Connacht Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread - Part II

wp_rathead

Jaysus poor auld Bundee could have done with a rest I thought
Still it's nice to see the Henshaw - Aki partnership reunited
Delighted for Poolman and Marshall to be back
Looking forward to this game now

thomond2006

How has Fox-Matamua done since signing?

freyners

thomond2006 wrote: »

How has Fox-Matamua done since signing?

Very well my opinion. Different type of 7 to Heenan in terms of what they do around a ruck. Heenan is a turnover monster in defence and often used as a ball carrier in attac. Fox tends to be stay up for the tackles or assist in disrupting rather than go for the hero turnovers like Masterson or Buckley (although he has chipped in with a few) and is usually one of the first to the rucks as a supporting playing, monster in terms of clear outs. Handy ball carrier and is very good on the back of maul in terms of keeping the ball safe and being patient going towards the line which is underrated skill in my view

b.gud

thomond2006 wrote: »

How has Fox-Matamua done since signing?

Excellent one of our top players, was voted player of the month, (October) just this week. Has got a few tries off the back of mauls and is a nuisance at the breakdown

Shelflife

thomond2006 wrote: »

How has Fox-Matamua done since signing?

Excellent, a true 7 in every sense, has been player of the month twice already, great signing so far.

BrokenMan

I see Buckley is unavailable. Is it an injury?

Bazzo

BrokenMan wrote: »

I see Buckley is unavailable. Is it an injury?

I don't think so, Henshaw was listed as unavailable last week and he was just being rested.

Anyone see Hook's article in the indo today?

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-rugby/george-hook-why-would-robbie-henshaw-leave-connacht-for-leinster-34218111.html

I remember at some point last year when he was saying Connacht were less than useless and should be disbanded.

errlloyd

Bazzo wrote: »

I don't think so, Henshaw was listed as unavailable last week and he was just being rested.

Anyone see Hook's article in the indo today?

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-rugby/george-hook-why-would-robbie-henshaw-leave-connacht-for-leinster-34218111.html

I remember at some point last year when he was saying Connacht were less than useless and should be disbanded.

Read that over breakfast. Wouldn't normally open an indo but someone had left one in the canteen. Closest thing he's been to right in a long time.

b.gud

Read that over breakfast. Wouldn't normally open an indo but someone had left one in the canteen. Closest thing he's been to right in a long time.

Even a broken clock is right twice a day

flouncer

While Rory started on the wing last week I'm really looking forward to see how he does in this team. Defensively he is strong and he has great hands. Will he turn out to be a challenger for Danie and Matt's position?

wp_rathead

Connacht Eagles team to face Doncaster Knights

15 Ciarán Gaffney
14 Adam Leavy
13 Cormac Brennan
12 Dave McSharry
11 Ed O’Keeffe
10 Conor McKeon
9 Caolin Blade

1 Jacob Walshe
2 Pat O’Toole
3 Saba Meunargia
4 Peter Claffey
5 Cillian Gallagher
6 James Connolly
7 Rory Moloney
8 Sean O’Brien (captain)

REPLACEMENTS

16 John Healy
17 Matthew Burke
18 Cian Romaine
19 Marc Kelly
20 Stephen Kerins
21 Aidan Moynihan
22 Stephen McVeigh

Bazzo wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-rugby/george-hook-why-would-robbie-henshaw-leave-connacht-for-leinster-34218111.html

I remember at some point last year when he was saying Connacht were less than useless and should be disbanded.

wouldn't give much notice to what George says tbh
Whole thing seemed more a swipe at Leinster than praise for Connacht

Bazzo

I'm 100% sure it was a swipe at Leinster, he never writes/says anything where he isn't having a go at somebody(or at the very least trying to wind people up). The only reason I posted it was because I thought it was hilarious that he went from saying, and I quote, that it was "time to pull the plug" on Connacht a year ago to saying that they're playing the best rugby in Ireland now.

intellectual dosser

Bazzo wrote: »

I don't think so, Henshaw was listed as unavailable last week and he was just being rested.

Anyone see Hook's article in the indo today?

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-rugby/george-hook-why-would-robbie-henshaw-leave-connacht-for-leinster-34218111.html

I remember at some point last year when he was saying Connacht were less than useless and should be disbanded.

The article you are talking about.

Im actually annoyed at how he can write todays column after this 18 months ago, nonchalant as you like.

wp_rathead

intellectual dosser wrote: »

The article you are talking about.

Im actually annoyed at how he can write todays column after this 18 months ago, nonchalant as you like.

"even more average squad"
that doesn't even make sense

irishbucsfan

With a debt of almost a million euro, an average coach and an even more average squad, the future is bleak. Economic reality may bite and as was always the sensible option, Ireland should have just three professional teams.

It is ridiculous to suggest that Ireland cannot sustain four competitive professional rugby teams. Connacht have made huge gains in both performance and personnel over the last few years and they have as much right to maintain their competitiveness as Leinster, Munster and Ulster.

Hard to believe it's the same writer. But then you realise who is writing the article.

S12b

thomond2006 wrote: »

How has Fox-Matamua done since signing?

Nominated for player of the month in September, won player of the month for October and is our top try scorer....considering he's probably on small money he's been a terrific signing.

b.gud

Poor Niyi is frozen at half time

wp_rathead

Makes Niyi's try all the more impressive

flouncer

Just sitting to watch the ulster sarries game. Will be a huge indicator as to where ulster are at. The George hook piece was a laugh. Picked henshaw as the column title to grab attention and then goes on to crucify Leinster rugby. Then he rolls out his list of up and coming Connacht players which is to say the least dated. I wonder if he has ever even watched a Connacht game (other than when he gets paid to travel west to commentate)

connachta

Aki played every games, went to Siberia with -20°, 3 days in airports, and now Brive, FFS Brive at home.... Just before Munster.
Except to test the pairing with Henshaw, that's just insane...

flouncer

If I were to express an opinion :-) I would say its a very strong team where the French mentality is get me out of here. So I don't understand aki involved.

flouncer

Warning: another flouncer opinion. Think toh is simply playing out of his skin these days and is the best full back (Conway really impressive) in the country at the moment. Parata at wing I can't wait to see. Folks talk about ringrose at Leinster. I think Rory has fallen under the radar and am delighted to see him on the wing (yes he played there in Russia but its not the same conditions or the same team). Then we have aki and henshaw at centre. I ask you how does it get better. We have marmion with his sniping runs. And then I'm going to shock everybody and say jack with his improved interplay. Then we have a 6 to 8 combination that has been totally changed. And yet (my opinion) it is the strongest back row we have.

There are so many positive things in Connacht rugby these days it beggars belief. I was hugely critical of pat lam in the past but I have no doubts he deserves the biggest plaudits. On top of that I so enjoyed all the coverage of the Russia trip. It proves we are not only a team but a bunch that really work well together.

connachta

flouncer wrote: »

Warning: another flouncer opinion. Think toh is simply playing out of his skin these days and is the best full back (Conway really impressive) in the country at the moment. Parata at wing I can't wait to see. Folks talk about ringrose at Leinster. I think Rory has fallen under the radar and am delighted to see him on the wing (yes he played there in Russia but its not the same conditions or the same team. Then we have aki and henshaw at centre. I ask you how does it get better. We have marmion with his sniping runs. And then I'm going to shock everybody and say jack with his improved interplay. Then we have a 6 to 8 combination that has been totally changed. And yet (my opinion) it is the strongest back row we have.

There are so many positive things in Connacht rugby these days it beggars belief. I was hugely critical of pat lam in the past but I have no doubts he deserves the biggest plaudits.on top of that I so enjoyed all the coverage of the Russia trip. It proves we are not only a team but a bunch that really work well together.

Wow nice stance
Though I still think this very attractive team hasn't to be played against Brive, when we have 3 interpros + Cardiff and Newcastle away to deal with just next

typhoony

anyone got a link to brive team selected to play tomorrow

CatFromHue

typhoony wrote: »

anyone got a link to brive team selected to play tomorrow

http://www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/31533.php

typhoony

thanks, one thing i noticed comparing the team facing us tomorrow and the games they've played so far in the TOP14 is that they have a huge squad, don't recognise any players that would have played at the RWC. All i can say is that the team for tomorrow is vastly different to the team that play regularily in TOP14 which I assume is good news, we may have chosen a team stronger than we needed to. Aki should definitely have been rested

CatFromHue

It's hard to know until you see them play. Some of the guys that aren't in the first squad in some of the French teams are handy enough but whether they're that interested tomorrow is a different thing.

former total

Yeah, personnel is not nearly as relevant as their attitude. I doubt they'll care too much about the Challenge TBH.

freyners

I agree that aki, on the face of things, could use a rest but that's a coaches call. Some players are more capable of being played week I week out than others and some indeed play better that way. (Buckley last year) Lam I'm guessing is judging bundee to be such a player. Hopefully this plays out

Also how long do we wait before we subtly start irishing up bundee. (From nz -> lives in Galway. Bundee ->bunty)

maoriincork

One thing I do know from playing with a lot of Samoans and Tongans back home is they don't like to not be playing. And when they were given a week off they tend to be slow starters.
Bundee appears to be one of those whom the coach needs to keep focused and the best way to do that is let him play.
One thing about Pat is he would understand this and remember the boys are told early on in the week if they will be playing and I think this keeps Bundees head down as I know he likes to party a wee bit when there is time off.