opinion that if Keatley was offered the chance to fight it out with Sexton for first choice out-half at Leinster he would jump at the oppertunity, and he'd be a fool not to as he would run into a dead end in the Irish rugby scene and would thereby kill off any international asperations.

Anyway, there's never been any source of that other than a Munsterfans forum or something

Zzipy must hate me, but I've been banging on about Keatley ever since he left to get him back here, and I'd say he may be back for next season. He'd be my number 1 priority to sign anyway, and if he's not back by next season, he would surely be back the following one.

Even looking at the oppertunity now, if he doesn't come back now, Leinster will have to sign someone as Sexton will be the only recognised out half in the squad....so they may have to sign, for example, Michellak, which would mean that it will be even harder for him to ever come back and get in the team, and even if Sexton goes to GP at end of his contract, Keatley would still have to displace Michellak - he'll know this is the golden oppertunity he has been waiting for to come back now, and I hope he takes it with both hands and nails down the Leinster 10 jersey as his own!!

ALH-06

What's all this talk about Michalak anyway? It sounds completely ridiculous to me - Michalak going to Leinster

_blank_

Tone it down a tad there lads, thanks.

Goodluck2me

Titus Square Shamrock the Uncivil wrote: »

I have a feeling such contracts could easily be transferrable between the provinces.

Actually not, they are specific to each.

[Jackass] wrote: »

As for Keatley - Rumours of his refusal to play for Leinster are the most unsubstantiated and b0llox internet myths around. As I pointed out before, he was behind the pecking order with a world class out half in Contepomi and another out-half who was out of the academy a few more years than him and had more game time, Keatley was a year out of the academy.

Even looking at the oppertunity now, if he doesn't come back now, Leinster will have to sign someone as Sexton will be the only recognised out half in the squad....so they may have to sign, for example, Michellak, which would mean that it will be even harder for him to ever come back and get in the team, and even if Sexton goes to GP at end of his contract, Keatley would still have to displace Michellak - he'll know this is the golden oppertunity he has been waiting for to come back now, and I hope he takes it with both hands and nails down the Leinster 10 jersey as his own!!

I think Keatley has shown the ineptitude of Cheika in letting him go, and has everything to gain by staying in connacht for another year, providing he plays well, come next season he will be able to demand much more respect as a seasoned magners league campaigner and will be in a much better position than now to negotiate both contract and role within the squad.

Fionn is a different story, he needs to stay in Connacht imo, for a different reason, in that he needs to establish himself better within the team, and needs a defining moment where he shines, it's not quite as easy for the back 3 to hit the spotlight than a goal-kicking 10 so it'll obviously take time, but knowing him he'll work incredibly hard to do it.

Zzippy

[Jackass] wrote: »

Zzipy must hate me, but I've been banging on about Keatley ever since he left to get him back here, and I'd say he may be back for next season. He'd be my number 1 priority to sign anyway, and if he's not back by next season, he would surely be back the following one.

Even looking at the oppertunity now, if he doesn't come back now, Leinster will have to sign someone as Sexton will be the only recognised out half in the squad....so they may have to sign, for example, Michellak, which would mean that it will be even harder for him to ever come back and get in the team, and even if Sexton goes to GP at end of his contract, Keatley would still have to displace Michellak - he'll know this is the golden oppertunity he has been waiting for to come back now, and I hope he takes it with both hands and nails down the Leinster 10 jersey as his own!!

Hehe, nah, don't hate you, its great to see other posters coveting one of our players, but the automatic assumption that they can sign any of our players willy nilly is a tad annoying to say the least. Its another symptom of the condescending "sure its only Connacht" attitude. I'm sure Keatley may eventually head back to Leinster, but he has signed a contract now so he won't be going back for next season. Set your sights elsewhere. I'm also pretty sure Sexton is not the answer, I don't think he has the ability to get to that level. But at the same time, Keatley isn't quite ready to step up to that level either - he's only 21, give him a chance. He's also learning a lot from a decent coach (Elwood) and another year with him would do him the world of good. Now if we could only get him to change his kicking routine!

ozt9vdujny3srf

Zzippy wrote: »

Legal expert now, are ya? I don't think your "feeling" matters a whit in legal terms. :rolleyes:
He's staying here, get over it and make do with Sexton or sign someone else.

Its not a legal issue, if the IRFU wanted Keatley at leinster, and Keatley wanted to be at leinster too, this contract would not stop it from happening.

I didn't mean to put connacht down or say the other provinces can easily get players off of them, but there's no need to get so rude in your reply.

bamboozle

Zzippy wrote: »

Hehe, nah, don't hate you, its great to see other posters coveting one of our players, but the automatic assumption that they can sign any of our players willy nilly is a tad annoying to say the least. Its another symptom of the condescending "sure its only Connacht" attitude. I'm sure Keatley may eventually head back to Leinster, but he has signed a contract now so he won't be going back for next season. Set your sights elsewhere. I'm also pretty sure Sexton is not the answer, I don't think he has the ability to get to that level. But at the same time, Keatley isn't quite ready to step up to that level either - he's only 21, give him a chance. He's also learning a lot from a decent coach (Elwood) and another year with him would do him the world of good. Now if we could only get him to change his kicking routine!

you dont want him reverting to the kicking routine he had at Clontarf last year!!
Elwood has certainly had a huge impact on him and another season or two learning his trade with Connacht is the wisest move.