Connacht Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread - Part II

Absoluvely

It was a tight Scarlets match (ending in a 32-30 away defeat for Connacht) that caused the original thread to reach 10,000 posts and its retirement age. Strangely enough, while Scarlets took 5 table points from the match, Connacht managed to take two, securing both types of bonus point. I haven't seen 7 table points being awarded for a single match before!

All talk Connacht-related in this thread, whether it's transfer news, talking about players you would like to see come to Connacht, where to go drinking after the match (O'Connells apparently) and anything else Connacht-related.

For discussion of matches that have their own match threads, please post there and not here.

Original thread here.

errlloyd

Big day for the province.

Clegg

Robbie Henshaw reminds me of Rob Kearney and that's no bad thing. Strong in contact and a good strike runner. I think he's faster than the Leinsterman though.

freyners

We did well to get back into it, priestlands kicking was shoicking though so i dont think we deserved a win overall

freyners

Clegg wrote: »

Robbie Henshaw reminds me of Rob Kearney and that's no bad thing. Strong in contact and a good strike runner. I think he's faster than the Leinsterman though.

Henshaw is a better tackler imo, especially 1 on 1

hermano

The Munster game should be cracker if they keep up the momentum

its_phil

I really can't wait for next season. So exciting. Even if we do end up in Challenge Cup I think we could more than challenge

wp_rathead

4th TBP in a row

Robbie and McShaz were phenomenal today

Parks and Griffin missed a lot of tackles i felt

Muldoon didnt communicate well with the ref, their LH was burrowin in on Rodney and White all match (touch judge should have spotted it)

Marimon still a try machine

Carr made some great breaks, he starting to back himself again which good to see

We under use Henshaws right boot, should have him take kicks to touches come pen time over Parks

JHW has to learn not to get isolated

These few of my immediate thought, think will have few scoops

its_phil

wprathead wrote: »

4th TBP in a row

Robbie and McShaz were phenomenal today

Parks and Griffin missed a lot of tackles i felt

Muldoon didnt communicate well with the ref, their LH was burrowin in on Rodney and White all match (touch judge should have spotted it)

Marimon still a try machine

Carr made some great breaks, he starting to back himself again which good to see

We under use Henshaws right boot, should have him take kicks to touches come pen time over Parks

JHW has to learn not to get isolated

These few of my immediate thought, think will have few scoops

Griffin was poor defensively but some of his passes were beautiful today.

Cosmo Kramer

Next year needs to be all about the Pro 12 for Connacht now that it has meaning as a league in terms of European qualification. Treat the Challenge Cup as a secondary competition and if it goes well so be it, but top six in the league would be a real long term statement of intent and without the distraction of the Heineken Cup it is more than achievable with this team, especially with the likes of Heenan, Poolman and maybe Clarke and also one or two new players to come in.

porterbelly

its_phil wrote: »

Griffin was poor defensively but some of his passes were beautiful today.

He does pass well although the time Leader was put in touch, if Griffin had out it thru the hands rather than skip pass it was a certain try.

Some very good offloading from backs and forwards

First signing for next year needs to be a defence coach.

its_phil

porterbelly wrote: »

He does pass well although the time Leader was put in touch, if Griffin had out it thru the hands rather than skip pass it was a certain try.

Some very good offloading from backs and forwards

First signing for next year needs to be a defence coach.

I think he actually took his eye off the ball there and it bobbled in his hands which gave the half-second needed by the Scarlets to press up forcing the skip, notice how Leader had to stop to receive the ball too.

Rickwellwood

21 points gained out of a possible 25 in the last 5 matches is a very very decent return.

Unfortunately our losses early on in the season costing us now however in todays game we kept going at them for the full 80 and it would have been criminal not to get something out of that scarlets game.

Scarlets were very beatable today and went asleep for a few periods in the game.

Hopefully we can keep picking up points starting with Ulster next weekend who were very average against cardiff blues this weekend. Expect a backlash up in Ravenhill probably...........

C'mon Connacht !

Bazzo

Disappointing not to get the win today, but we definitely had a good run at it. Things are looking up for the future.

Griffin is going to be a big loss but Henshaw is definitely becoming the player he has the potential to be.

thomond2006

I hope they (be it Connacht and/or Joe) keep Henshaw in one position for the most part and don't move him around constantly a la Earls.

errlloyd

thomond2006 wrote: »

I hope they (be it Connacht and/or Joe) keep Henshaw in one position for the most part and don't move him around constantly a la Earls.

I think he can move between 13 and 15 okay, just keep him off the wing.

its_phil

TBF Henshaw played 60 minutes at 13 last week

ouncer

fantastic performance. one of most entertaining in the pro12 this year. scarlets were lightening into the breakdown which caused huge headaches but our back line showed some of the most inventive play of the game. it would have been a big ask to take the points in scarlets home but it wasn't from lack of trying

S12b

thomond2006 wrote: »

I hope they (be it Connacht and/or Joe) keep Henshaw in one position for the most part and don't move him around constantly a la Earls.

Well for the remainder of this season he will play 15 unless McSharry or Griffin get injured but come next season, I expect to see him at 13 every week as Griffin is leaving.

From an Ireland point of view, I think it would be daft to try him anywhere other than 13. We have Kearney and Payne (come November), two world class full backs and a gaping hole at 13 with no clear replacement.....seems a straightforward one to me!!

CatFromHue

Ideally you'd want him to play the position he's best in and not what Ireland need.

Just watching him today and if he can improve or get close to Kearney's aerial ability and positioning I think he could overtake him for Ireland as his running and tackling game seems to be very good.

freyners

CatFromHue wrote: »

Ideally you'd want him to play the position he's best in and not what Ireland need.

Just watching him today and if he can improve or get close to Kearney's aerial ability and positioning I think he could overtake him for Ireland as his running and tackling game seems to be very good.

I dont think his aerial ability is in question, its what impressed me most first time I got to see him play. His positioning could use some work, as does his general line defense, one on one he is fine but can get dragged out of position at times

CatFromHue

No I wouldn't say it is either but in terms of Ireland Kearney's aerial ability is amazing.

its_phil

CatFromHue wrote: »

No I wouldn't say it is either but in terms of Ireland Kearney's aerial ability is amazing.

In terms of aerial ability, one of the greatest in the game. Even when he wasn't in good form last year that stayed top notch

CIARAN_BOYLE

Any idea who will be playing at 15 for Connacht next season.

To me the options seem to be layden/leader stepping up or toh moving position or someone new coming in.

freyners

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Any idea who will be playing at 15 for Connacht next season.

To me the options seem to be layden/leader stepping up or toh moving position or someone new coming in.

TOH at 15 is what seems to be the safest option, i have my doubts about his defence for that position personally but in attack he can do damage there

Layden if he can remian injury free and regainn the form he had around the u-20's would a shoo in

Leader is the opposite of TOH in a way, big strong lad in defence and the air but is very conservative in attack

Dont think 15 is a place we should recruit, we desperately need another 9, OH and centre cover first

CIARAN_BOYLE

freyners wrote: »

Dont think 15 is a place we should recruit, we desperately need another 9, OH and centre cover first

Porter is supposedly coming in at 9. Can't see him being better than the current back ups.

galwaylad14

That was some game today alright. Great attacking back play from both sides but I think it's fair to say the great attacking was helped by some diabolical defending, the worst being about 3 missed tackles in a row on Scarlets players on their goal line resulting in the ball being worked all the way up the other end for a try.

Was very proud of Connacht though, the game looked over when it went 25-6 and it was some effort (and some great play) to get back in it.

Didn't think the ref helped us either, couple of brutal calls, particularily the one against Marmion with 2 minutes to go. But one thing I wanted to ask see if anyone else noticed as I haven't seen it mentioned by anyone here or by the commentators at the time. Remember Marmion's try from the quick tap? Did anyone notice that Paterson put his left hand in his pocket about to yellow card the Scarlets player just before Marmion went for the line? After the try was awarded the yellow seemed to be forgotten about by the ref and wasn't mentioned by anyone.

Zzippy

galwaylad14 wrote: »

That was some game today alright. Great attacking back play from both sides but I think it's fair to say the great attacking was helped by some diabolical defending, the worst being about 3 missed tackles in a row on Scarlets players on their goal line resulting in the ball being worked all the way up the other end for a try.

Was very proud of Connacht though, the game looked over when it went 25-6 and it was some effort (and some great play) to get back in it.

Didn't think the ref helped us either, couple of brutal calls, particularily the one against Marmion with 2 minutes to go. But one thing I wanted to ask see if anyone else noticed as I haven't seen it mentioned by anyone here or by the commentators at the time. Remember Marmion's try from the quick tap? Did anyone notice that Paterson put his left hand in his pocket about to yellow card the Scarlets player just before Marmion went for the line? After the try was awarded the yellow seemed to be forgotten about by the ref and wasn't mentioned by anyone.

Yeah, noticed that, it was for Liam Williams off his feet in the ruck stealing the ball. Definitely was going for the card til Marmion took the quick tap and didn't go back for the infringement afterwards, probably forgot about it while the TMO was deciding. Very inconsistent ref anyway, but that was a definite yellow that should have been given.

freyners

Buckley gets POTM

http://www.connachtrugby.ie/buckley-voted-player-of-the-month/#ConnachtNews

Has made some turnaround this year after been disciplined early on. Wilko's retirement puts massive pressure on him to deliver week in and out now

wp_rathead

Seen as it is a new thread I don't wanna start with the negativity of yore or tin foil hat wearing but have to say the RTÉ coverage was a joke surrounding Connacht yesterday.

The Connacht match is only mentioned with about 2 mins before kick-off (I understand there is no Against the Head to discuss the Rabo, but the entire build up was the Leinster-Munster game and new European Cup).

The panel clearly had very limited knowledge of the Connacht team -This post on the Connacht Clan site by phatguerilla summed it up for me:

I thought some of the criticism of connacht by the panel displayed a lack of awareness from the lads which isn't really acceptable when its your job to be informed. Yeah we all would have liked to have seen connacht jackal for the ball more Shaggie, but with no 7's left to play and an 8 as flanker who has about a half dozen starts it wasn't going to happen.
Maybe make some sort of acknowledgement of how well he's done rather than just dismissing the backrow. If TOD and every other 7 at munster were missing for instance the panel would at least have known who was and wasn't familiar with the position and whether they were filling in or not.

At half time Daire O'Brien asked "Does anyone see a Connacht win?" and they all had a giggle - was pretty childish thing to do.

Now I don't want to be playing any daft "de meeja are against us - poor us" card but it is frustrating at times..

/rant

Delighted for Buckley, well deserved POTM award:cool:

Neil3030

wprathead wrote: »

Seen as it is a new thread I don't wanna start with the negativity of yore or tin foil hat wearing but have to say the RTÉ coverage was a joke surrounding Connacht yesterday.

The Connacht match is only mentioned with about 2 mins before kick-off (I understand there is no Against the Head to discuss the Rabo, but the entire build up was the Leinster-Munster game and new European Cup).

The panel clearly had very limited knowledge of the Connacht team -This post on the Connacht Clan site by phatguerilla summed it up for me:


At half time Daire O'Brien asked "Does anyone see a Connacht win?" and they all had a giggle - was pretty childish thing to do.

Now I don't want to be playing any daft "de meeja are against us - poor us" card but it is frustrating at times..

/rant

Delighted for Buckley, well deserved POTM award:cool:

I also caught the coverage at half time and remember remarking that their tone was a bit condescending. Somebody even remarked that it's great that Connacht are in a position now to be providing other provincial fringe players regular game time.

freyners

wprathead wrote: »

Seen as it is a new thread I don't wanna start with the negativity of yore or tin foil hat wearing but have to say the RTÉ coverage was a joke surrounding Connacht yesterday.

The Connacht match is only mentioned with about 2 mins before kick-off (I understand there is no Against the Head to discuss the Rabo, but the entire build up was the Leinster-Munster game and new European Cup).

The panel clearly had very limited knowledge of the Connacht team -This post on the Connacht Clan site by phatguerilla summed it up for me:


At half time Daire O'Brien asked "Does anyone see a Connacht win?" and they all had a giggle - was pretty childish thing to do.

Now I don't want to be playing any daft "de meeja are against us - poor us" card but it is frustrating at times..

/rant

Delighted for Buckley, well deserved POTM award:cool:

The masterson criticism was ridiculous imo.

Tox56

I thought some of the criticism of connacht by the panel displayed a lack of awareness from the lads which isn't really acceptable when its your job to be informed. Yeah we all would have liked to have seen connacht jackal for the ball more Shaggie, but with no 7's left to play and an 8 as flanker who has about a half dozen starts it wasn't going to happen.
Maybe make some sort of acknowledgement of how well he's done rather than just dismissing the backrow. If TOD and every other 7 at munster were missing for instance the panel would at least have known who was and wasn't familiar with the position and whether they were filling in or not.

This just reads like a fan unhappy with their team being criticised, Leinster were in a similar situation v Castres with an inexperienced 8 playing 7 and the lack of threat at the breakdown was rightly highlighted.

its_phil

Tox56 wrote: »

This just reads like a fan unhappy with their team being criticised, Leinster were in a similar situation v Castres with an inexperienced 8 playing 7 and the lack of threat at the breakdown was rightly highlighted.

It isn't unfair for a pundit to criticise a team, but it's also unfair not to add balance by acknowledging there were no 7's left to play including Heenan and Faloon. Masterson is 20/21 and only joined the academy in November.

Daire O'Brien claiming a TBP was a "rare occurrence" was pretty embarrassing considering it was our fourth in a row and only one short of Munster and Ulster this year in league. I've no problem with criticisim but misinformed generalisations is not up-to-par punditry and not one of the panel bar Jackman (I think) watched the Dragons game and probably the previous 3 games. Expected better from Horgan who no doubt is a fine pundit when it's a game that suits.

BeardySi

Am rather annoyed - nipped down to Ravenhill at lunchtime to discover the bloody Connacht match is sold out!

Have feelers out among my Ulster mates so fingers crossed....

b.gud

its_phil wrote: »

It isn't unfair for a pundit to criticise a team, but it's also unfair not to add balance by acknowledging there were no 7's left to play including Heenan and Faloon. Masterson is 20/21 and only joined the academy in November.

Daire O'Brien claiming a TBP was a "rare occurrence" was pretty embarrassing considering it was our fourth in a row and only one short of Munster and Ulster this year in league. I've no problem with criticisim but misinformed generalisations is not up-to-par punditry and not one of the panel bar Jackman (I think) watched the Dragons game and probably the previous 3 games. Expected better from Horgan who no doubt is a fine pundit when it's a game that suits.

Was on a stag so missed a lot of the commentary so can't weigh in too much on it. However regarding the TBP being a rare occurrence I believe he wasn't referring to it being a rare occurrence for Connacht, but rather a rare occurrence for a team to get a LBP and TBP in the same match

phatguerilla

Tox56 wrote: »

This just reads like a fan unhappy with their team being criticised, Leinster were in a similar situation v Castres with an inexperienced 8 playing 7 and the lack of threat at the breakdown was rightly highlighted.

Surely you're not referring to Jordi Murphy, a player that Leinster list as a flanker on their official website, and who has over 30 senior appearances, and comparing his situation to that of a young academy player with less than a half dozen starts? Murphy just isn't good on the ground it has nothing to do with what position he is picked its just an obvious weakness in his game.

In any case I'll forgive this lack of background information as you're not a full time pundit unlike Horgan et al.

its_phil

b.gud wrote: »

Was on a stag so missed a lot of the commentary so can't weigh in too much on it. However regarding the TBP being a rare occurrence I believe he wasn't referring to it being a rare occurrence for Connacht, but rather a rare occurrence for a team to get a LBP and TBP in the same match

I'll recheck it but I don't think it was in that context TBH

Zzippy

its_phil wrote: »

I'll recheck it but I don't think it was in that context TBH

I thought it was in that context alright, but O'Brien was pretty condescending at half time with the old "development province" question.

Treadhead wrote: »

Am rather annoyed - nipped down to Ravenhill at lunchtime to discover the bloody Connacht match is sold out!

Have feelers out among my Ulster mates so fingers crossed....

Did you use your Connacht accent or a Bangor one? They probably wouldn't sell any to the enemy you see...

CatFromHue

In fairness at 13-6 down at halftime I didn't see Connacht coming back either and they do have a tendency to not always talk that much about the game that's being played before hand.

its_phil

CatFromHue wrote: »

In fairness at 13-6 down at halftime I didn't see Connacht coming back either and they do have a tendency to not always talk that much about the game that's being played before hand.

TBF to panel I didn't see them winning either

b.gud

its_phil wrote: »

I'll recheck it but I don't think it was in that context TBH

You could be right, wasn't really functioning properly next week, or today by the way my spelling seems to be going

Tox56

phatguerilla wrote: »

Murphy just isn't good on the ground it has nothing to do with what position he is picked its just an obvious weakness in his game.

Im speaking relatively, it was his first H cup start. If he hadn't been promoted early this would only be his first year out of the academy.

As for the quoted, how is that any different to the Connacht situation?

phatguerilla

Tox56 wrote: »

Im speaking relatively, it was his first H cup start. If he hadn't been promoted early this would only be his first year out of the academy.

As for the quoted, how is that any different to the Connacht situation?

I don't think you're speaking relatively at all, you claimed Murphy was out of position which he was not. Also whether it could potentially be his first year out of the academy is irrelevant, its blatantly obviously that it his second senior season.

There's a pretty clear difference between a 22 year old flanker who has over 30 senior appearances and has glaring deficiencies in his game, versus a 20 year old who only had his first rabo start 4 months ago and is playing out of position.

BeardySi

Zzippy wrote: »

Did you use your Connacht accent or a Bangor one? They probably wouldn't sell any to the enemy you see...

That'd be it, more the fool me for going in with a big Galway head on me!

Am actually quite surprised it's full 2 weeks before the game with the new increased capacity and all - on previous years I've gotten tickets for that fixture on the gate!

Tox56

phatguerilla wrote: »

I don't think you're speaking relatively at all, you claimed Murphy was out of position which he was not. Also whether it could potentially be his first year out of the academy is irrelevant, its blatantly obviously that it his second senior season.

There's a pretty clear difference between a 22 year old flanker who has over 30 senior appearances and has glaring deficiencies in his game, versus a 20 year old who only had his first rabo start 4 months ago and is playing out of position.

This is clearly a touchy issue so all Ill say is your description of him as a flanker is a pretty blatant double standard, as not only has the vast majority of his gametime been at 8, you don't consider Masterson a flanker when nearly all of his gametime this season has come in that position? Surely if Murphy can't be considered out of position, neither can Masterson

And yes I was speaking relatively. Unless you want the comparison between a H Cup game in France and a mid-table Rabo clash to be direct..

Zzippy

Tox56 wrote: »

This is clearly a touchy issue so all Ill say is your description of him as a flanker is a pretty blatant double standard, as not only has the vast majority of his gametime been at 8, you don't consider Masterson a flanker when nearly all of his gametime this season has come in that position? Surely if Murphy can't be considered out of position, neither can Masterson

And yes I was speaking relatively. Unless you want the comparison between a H Cup game in France and a mid-table Rabo clash to be direct..

I don't know what the argument here is - perhaps the point to take out of this is that it was unfair criticism of both players, both playing out of position, both young and inexperienced at the level they were being asked to fill a role, and both playing with older, more experienced heads who should have been able to support them better. Lazy punditry or expecting too much of young players.

Re yesterday, I agreed that Connacht were being "out-jackaled" but thought Muldoon, McKeon, Buckley and JHW should have been doing more to protect our own ball, not that Masterson wasn't doing enough. Although to be fair, the one time McKeon got over the opposition ball and legally got his hands on it he was penalised, whereas Scarlets got away with a fair bit at the breakdown. JHW also needs to learn when to carry into contact - he does it too much when there is no support around him, and gets isolated. Happened several of our players yesterday, seemed very unstructured, no pods, just single players taking it up...

phatguerilla

Tox56 wrote: »

This is clearly a touchy issue so all Ill say is your description of him as a flanker is a pretty blatant double standard, as not only has the vast majority of his gametime been at 8, you don't consider Masterson a flanker when nearly all of his gametime this season has come in that position? Surely if Murphy can't be considered out of position, neither can Masterson

And yes I was speaking relatively. Unless you want the comparison between a H Cup game in France and a mid-table Rabo clash to be direct..

Lol its only a touchy subject for you because you keep changing the goal posts and standards. Leinster describe him as a flanker, not me.
Just because you only became aware of him this year doesn't change what Leinster call him.
You keep trying to make out Murphy is inexperienced when he has over a dozen games for Ireland u-20, played for emerging Ireland as well as playing for Leinster for over two seasons now. It doesn't wash.

molloyjh

phatguerilla wrote: »

Lol its only a touchy subject for you because you keep changing the goal posts and standards. Leinster describe him as a flanker, not me.
Just because you only became aware of him this year doesn't change what Leinster call him.
You keep trying to make out Murphy is inexperienced when he has over a dozen games for Ireland u-20, played for emerging Ireland as well as playing for Leinster for over two seasons now. It doesn't wash.

Will ya relax. Murphy has been predominantly used as an 8 for Leinster. The word that appears on his profile on the website doesn't change that. At HEC level he's inexperienced which is what Tox is saying. It looks like you want to take him up the wrong way and are looking to make a mountain out of a molehill here.

Not even sure where you're getting the "only became aware of him this year" bit. He's been around for a while and most Leinster supporters have been aware of him for at least a couple of years.

connachta

Does someone know who made the deflection on the last Connacht restart kick?

AngeGal

Was looking forward to a game on RTE for a change, then we got a twenty second preview, and had to listen to Daire O'Brien being his usual condescending pretentious self, how that guy still has a job at RTE boggles the mind, given his rather notorious past, he probably had Scarlets to beat the handicap backed so was annoyed. Jackman and Horgan hadn't exactly done their homework either, they reminded me of Dunphy and co bluffing about teams with limited knowledge, although not as bad as them tbf. Personally don't think it's too much to expect pundits to do an hour or two research on the teams unless they have pre-existing in depth knowledge, Eric Elwood or someone of his ilk would have been a welcome addition to the panel. Roll on our return to TG4.

Rant over, onto the game:

Honestly we were lucky it was so close, considering the kicks Priestland missed. Two points was a good return all things considered I think, albeit disappointing in the circumstances as it ends our Heineken replacement hopes. Going to miss Eoin Griffin, he was uncharacteristically poor in defence yesterday but he had some lovely touches and he's very underrated, will be a star if he stays fit LI I think. Dave Mcsharry and Henshaw could be a brilliant partnership next season though, Robbie has resumed his rapid progression, working with O'Driscoll was a big help I would imagine.

Our breakdown work wasn't up to standard but missing last seasons POTY Faloon and a contender for this year in Jake Heenan that's probably inevitable. More worryingly we seemed to drop off in concentration levels at times, most notably for the Davies try.

Lots of positives to work on for next season and feel far better about the Lam reign at this stage. Although given we will likely be missing Robbie and Marmion for the 6N next season wouldn't like to be relying on picking up as many points during that period as we have done this year. A strong finish to the season is obviously hugely important, especially to ensure we don't lose too many season ticket holders without the heineken next year. They should look at doing a 'Connacht charge' to the new heineken marketing campaign or something similar, important that the more casual fans realise qualification is a realistic goal.