Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122636994#Comment_122636994

Darragh Murray probably does have a higher ceiling than the others but I haven't seen anything from him yet to indicate that a matchday squad containing any three of Niall Murray, Joyce, Dowling, and Murphy would be tangibly weaker than one which included him. I think we have the sufficient depth to not miss any of the tourists, except for at loosehead where we will one injury away from Temi Lasisi playing his first pro game ever (?) in the position.

Whatever anyone's feelings on the tour are, it is clearly a part of the pathway to senior test caps right now, and I would rather our players were progressing along that pathway than not.

FtD v2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122636994#Comment_122636994

Yeah, whatever. Plenty of Connacht fans here seem happy for the players to get the opportunity.

This tour is neither extreme as it’s commonly portrayed on here - it’s not as bad as it’s made out to be - because the IRFU make the front line internationals available to cover gaps - and it’s not necessarily indicative that a player is destined to be a future international. It’s a development tour, for the coaches and players. There isn’t really a better time in the calendar for it.

ClanofLams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122637056#Comment_122637056

It’s a “development tour” that is completely unnecessary and undermines the league. Causing players to miss three league games from 18 is significant and anyone who downplays it is either disingenuous or idiotic.

FtD v2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122637117#Comment_122637117

Completely unnecessary in your opinion - other people are actually paid to decide whether something like this is necessary or not.

Spare me your disingenuous or idiotic comments - you’re the one ranting here just repeating the same points repeatedly, and not engaging with anything said in response.

Connacht have plenty of depth, the Irish provinces of all teams do more for the quality of the URC than any other, and the idea that fans are being shortchanged by being denied Shayne Bolton playing in Rounds 2-4 (when the likely starting wingers will be internationals like Hansen & Cordero) is from someone being pretty disingenuous himself.

ClanofLams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122637136#Comment_122637136

Your last response began “Yeah, whatever.”, so I wouldn’t be commenting on the quality of response.

Plenty of depth - another poster pointed out we will be one loose head injury away from relying on Lahisi in his professional debut. I pointed out that some of the depth you referenced eg O’Connor is nowhere near the same quality.

People are paid to decide lots of things, it doesn’t mean their decisions are inherently correct.

Anyone who thinks a couple of weeks training and a challenge game or two against weaker opposition than players would be otherwise facing makes a substantial difference to their careers is naive, at best. If it is to be done, it should be with all academy players, not senior players who would be otherwise involved at a higher level of rugby.

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122636994#Comment_122636994

the disdain IRFU has for provincial rugby and the supporters of provinces, in particular Connacht and Ulster.

I'm struggling to see how Connacht and Ulster are being treated any worse than Munster and Leinster tbh. Seems that - regardless of whether the EI tour is a good or bad thing - everyone is in the same boat.

If you want Connacht players to get a fair crack of the whip for being called into senior Ireland training camps and squads (and it's often claimed they don't), then this is surely a good thing? Giving them a lot of proper exposure to the Irish coaching staff and vice versa has to help?

cson

Is there a rugby game on this weekend or nah?

ClanofLams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122637193#Comment_122637193

You're probably right on the first point, poor phrasing by me - looking at the squad today, my sense was that Connacht and Ulster were the most negatively impacted but I haven't really examined the squad or the provincial first XVs in detail to say that.

As for the second part, I think there are far better ways that could be accomplished that don't undermine provincial rugby - they could have a two week camp in August and rustle up some opposition - a couple of English clubs for a pre season friendly or whatever. Worth noting that the Sunday Independent reported in 2022 that the tour was designed for those on the fringes of the Irish Squad(which would have made far more sense with RWC2023 in mind) but following provincial pushback, it was changed to more of a younger squad.

ElisaAtWar

Love the team selection. Question is if the coaching staff have managed to teach them how to play together. I sincerely doubt that.

Rafabio DaSilva

Can we leave the chat on the tour for now, I think we have gotten both sides of the arguement (multiple times).

Be grand if we were still in the height of the off season but a team has just been announced for our first game of the season away to Munster - might merit a bit more discussion.

I really like the team on paper. The backs have a little bit of everything except experience as a unit. A brand new 9 /10 combo is brave decision but the pairing tried there last year failed so no harm. O'Connor looked solid against Sale and brings size and guile to the position, Ioane Hansen and Cordeo could cause mayhem with thier unpredicability and Bolton will bring brute force.

Pack is interesting and should have some cohesion as lots of familiar faces in there.

Munster on paper look mid strength and can be bad starters in the league. Would be amazing to turn them over. Just pray its not like the opening game against Ulster a couple of years ago.

Btw i am neutral on the players being picked for the tour. Does seem like a silly time for it but on the other hand encouraging to see a strong contingent picked from the province. Hopefully a sign of strength in depth.

ElisaAtWar

Muster +40 to me

The Moist Buddha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122637320#Comment_122637320

bizarre post

KBurke85

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122637724#Comment_122637724

pretty sure he was referring to the debate about the Emerging Ireland squad which was getting more posts then talk of the first game of the season

dockysher

Connacht will win today, 4/1 good odds.

realhorrorshow

Hard to know how to feel about today with no form book, but think we should be able to give Munster a decent game on paper. Regardless of result, I'll be happy to see notable improvement in a few areas:

• Exiting our own 22, particularly from kickoff.
• Playing in the right areas of the pitch.
• More variety in attack, more depth, more deception. In particular attacking the blindside much more frequently.
• More pragmatism when our phase play isn't yielding results, i.e. kicking to compete and retaining a higher % of those kicks.
• Better lineout and scrum.
• Our maul being an actual weapon.
• Better decision making out wide and more cohesion if we continue with our more aggressive defence.

We were statistically among the worst in the league in most of the above departments last season. With all coaches being out of contract at the end of the season, I think we need to see improvements in all units as well as general composure, decision making, concentration, and referee management.

OldRio

That's stunning.

realhorrorshow

Ben Murphy looking very sharp so far.

Larbre34

Fair dues. The Connacht back division looks to be very nicely balanced and extremely confident.

OldRio

And another. Superb Rugby.

FtD v2

Josh Murphy with a few colossal hits so far

Utopia Parkway

Oliver made the tackle but somehow didn't hold him. Rest of the Connacht players switched off thinking the tackle had been made. And the gap opened up.

FtD v2

This is a cracking game of rugby. Brilliant finish from Haley there.

Utopia Parkway

Connacht play all the rugby and then let in 2 tries in 2 minutes and are behind. No surprise there.

FtD v2

Deliberate knock on there from Nankivell seemingly ignored by the officials.

testtech05

Hows that not been reviewed looked like he slapped it forward and a try on.

Ciaran

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122640504#Comment_122640504

I thought it went backwards.

irelandrover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122640504#Comment_122640504

They checked it and said it went backwards.

testtech05

Brilliant try. Ioane and Murphy look really sharp together

FtD v2

Cracking try - guessing the Connacht fans are pretty happy with that half from the new half backs?

Really enjoyable game so far. Connacht’s attack looks very sharp, moving them around the field well and attacking the short side regularly.

Huge half from Josh Murphy too.

Podge_irl

It definitely went backwards from Nank, though why he doubled down on their being a Connacht knock on I don't understand. There clearly wasn't, though it was immaterial to the outcome.