Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Lsdrugbyfan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuFjW-RYc_E&ab_channel=IrishRugbyTV

Connacht u19's: like the look of no.12 John Devine, no.15 Adam O’Carroll, no.10 Harry West.

Lsdrugbyfan

CONNACHT RUGBY ACADEMY SQUAD 2021/22

Charlie WARD(U22)(Prop)(Tullow) - Y2

Declan ADAMSON(Hooker)(Clontarf) - Y3

Eoin DE BUITLÉAR(Hooker)(Corinthians) - Y2

Darragh MURRAY(U21)(Lock)(Buccaneers) - Y2

Ciaran BOOTH(U22)(Back Row)(Exile) - Y2

Donnacha BYRNE(U21)(Back Row)(Sligo) - Y2

Oisin MCCORMACK(U21)(Back Row)(Ballinasloe) - Y3

Will REILLY(U21)(Scrum-Half)(Portlaoise-MU Barnhall)

Cathal FORDE(U21)(Out-Half/Centre)(Corinthians) - Y2

Shane JENNINGS(U21)(Centre/Wing)(Ballinasloe) - Y3

Diarmuid KILGALLEN(U22)(Back Three)(Roscrea) - Y2

Josh O’CONNOR(U21)(Back Three)(Wexford) - Y1

Hubert Costello released after a year by the looks of things. 

realhorrorshow

Loosehead

Denis Buckley (31) - Signed contract in 2021

Matthew Burke (24) - Signed contract in 2021

Jordan Duggan (23) - Signed contract in 2021

Charlie Ward (21) - Academy year 2

Tighthead

Jack Aungier (22) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020

Finlay Bealham (30) - Signed contract in 2021

Sam Illo (20) - Signed 2 year contract in 2021

Greg McGrath (24) - Signed contract in 2021

Dominic Robertson-McCoy (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020

Hooker

Shane Delahunt (27) - Signed contract in 2021

Dave Heffernan (30) - Signed contract in 2021

Jonny Murphy (29) - Signed contract in 2021

Dylan Tierney-Martin (22) - Signed contract in 2021

Declan Adamson (22) - Academy year 3

Eoin De Buitléar (19) - Academy year 2

Lock

Ultan Dillane (27) - Signed contract in 2021

Oisin Dowling (24) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020

Leva Fifita (32) - Signed contract in 2021

Niall Murray (21) - Signed contract in 2021

Gavin Thornbury (27) - Signed contract in 2021

Darragh Murray (20) - Academy year 2

Back row

Paul Boyle (24) - Signed contract in 2021

Jarrad Butler (30) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020

Eoghan Masterson (28) - Signed contract in 2021

Sean Masterson (23) - Signed contract in 2021

Conor Oliver (25) - Signed contract in 2021

Abraham Papali’i (28) - Signed contract in 2021

Cian Prendergast (21) - Signed contract in 2021

Ciaran Booth (21) - Academy year 2

Donnacha Byrne (20) - Academy year 2

Oisin McCormack (20) - Academy year 3

Scrumhalf

Caolin Blade (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020

Kieran Marmion (29) - Signed 3 year contract in 2020

Colm Reilly (22) - Signed contract in 2021

Will Reilly (u21) - Academy year 1

Outhalf

Jack Carty (29) - Signed contract in 2021

Conor Fitzgerald (23) - Signed contract in 2021

Cathal Forde (19) - Academy year 2

Centre

Bundee Aki (31) - Signed 3 year central contract in 2020

Sammy Arnold (25) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020

Shayne Bolton (21) - Signed contract in 2021

Tom Daly (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020

Tom Farrell (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020

Peter Robb (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020

Shane Jennings (20) - Academy year 3

Back 3

Mack Hansen (23) - Signed 2 year contract in 2021

Matt Healy (32) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020

Oran McNulty (21) - Signed contract in 2021

Ben O'Donnell (26) - Signed contract in 2020

Tiernan O'Halloran (30) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020

John Porch (27) - Signed contract in 2021

Peter Sullivan (23) - Signed contract in 2021

Alex Wootton (27) - Signed contract in 2021

Diarmuid Kilgallen (21) - Academy year 2

Josh O'Connor (20) - Academy year 1

IN: Greg McGrath (Tighthead, Leinster), Sam Illo (Tighthead, Leinster), Leva Fifita (Lock, Grenoble), Will Reilly** (Scrumhalf), Shayne Bolton (Centre, Cheetahs), Mack Hansen (Back 3, Brumbies), Josh O'Connor** (back 3)

OUT: Paddy McAllister (Loosehead, retiring), Conor Kenny (Tighthead, Newcastle), Cillian Gallagher (Lock, retiring), Quinn Roux (Lock, Toulon), Hubert Costello** (Back row, TBC), Joshua Dunne** (Back row, TBC), Sean O'Brien (Back row, retiring), Stephen Kerins (Scrumhalf, Ealing), Conor Dean (Outhalf, TBC), Sean O'Brien** (Centre, Exeter), Colm de Buitléar** (back 3, TBC), Stephen Fitzgerald (Back 3, retiring)

*ages as at 01/09/2021

**academy player

connachta

Not worried for the least at FH as we have Daly and Forde is a find.

But very worried for LH, we rely on re-converted McGath who have never played there at high-level. Same for McCoy

Still think Bealham is the best solution until Buckley comeback, alternating with Duggan

Then on the other side I trust Aungier a lot, with McCoy/McGrath fighting for the bench and Illo as a good surprise if fast-tracker

connachta

Interesting to see who we are raising to prepare the 30+ retirements within 2/3 years

It will not be easy as they are our main players, but we have 2 options each time

Aki --- Bolton and Forde

Fifita'a --- MurrayS

Butler --- McCormark and Booth (Byrne to cover n°8)

Heffernan --- DeBuitlear and Adamson

Bealham --- Aungier and Illo

TOH --- O'Connor and McNuilty

Healy --- Kilgallen and Jennings

Problem is, and still is LH with only (very short) Ward in the Academy

EachSmallChime

CONNACHT URC FIXTURES 2021/22

Fri Sep 24 Cardiff v Connacht 19:35

Fri Oct 1 Connacht v Bulls 19:35

Sat Oct 9 Connacht v Dragons 17:15

Sat Oct 16 Munster v Connacht 19:35

Sat Oct 23 Connacht v Ulster 17:15

Fri Nov 26 Connacht v Ospreys 19:35

Fri Dec 3 Leinster v Connacht 19:45

Sun Dec 26 Ulster v Connacht 17:15

Sat Jan 1 Connacht v Munster 17:15

Sat Jan 8 Connacht v Stormers 17:00

w/o Jan 29 Connacht v Glasgow

w/o Feb 19 Scarlets v Connacht

w/o Mar 5 Edinburgh v Connacht

w/o Mar 26 Connacht v Leinster

w/o Apr 2 Benetton v Connacht

w/o Apr 23 Lions v Connacht

w/o Apr 30 Sharks v Connacht

w/o May 21 Connacht v Zebre

RonnieL

According to the independent, from September 6th "Large outdoor sports stadiums and venues will be able to host 75pc of their full capacity if they are only admitting vaccinated or Covid recovered fans. Outdoor venues allowing a mix of vaccinated and unvaccinated supporters can operate at 50pc."

https://www.independent.ie/world-news/coronavirus/formal-social-distancing-rules-gone-by-oct-22-and-everything-else-we-know-about-new-covid-19-plan-so-far-40804380.html

Looking forward to hearing from the branch. I wonder will they go for the fully vaccinated 75%, or mix with 50%?

Shelflife

Given that up to yesterday 88% of the population over 12yrs have had 1 dose and 80.5% are fully vaccinated , they would be mad not to go down the 75% route.

RonnieL

Personally I'd be happy with them going the 75% route, but I'm sure there's a good number of family ticket holders who might not feel the same, and that's not even getting into the group of people who can't be vaccinated. Anyway, I'm just excited at the prospect of getting back to the sportsground.

BrokenMan

Look like only a couple of games with restricted capacity which ever way they go. I'd prefer th 75% obviously, better chance to get in. Can understand alright that family's would possibly be disadvantaged.

b.gud

Would families be at a disadvantage? I'd assume/hope that any vaccination requirement guidelines would exclude children similar to how the indoor dining ones did. Or am I missing some other way that this would affect families?

RonnieL

No, looks like families accompanied minors would be allowed, so scratch my point about families. Let's see what the branch come out with.

realhorrorshow

Looking ahead to the season I can't help but get excited about the amount of young talent at the province, doubt we've ever been so stacked before. Reckon we could put out a very decent 23-and-under side:

1. Jordan Duggan (23)

2. Dylan Tierney-Martin (22)

3. Jack Aungier (22)

4. Cian Prendergast (21)

5. Niall Murray (21)

6. Donnacha Byrne* (20)

7. Oisin McCormack* (20)

8. Sean Masterson (23)

9. Colm Reilly (22)

10. Conor Fitzgerald (23)

11. Mack Hansen (23)

12. Shayne Bolton (21)

13. Shane Jennings* (20)

14. Peter Sullivan (23)

15. Oran McNulty (21)

16. Declan Adamson* (22)

17. Charlie Ward* (21)

18. Sam Illo (20)

19. Darragh Murray* (20)

20. Conor Booth* (21)

21. Will Reilly* (21)

22. Cathal Forde* (19)

23. Diarmuid Kilgallen* (21)

24. Eoin de Buitléar* (19)

25. Josh O'Connor* (20)

10 indigenous, 10 from Leinster, 2 exiles, 2 IQ from SH, 1 Munster

ClanofLams

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=A4I4hPloHR4

Connacht u-19 highlights from game against Leinster, after losing by three to Ulster weekend before, missed a last minute conversion here to draw.

Hard to tell too much from four minute highlights but Harry West from Ballina looks a real prospect at 10.

RonnieL

Did I hear we're playing a pre season game this coming weekend? I know we've got London Irish on the 10th.

lenny4545

Ya away to Worcester. Friday 7.45 K.O. Doubt it will be on TV tho!

connachta

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117832260#Comment_117832260

That's a very very interesting point, even if 1 out of 2 succeeds, that makes 12 players, ie a full team for the next 10 years with very few imports

Future is bright

RonnieL

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117833263#Comment_117833263

I thought it was Worcester I heard alright, but I went on their site and couldn't see any mention of it. Anyway, it's good that they have a couple of pre season games lined up because we'll want to hit the ground running against Cardiff in the league.

lenny4545

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117833614#Comment_117833614

Ya I only found the kick off time through the Worcester announcement back in July.

Screenshot_20210901-161102.jpg

The communication coming from Connacht has been shockingly bad!

Zzippy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117833648#Comment_117833648

Yeah, the comms has been very quiet the last few months. Did they lose the social media person or something?

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117833749#Comment_117833749

They advertised for a few social media staff a while back as think the main person who was running the communications side of things left sometime during end of last season

ClanofLams

Tom Farrell is back, three academy players on bench, Booth, McCormack & Kilgallen. Greg McGrath & Shayne Bolton set for debuts off bench.

1. Jordan Duggan

2. Shane Delahunt

3. Dominic Robertson-McCoy

4. Oisin Dowling

5. Niall Murray

6. Cian Prendergast

7. Conor Oliver

8. Jarrad Butler

9. Kieran Marmion

10. Jack Carty

11. Matt Healy

12. Sammy Arnold

13. Tom Farrell

14. John Porch

15. Tiernan O’Halloran

16. Jonny Murphy

17. Matthew Burke

18. Greg McGrath

19. Eoghan Masterson

20. Ciaran Booth

21. Oisin McCormack

22. Colm Reilly

23. Conor Fitzgerald

24. Shayne Bolton

25. Ben O’Donnell

26. Diarmuid Kilgallen

Zeugnis

Excited to see Oisin McCormack getting some senior team action, thought he was great for the irish U20s. Curious about Greg McGrath, and looking forward to Dowling and Murray in the row.

Surprised not to see Jack Aungier on the sheet.

RonnieL

Latest "Master of None" podcast is well worth a listen - Tom Daly was on, and he spoke a few times about a new attacking philosophy, which he described as being a lot faster, and more "heads up".

connachta

What's very interesting is the fact that both McCoy and McGrath are listed as TH, leaving wiiiide open (though not proven) my theory : Bealham will switch to LH!

McCoy/McGrath/Aungier/Illo, 4 TH with only 2 LH, in all logic Bealham will be the 3rd LH (waiting for Buckley)

Some may say it's friendly experimental team, but I can't see the point not to try McGrath or McCoy as converted LH if it was the chosen solution

ClanofLams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117837769#Comment_117837769

That’s interesting but attack has been pretty decent. A proper defensive structure would be a big plus. Even maul defence and sorting out restarts from defending perspective would make a major difference.

Lebute

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117838061#Comment_117838061

The last time we played heads / less structured Rugby , was the year KK was in charge and that season went t!ts up . Hopefully the coaches are better communicators .

connemara man

Heads up doesn't mean less structured.

The structure will be there to give choices. It means that when someone skips a pass out it means they saw something or something bwas called even if the play called was something tighter or a kick etc...

We've been progressing this way for a few seasons

And by all accounts KK wasn't great at putting across what he wanted. But Andy is and he's better at giving the right autonomy to his coaches

ClanofLams

Jordan Duggan off early in friendly. Hopefully nothing serious if an injury but not great to be one injury away from disaster in the front row either way.

Zeugnis

Full time: Worcester 52 - 39 Connacht