Connacht...the year ahead

GymJim

Nice to see Bradley giving a few of the young natives a run out for a change. Would be interested to see how these lads go as we rarely see any products of their development set-up getting a run. Though I'm sure they'll be overlooked for the imports.

Connacht (v Rotherham Titans): G Duffy; Tiernan O’Halloran, Eoin Griffin, K Matthews, F Carr; M Nikora, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, J Hagan; David Nolan, A Browne; J Muldoon, R Ofisa, M McComish.

Anyone else think Connacht are going to do even worse than last year?

Signings haven't exactly inspired. Think Hagan could be an intersting signing but not sure about the rest...Miah Nikora, Bernie Upton, Brian "7's" Tuohy.

Have I missed any there?

Stev_o

Pulling Touhy over was a very good signing indeed, himself with Carr will be able to finish and create tries with ease.

chupacabra

Its good for Hagan that he moved to Connacht. A real prospect.

Fozzie Bear

Hmmm another tough season ahead me thinks. A few moral boosting victories ala Munster/Leinster last season or Newcastle the year before is about as good as I expect it to be. Pretty much the same as every season to be honest. I'd love to be wrong but its hard to see where the improvement will come from. A lot of deadwood cut away but what has been brought in. One or two good signings but the rest?

They finally got the go ahead for the new stand along the dressing room side. Might save us from the unmerciful soakings normally bestowed upon us.

Did I read somewhere they have also changed the starting times from 6-6.30 to 7 for games in college road this season? The Ospreys game next week is down as 7 on the Magners League site but 6.30 on Connachts. Its a royal pain in the ass trying to get into town in time after work on a busy Friday evening.

Zzippy

Yep, 7pm kickoff this season, shuold help a bit.
I'm cautiously optimistic for this season, same as every other year! :pac:

leeroybrown

The standard kick-off time for the season will be 7pm. Hopefully it'll help people get to the games. I for one will be preparing my extra warm clothing for the mid-winter games as the Sportsground will be like an icebox by half time.

Much like Zzippy I'm doing my best to build up the blind pre-season optimism. How could a Connacht supporter survive from year to year without it! I'm definitely more optimistic than this time last season because I haven't had to watch us be dreadful in a set of pre season friendlies. Fingers crossed...

FridaysWell

GymJim wrote: »

Nice to see Bradley giving a few of the young natives a run out for a change. Would be interested to see how these lads go as we rarely see any products of their development set-up getting a run. Though I'm sure they'll be overlooked for the imports.

Connacht (v Rotherham Titans): G Duffy; Tiernan O’Halloran, Eoin Griffin, K Matthews, F Carr; M Nikora, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, J Hagan; David Nolan, A Browne; J Muldoon, R Ofisa, M McComish.

Anyone else think Connacht are going to do even worse than last year?

This year is going to be vital for Connacht. I really hope they do better then what they did last season, we need 4 decent teams in Ireland. If they got just a little more funding or they got some momentum going from the start, maybe, just maybe they wont be down there in the basement.

Bradley is a good guy, but there really has to be a change in Connacht. A fresh face is what that province needs. Just bring someone decent in, shake things up. Ideally someone from the S14, SH or something different (please don't shoot me)

I love underdogs, and I got a soft spot for Connacht haha. . .

Leinster all the way though.

Robbo

Of the players that have come in, I'm quite hopeful for Hagan and Tuohy. It'll be good to have wingers either side with a bit of pace who can finish so hopefully Fionn Carr won't be the only one scoring tries regularly. From what I've been told of Hagan, he'll be a welcome addition, especially at scrum time. I'm led to believe that McComish will offer a lot of strong running from 8.

Upton has some seriously big shoes to fill but hopefully he might give us some more options in the lineout rather than going wanging it straight to Farley each time. Lads who have seen the other friendlies have said Nikora played well and was a bit miffed when he arrived and realised that he wasn't nailed on starting 10. There's allegedly 2 more players to come but unless they have something fantastic in the bag, I foresee a couple of SH journeymen looking for a few quid.

I'm not sure of what to make about Tiernan O'Halloran and Eoin Griffin being part of the squad. I think it's great they've got development contracts and I'd like to see them progress but I think there's an effort to use their presence as window dressing to make the squad seem more filled out. I do, however, look forward to seeing what they're made of on Friday.

I'm stupidly optimistic for the season but then I usually am about this time of year.

What I'll settle for is 4 or 5 home wins in the league and the same amount of bonus points at home. The away form has to improve to at least beating the Dragons and one of the Scottish teams and say 3-4 losing bonus points. Looking at the 6N timetable, we play Leinster and Ospreys away during this period.

I think we can top the group in Europe if we go away to Worcester in the 3rd game on the front foot having put up a cricket score on Madrid and taken Montpellier away from home.

As usual with us you have to be hopeful or else you couldn't support Connacht.Despite the clearout we have a fairly settled first 15.The new players will need to add to the depth in the squad and with our squad looking paper thin we need all 27(plus the 2 who must arrive soon) and development players to be contributing.

The fixture list in both competitions is favourable to us.I think we'll have a good idea by the end of October how we are going to fare in the Magners League and the 2 games in December will more than likely decide our ECC fate.

Need to get an early kick start.IMO a win over Ospreys is essential dramatic as that may sound.

I like the look of the team for Friday.It has a nice blend to it with plenty of local interest and its an all Irish qualified side!!!Hopefully Hagan can make a push and I'd like to see David Nolan do well as he has the potential and is a hard worker.

FridaysWell

Connacht will do it this year have faith.

Leinster Heino' cup again if they get it right

narwog81

read an article in todays independent that has John Muldoon talking about the squad's new fitness regime this year, i know i saw them jumping off blackrock and swimming in the sea a few times alright, he says its been the hardest pre-season he's put in anyway, surely must be a good thing for the coming year...

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/

siltirocker

Nikora is injured so Keats is in, and if Duffy doesn't pass a late fitness test, Nate Dogg :rolleyes: (Sponsered by Karma) is in at Full back.

Cant wait to see Griffen play!

sickpuppy

Lads whats the craic with yer man Troy Nathan? im from galway living in dublin 7 years so not sure is he useless?
is he just in the team to keep the women of galway happy or what?

outwest

im expecting at least 2000 if the weather olds out. griffen and o halloran are two local lads. that will make it 7 connacht lads starting. a 1st in a long time.

the thing bout troy is he a man who--re. famous all round galway. im sure there will be a few 100 of his conquest at the match the next day.

Zzippy

sickpuppy wrote: »

Lads whats the craic with yer man Troy Nathan? im from galway living in dublin 7 years so not sure is he useless?
is he just in the team to keep the women of galway happy or what?

Its a little known rule, but the Magners League has a mullet quota per team, and we have to play Nathan to fill the quota. Bradley hasn't told him this, he thinks he's actually good enough to make the team on merit. We're in trouble if he gets a haircut though!

Diabhal Beag

Zzippy wrote: »

Its a little known rule, but the Magners League has a mullet quota per team, and we have to play Nathan to fill the quota. Bradley hasn't told him this, he thinks he's actually good enough to make the team on merit. We're in trouble if he gets a haircut though!

We need less mullets in life never mind the rugby.

I think a bottom two finish is another strong possibility this season but Tuohy is a good prospect for the future. I'd love them to qualify next year if one of the Irish teams wins the Heineken Cup.

7pm kick-off is a great thing too but Leaving Cert may halt the amount of games I can go to this year.

Expecting a crowd of 2000 is stretching things even if it is a nice evening.I'd be hopeful of a decent attendance though.The Connacht Branch have made the effort into promoting this game so lets hope for some momentum on and off the pitch tomorrow to carry forward to the real stuff next Friday

GymJim

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

I think a bottom two finish is another strong possibility this season but Tuohy is a good prospect for the future. I'd love them to qualify next year if one of the Irish teams wins the Heineken Cup.

Hate to tell ya but Tuohy is 27 or 28 so very much needs to do the business in the here and now. He's been knocking around the English First Division sine leaving Shannon around 2005. Has done well in the 7's and been top scorer in National One twice in the past so should be interesting to see the standard he's really up to now.

A member of the unfortunate Munster one-cap wonders also.

gavkm27

Anyone got a result from the Connacht game tonight?

EDIT

14 - 0 at half time. Pipped at the post at 80 minutes. Final score 14 -15

siltirocker

Had one/two unpleasant words w/some Titans players in CP's after. They were an arrogant shower of twats. Really f*ckin' arrogant.

outwest

they dont have anytihng to be arrogant about. until the subs by connacht. were made there were an average team on the plus side of it all. that o halloran had a great game.


very good 60 mins by connacht. the backs again were useless. messed up at least three overlaps by either not paasing quick enugh or flinging the ball out wide.

siltirocker

outwest wrote: »

the backs again were useless. messed up at least three overlaps by either not paasing quick enugh or flinging the ball out wide.

Their defence was abysmal. D'you remeber when the Rotheram second row bobbed and weaved at .5km p/h through Connachts backs in the 1st half, i instantly looked at Bradley and saw him bow his head and shake in disapointment. Pure crap, a shining light though was Griffen and O'Halloran, Tuohy didn't look the worst either.

Zzippy

Very disappointing, Duffy was his usual "can't defend, won't defend" self, bright point was the display of the two young lads at 13 and 14, quite impressed. Terrible defending to concede the tries.

siltirocker wrote: »

Had one/two unpleasant words w/some Titans players in CP's after. They were an arrogant shower of twats. Really f*ckin' arrogant.

Pity about the players, but we had a great chat with some of the Rotherham fans in O'Connells afterwards, they were good craic. From what they were saying, the players have feck all to be arrogant about!

outwest

outwest wrote: »

very good 60 mins by connacht.

Don't think I was watching the same game.We were average in the first half,probably should have had more on the board but the 2nd half for me was almost a complete write off for us.Turnovers galore,poor handling,aimless running,missed tackles and in general the game being slowed down to a walking pace.Really dreadful stuff.

Rotherham are a mid table division 1 team.That says it all.The likes of Bristol and Exeter will demolish them during the season.

Hard to read too much into pre-season games but we need to show a huge improvement in all aspects just to be competitive next week.

Frank Murphy and Gavin Duffy should be given a bit of a kick up the ass by Bradley.I wouldn't mind Conor O'Loughlin get the nod for next week he was hungry when he came on at least and he kept their defence guessing with his sniping and Troy Nathan put himself about a bit also.I wouldn't be a fan of Troy but Gavin Duffy was dire last night.He's an double figures international its time he started playing like one.

Anyway we'll see how we go when the real stuff starts before writing us off altogether.There is long enough in the season for that.

FridaysWell

I like following Connacht, just seeing how they doing, but it is very hard to see all their matches so I'm not very familiar with their players.

Can I just ask, who is their best players and who are the best prospects?

Diabhal Beag

GymJim wrote: »

Hate to tell ya but Tuohy is 27 or 28 so very much needs to do the business in the here and now. He's been knocking around the English First Division sine leaving Shannon around 2005. Has done well in the 7's and been top scorer in National One twice in the past so should be interesting to see the standard he's really up to now.

A member of the unfortunate Munster one-cap wonders also.

Sorry I meant Mr.Griffin

Diabhal Beag

FridaysWell wrote: »

I like following Connacht, just seeing how they doing, but it is very hard to see all their matches so I'm not very familiar with their players.

Can I just ask, who is their best players and who are the best prospects?

Well you would probably know Muldoon and Gavin Duffy from the local paper reports.

Johnny O'Connor would IMO be our best player.

I know Eoin Griffin is a good potential player from what I hear.

siltirocker

FridaysWell wrote: »

I like following Connacht, just seeing how they doing, but it is very hard to see all their matches so I'm not very familiar with their players.

Can I just ask, who is their best players and who are the best prospects?

Fionn Carr was the Magner's League top try scorer last season, our Fly - half Ian Keatley has been snapping on Sexton's tail, Prop Brett Wilkinson will be capped this year, Hooker Sean Cronin will be in Ireland's 22 for most of the year, very solid 6, 7 & 8 pairing too of Johnny O'Connor, Ray Ofisa and John Muldoon.

GymJim

Right so it seems pretty clear that Connacht will be signing 2 more players to fill their squad for the season.

In this case where do people think that the players are needed most? And any suggestions for who they should be (realsitically by the way ?

To get an idea I have set out the squad below by position:

Props: Hagan, Wilkinson, Morris, Loughney, Higgins
Hookers: Cronin, Flavin, D.Murphy
Locks: Upton, Browne, Nolan, McCarthy
Backrow: O'Connor, Ofisa, Muldoon, McComish, Swift
Scrum-halves: F.Murphy, O'Loughlin, Campbell
Out-halves: Keatley, Nikora
Centres: Matthews, Ta'auso, Wynne, Griffin
Wings/FB's: Carr, Bibo, Tuohy, O'Halloran, Duffy, Nathan

I think a winger/FB would be very much needed and a second-row.

My Irish-biased suggestions would be Dave Kearney/Michael Keating from Leinster and someone like Trevor Hogan in the second row. Perhaps someone more experienced might be better though I think youngsters like these in the backs who'll have a cut (and are ready for the step up) might be best.

Any alternatives?

On the players to watchout for Andrew Browne is definitely one who is going places.

GymJim

Borders no.2 wrote: »

On the players to watchout for Andrew Browne is definitely one who is going places.

Very true. Also the senior contracted youngsters Griffin, Nolan and O'Halloran are very talented so hopefully they'll get enough game time this year to show it.

In relation to the squad it was reported earlier in the summer that a wing/centre and a back row were to be brought in.By the sounds of it I wouldn't hold much hope.I doubt either will be Irish signings anyway.

These places need to be filled rapidly, how its been let go to this stage is a joke when they had it organised for a squad clearout in February or March.Replacements should have been lined up at that stage instead we were still looking at videos of players a few days back according to a recent interview with Gerry Kelly on knockon.ie

Connacht aren't like Munster/Leinster where we can wait until mid way through the season for players to come in.Our squad is small enough as it is and looking back 2 years ago Bibo arrived in December and didn't get much of a run before doing fairly well last year.Ta'auso only played his first game in the Munster win after Christmas and was only really getting settled in come the end of the season.I know that was down to playing in sh competitions but really if we can't make headway in Ireland there are players around Europe worth a shot.

siltirocker

GymJim wrote: »

Right so it seems pretty clear that Connacht will be signing 2 more players to fill their squad for the season.

In this case where do people think that the players are needed most? And any suggestions for who they should be (realsitically by the way ?

To get an idea I have set out the squad below by position:

Props: Hagan, Wilkinson, Morris, Loughney, Higgins
Hookers: Cronin, Flavin, D.Murphy
Locks: Upton, Browne, Nolan, McCarthy
Backrow: O'Connor, Ofisa, Muldoon, McComish, Swift
Scrum-halves: F.Murphy, O'Loughlin, Campbell
Out-halves: Keatley, Nikora
Centres: Matthews, Ta'auso, Wynne, Griffin
Wings/FB's: Carr, Bibo, Tuohy, O'Halloran, Duffy, Nathan

I think a winger/FB would be very much needed and a second-row.

My Irish-biased suggestions would be Dave Kearney/Michael Keating from Leinster and someone like Trevor Hogan in the second row. Perhaps someone more experienced might be better though I think youngsters like these in the backs who'll have a cut (and are ready for the step up) might be best.

Any alternatives?

We need backs that can tackle, simply as!:mad:

GymJim

My thinking on the players being Irish is very much based on the fact they haven't come in yet. If it's going to be SH players they are far more likely to come in around December/January and as you say Connacht cannot wait that long for them.

Though going on past form it's highly probable that's exactly what will happen unfortunately. Track record on this front makes that even more worrying.

GymJim

siltirocker wrote: »

We need backs that can tackle, simply as!:mad:

I'm sure Brian Lima's affordable at this stage of his career so

evil_seed

new winger signed

http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/npc/players/profile.html?playerid=16734944

Connacht have bolstered their squad with the signing of a promising Samoan winger.
Thomas Timani will arrive in the Sportsground next month after completing the move from Auckland in New Zealand.
The 22-year old was named as the Development Player of the Year in Auckland last season and Connacht coach Michael Bradley is pleased with the latest addition to his squad.
And Bradley has confirmed that talks are taking place with a back row player in a bid to further strengthen his squad.
“We are in discussions with a wing-forward and we hope that there will be a positive development shortly,” said Bradley.

Robbo

evil_seed wrote: »

new winger signed

http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/npc/players/profile.html?playerid=16734944

Well I see a song already.

Tom Timani, Tom Timani, Tom Tom, Taroo...

Zzippy

Robbo wrote: »

Well I see a song already.

Tom Timani, Tom Timani, Tom Tom, Taroo...

Well it beats chanting "Eddie, the Seagull..."

irishbucsfan

If Connacht bring in a decent 6 this year then they have the bones of a respectable team right there!

Probably would need to add another quality centre and another quality 2nd row into that squad but they could really have a shot at competitiveness.

Robbo

irishbucsfan wrote: »

If Connacht bring in a decent 6 this year then they have the bones of a respectable team right there!

Whither John Muldoon? The back row's likely to be Muldoon, O'Connor and McComish with Ofisa on the bench covering all slots and McCarthy also able to play well in the back row.

gavkm27

Friday's 22 man Connacht squad: Andrew Browne, Fionn Carr, Sean Cronin, Gavin Duffy, Adrian Flavin, Jamie Hagan, Ian Keatley, Keith Matthews, Mike McComish, Robbie Morris, John Muldoon, Frank Murphy, Troy Nathan, Miah Nikora, Johnny O’Connor, Ray Ofisa, Conor O’Loughlin, Michael Swift, Niva Ta’auso, Brian Tuohy, Bernie Upton, Brett Wilkinson

Zzippy

gavkm27 wrote: »

Friday's 22 man Connacht squad: Andrew Browne, Fionn Carr, Sean Cronin, Gavin Duffy, Adrian Flavin, Jamie Hagan, Ian Keatley, Keith Matthews, Mike McComish, Robbie Morris, John Muldoon, Frank Murphy, Troy Nathan, Miah Nikora, Johnny O’Connor, Ray Ofisa, Conor O’Loughlin, Michael Swift, Niva Ta’auso, Brian Tuohy, Bernie Upton, Brett Wilkinson

Can Nikora play wing? Cos I'd rather have anyone there than Troy Nathan...

Robbo

Zzippy wrote: »

Can Nikora play wing? Cos I'd rather have anyone there than Troy Nathan...

Troy's going to be on the bench. He's noted as a man who can adapt to many positions...

Anyone interested in a free ticket to the Ospreys game? I have a spare.

Zzippy

Robbo wrote: »

Troy's going to be on the bench. He's noted as a man who can adapt to many positions...

Anyone interested in a free ticket to the Ospreys game? I have a spare.

I'm sure not all of them are on the pitch! :rolleyes:

I'm away this weekend, otherwise I'd take you up on your kind offer...

Robbo

To face the Ospreys.

Connacht: G Duffy; B Tuohy, N Ta'auso, K Matthews, F Carr; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Morris; A Browne, B Upton; J Muldoon (capt), R Ofisa, M McComish.

Replacements: A Flavin, J Hagan, M Swift, J O'Connor, C O'Loughlin, M Nikora, T Nathan.

Only surprise there is Johnny O'Connor not starting. A tight call, he looked very hungry and keen on causing some mayhem last week but Ofisa has had more minutes in pre-season.

Webbs

Ospreys: B. Davies; J. Vaughton, S. Parker, A. Bishop, N. Walker; D. Biggar, M. Phillips; D. Jones, R. Hibbard, C. Griffiths, I. Gough, A. Lloyd, J. Collins, R. Jones (c), M. Holah.

Reps: H. Bennett, P. James, T. Smith, F. Tiatia, T. Isaacs, J. Hook, J. Spratt.

Be a cracking back row battle - thats one hell of a back row for the Ospreys if they are on form

siltirocker

Webbs wrote: »

Ospreys: B. Davies; J. Vaughton, S. Parker, A. Bishop, N. Walker; D. Biggar, M. Phillips; D. Jones, R. Hibbard, C. Griffiths, I. Gough, A. Lloyd, J. Collins, R. Jones (c), M. Holah.

Reps: H. Bennett, P. James, T. Smith, F. Tiatia, T. Isaacs, J. Hook, J. Spratt.

Be a cracking back row battle - thats one hell of a back row for the Ospreys if they are on form

Muldoon and Ofisa need to play their socks off in the ruck and defence! Big performances from them and Keatley are the only way Connacht will win this game.