Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

testtech05

We are looking very likely to be left regretting the late collapse against Leinster and Treviso come the end of the season it seems....

cson

If we win against the Stormers we're in.

Close out one of Treviso/Leinster/Endinburgh, you're on the bubble of a home QF.

AccidentallyOnside

I have sneaking suspicion we'll lose out on bonus points. Can see us ulster, benneton and Edinburgh all getting one more win but I think we'll do well to pick up any more bonus points and can see each of those picking up 1 or 2 each, leaving us odd man out.

Playing Zebre twice looks like being the difference between us and Edinburgh. But games aren't played on paper so there's always hope!

SqueakyKneecap

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122072229#Comment_122072229

Benetton have 2 tough away games to South Africa they could still pick up LBP's on but they should beat Edinburgh at home on final day. We need Munster to do us a favour against Edinburgh and keep them pointless at home but they've a soft home game against Zebre. That game between Benneton and Edinburgh is gonna be make or break for Connacht's season.

It's very possible we could lose our next 3 games. Munster away while they're looking to secure a home semi final, Stormers could send a strong side over considering they're not safe yet and Leinster away where they could also need the points for a home semi-final.

Zeugnis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122072726#Comment_122072726

We need to throw the house at Munster. Unfortunately for us this the phase where they're peaking for the season. If we can take anything from that, then it's a decider with the Stormers. I don't see points to be had against Leinster unless Leo mistakes us for part of the SA tour….

CowboyTed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122067084#Comment_122067084

Think the problem is the low amount of Forwards in general in the Academy… We only have 4…

kita99

Looking at v Dragons match, Prendergast seemed to hurt finger or palm, so he will not be avairable for v Munster match in the worst case, I think if he is avairable, Connacht may win against Munster. But….. .

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122067084#Comment_122067084

There's two elements - the dearth in the pack and excess in the outside backs. If the talent isn't coming through, and there's no overflow from the other provinces or IQ system, there's not much can be done. We've struggled to produce homegrown backrows for as long as I can remember. Can't think of any between Sean O'Brien and Oisin McCormack, who is a first team player in name only realisitically. There's two locks under the age of 25 in the senior squad, so given playing numbers etc. it's probably not a huge surprise that there's been a gap after Darragh Murray. I expect Rory Gavin, Bryan Walsh, and Max Flynn to be pushing for academy places over the next couple of years, which should balance things out a bit. Walsh is an exciting one, has prototypical height and has just started in Corinthians' two playoff games while still in school.

On the flip side, there definitely has been some over-recruitment in the outside backs. Two in particular stand out to me - taking Daniel Hawkshaw in the same year as Devine and Gavin, and James Nicholson with three wingers already in situ. I can understand the need to move for the likes of Mullins and Treacy when available, but the above two seem like superfluous signings to me.

AccidentallyOnside

Dobson confirming that Stormers will be coming to Europe locked and loaded; all their Springboks will be travelling, so our task just got a little (lot!!) more difficult.

lavrenti

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122072229#Comment_122072229

We'll need five points minimum to get to 49 to make the last 8. Looking at the race from 5th to 11th - Stormers will make 54pts for 5th, Ulster 51 for 6th, and Edinburgh 50 for 7th. It's likely ourselves, Benetton, and Ospreys will make 49 and on my reckoning Benetton will qualify on games won.

CowboyTed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122076530#Comment_122076530

I know this weird but could we do swaps for forwards later on..

Outside backs can go to 7s as well…

connachta

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122077019#Comment_122077019

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122076930#Comment_122076930

We can and should target double BP on last day in Dublin. yes Leinster may want to win for home final phase, BUT they will rotate one week before QF and after euro final. especially their bench will allow 2 needed tries in the last 20.

If 50 or 51 are enough i'm confident

theVersatile

O'Connor confirmed

https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/1784945826898325631?t=zjBMGVLYElbv1bWTtIFOwQ&s=19

MarinersBlues

He looks like more of a full back than an out half.

Do we need that?

Mr Tickle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122077768#Comment_122077768

I think he's being singed as a centre to be honest. A replacement for Farrell. Based on the options tried at 13 this year, that is needed.

FACECUTTR

A good quality signing. Bears fans sorry to lose him by all accounts. He has big boots to fill.

SqueakyKneecap

I can't say I heard much of him till the rumour he signed a few weeks back. Has he played 13 with any sort of regularity for Bears or is this likely going to be blooding him in like we've been doing with Ralston at 13?

b.gud

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122077942#Comment_122077942

Not sure how much 13 he's played but from the clips package Connacht posted on Twitter earlier a good few of his tries seemed to come when he had 13 on his back

b.gud

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122078107#Comment_122078107

Just rewatched it. Of the 6 highlights, 5 were tries and 1 a line break, that I could make out a number 5 of them were while wearing 13 and the other was while wearing 12

Rugbyf565

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122077768#Comment_122077768

You’re completely wrong, he’s just been covering those positions for Bristol a bit lately but he’s primarily a centre. He’s played the majority of his career at 13 and 12 is his secondary position, playing either 12/13 a combined 92 times. He’s only played fullback 9 times and fly half 5 times.

Zeugnis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122078172#Comment_122078172

Correct, and two thirds of his starts at centre were at 13. He's a direct replacement for Farrell.

Rugbyf565

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122078180#Comment_122078180

yup a big lad too by all accounts- 6ft2 and 100kg

AccidentallyOnside

That's a serious signing for us.

Made the premiership team of the season the year Bristol topped the league so he has genuine quality.

Will only have turned 29 when he signs so an experienced operator who should be in his prime. Also a guy who didn't get capped when many felt he deserved one.....so will fit in well with us!

If this spells the end of Farell at connacht that will be a shame as he's been an immense player for us for many years. Munster are getting a hell of a player.

Wegians89

Great signing, gives Gavin time to develop at 13, if thats where they see him long term. Really need a 10 now

b.gud

Toh has announced his retirement

https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/1785285932704309470?t=z4rYZN2JVxgAj4Mch7T8TQ&s=19

FACECUTTR

My favourite memory is him ghosting between the 2 Kearneys in the final.

Utopia Parkway

Sad to see Tiernan call it a day. Seems like he’s been around forever. 100% a Connacht great.

serfboard

Just did a trawl of the recent "Tom Farrell going to Munster" speculation.

According to Cian Tracey in The Independent: [Piers] O'Conor is likely to offset Tom Farrell's impending move to Munster.

John Fallon in The Examiner: speculation that Munster could be making a move for Connacht’s Tom Farrell

Murray Kinsella in the 42: outside centre Tom Farrell has been linked with a move to the southern province too.

And as someone reported on here, Bernard Jackman said it on an RTE podcast recently too.

So, all of the rugberati seem to have it that Tom Farrell is moving to Munster. Most of the time when you hear of these rumours and speculation, the information usually comes from a player's agent. So I see two scenarios:

1. He really is moving to Munster and there are negotiations ongoing with them or
2. There are negotiations ongoing with Connacht and this is a tactic to try and get a better deal.

The second option has been done time and again during new deal negotiations so could well be true, but if it is, the Piers O'Conor signing slightly strengthens Connacht's hand. To me we could do with two specialist 13s anyway in case of injury. Look at the problems we've had there and at fullback without Tom and Tiernan.

Robbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122081067#Comment_122081067

There's gifs of that one floating around, aren't there?

SqueakyKneecap

TOH owes absolutely nothing. The sense I got was that he wanted to retire sooner but lads they were hoping would step up to replace him didn't work out. An absolutely fantastic career and a couple of caps to top it off.