Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

thomond2006

Wegians89 wrote: »

Pretty sure godwin was born in Zimbabwe, so could have been eligible through that

Correct: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolpak_ruling

I see CJ Stander is retiring. Best of luck to him.

Now we should offer Paul Boyle a 5 year contract asap !

KBurke85

marley45 wrote: »

I see CJ Stander is retiring. Best of luck to him.

Now we should offer Paul Boyle a 5 year contract asap !

He's just signed a renewal for the next 2 years so all good

KBurke85

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-40245011.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Interview with Rory Parata currently playing with the Cornish Pirates

Lebute

Rumor's circulating that Cian kelleher is heading for Ealing trailfinders

ClanofLams

Lebute wrote: »

Rumor's circulating that Cian kelleher is heading for Ealing trailfinders

Hard to understand his decision to return to Leinster from a rugby perspective at least, seemed obvious he would never be first choice. Just before that was announced he was really progressing at Connacht, was top try scorer for season to date at that point, still had some defensive and fielding issues but lethal finisher and thought he was improving weak points.

Then move was announced, he might have got a knock or two but Connacht more or less stopped picking him, played couple more iirc and then played a handful of games for Leinster in years since.

I know there’s something to be said for backing yourself etc and may be personal reasons too but really strange move from rugby standpoint.

ShineyShiney

ClanofLams wrote: »

Hard to understand his decision to return to Leinster from a rugby perspective at least, seemed obvious he would never be first choice. Just before that was announced he was really progressing at Connacht, was top try scorer for season to date at that point, still had some defensive and fielding issues but lethal finisher and thought he was improving weak points.

Then move was announced, he might have got a knock or two but Connacht more or less stopped picking him, played couple more iirc and then played a handful of games for Leinster in years since.

I know there’s something to be said for backing yourself etc and may be personal reasons too but really strange move from rugby standpoint.

Was a decent player for us when fit, scored the scores he should have but not a lot more and has continued that trend when picked for Leinster. But to be honest we really didn't miss him when he left and we should have.

Best of luck, wouldn't be surprised if he got backed as a starter and did well.

ShineyShiney

Do Munster have a South African quota they have to meet? Do we need to play Quinn as a 10 for a bit to throw them off the scent?

ShineyShiney

ShineyShiney wrote: »

Do Munster have a South African quota they have to meet? Do we need to play Quinn as a 10 for a bit to throw them off the scent?

A pretty crappy comment coming from a supporter of a team that has benefited from as many ex-Munster players going west than Munster currently have South African's.

ClanofLams

Leicester v Connacht confirmed for 8pm Easter Saturday April 3.

If Connacht were to win would face Ospreys/Newcastle the following weekend in the Sportsground.

KBurke85

Chase Purring Vial wrote: »

A pretty crappy comment coming from a supporter of a team that has benefited from as many ex-Munster players going west than Munster currently have South African's.

Relax mate its a comment made in jest. All part of supporting a club is having a bit a laugh at your rivals

ShineyShiney

Chase Purring Vial wrote: »

A pretty crappy comment coming from a supporter of a team that has benefited from as many ex-Munster players going west than Munster currently have South African's.

Bit of a humour deficit going on there SUAF 😀 relax and chill a bit. I'm eternally grateful to Munster rugby, Munster people, Munster wannabes and anyone who knows anyone from Munster for any and all jobs that we offer Munster people.

connachta

Other opinion on my table ?


"minimal" squad, signings will be limited to a winger for S.Fitz, a 2nd/3rd choice for 10, and maybe a 13 if SOB 2.0 isn't kept.

A real stance to rely on McCormack/D.Byrne/Booth to play well in a few games with only 7 senior back-rows

connachta wrote: »

Based on announcement
4 options by position (with some covering 2 spots)



Position |1st | 2nd |3rd |4th
LH Prop |Buckley |Duggan| M.Burke| McCoy/Ward
Hooker |Heffernan |Delahunt| Tierney-Martin OR Murphy OR New guy | Adamson/E.deBuitlear
TH Prop |Bealham | Aungier | McCoy | Kenny
n°4 2nd Row |Dillane |Roux (TBC) |Dowling | Masterson
n°5 2nd Row |Thornbury| Murray| Prendergast | Murray 2.0
Blindside Flanker |SOB |E.Masterson |Prendergast | Boyle
Openside Flanker |Butler |Oliver |S.Masterson | McCormark/Booth
n°8 | Boyle | Butler |One of Mastersons| D.Byrne
SH | Marmion | Blade |Reilly | Academy newcomer/Kerrins if back
OH |Carty |NEW |Fitzgerald | Daly/C.Forde
11| Wootton |Healy| McNulty| Kilgallen
Inside Centre |Aki |Daly |Robb| Jennings
Outside Centre |Farrell |Arnold | SOB 2.0/New (TBC) | Aki
14 | O'Donnell |Sullivan|NEW| Porch
15 | Porch |TOH|McNulty| Wootton
Stretched to minimum, especially for back-row (where we could hope D.Byrne/McCormavk/Booth to cover a few games as 20)

41 Senior, 22 forwads, 19 backs

its_phil

ClanofLams wrote: »

Hard to understand his decision to return to Leinster from a rugby perspective at least, seemed obvious he would never be first choice. Just before that was announced he was really progressing at Connacht, was top try scorer for season to date at that point, still had some defensive and fielding issues but lethal finisher and thought he was improving weak points.

Then move was announced, he might have got a knock or two but Connacht more or less stopped picking him, played couple more iirc and then played a handful of games for Leinster in years since.

I know there’s something to be said for backing yourself etc and may be personal reasons too but really strange move from rugby standpoint.

Always found it interesting how Leinster convinced him to go back. Must have promised serious game time if he played well during RWC.

salmocab

its_phil wrote: »

Always found it interesting how Leinster convinced him to go back. Must have promised serious game time if he played well during RWC.

Or he wanted to play with his brother

connachta

salmocab wrote: »

Or he wanted to play with his brother

He hasn't much.
One plays only when the other is out with Irish squad...

Squidgy Black

its_phil wrote: »

Always found it interesting how Leinster convinced him to go back. Must have promised serious game time if he played well during RWC.

Would be very surprised if Leinster had promised anything considering we had Adam Byrne and Dave Kearney as well as a raft of academy lads rearing to go at the time.

Was definitely a weird decision though, but worked out well for Connacht in the end with Wootton.

realhorrorshow

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Would be very surprised if Leinster had promised anything considering we had Adam Byrne and Dave Kearney as well as a raft of academy lads rearing to go at the time.

Was definitely a weird decision though, but worked out well for Connacht in the end with Wootton.

Moreso with Porch tbh, he was signed the season CK left and probably got the games Kelleher would have gotten.

macslash

realhorrorshow wrote: »

Moreso with Porch tbh, he was signed the season CK left and probably got the games Kelleher would have gotten.

I'd imagine Porch was more of a Sevu Reece replacement signing, being NIQ.

Lost Ormond

3 weeks for Jarrad Butler so out of Scarlets, Leicester games
https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/disciplinary/jarrad-butler-disciplinary-decision

Wegians89

Conor Oliver signed a one year deal

connachta

So Bundee back vs England and nobody reacts

RonnieL

connachta wrote: »

So Bundee back vs England and nobody reacts

I for one am definitely more invested in Ireland matches when there's Connacht involvement, so I'm delighted to see Bundee on the teamsheet. I also still consider Robbie to be Connacht, so he gets extra support too!

Having said that, I have some resentment towards the Ireland setup over the years for kindof knocking the flair out of Bundee (and Robbie for that matter). It just seems to me like the national team has been playing rugby so scientifically for the last while, that there's very little enjoyment in it from a pure entertainment perspective. I enjoy seeing them win games, and championships for sure, but wouldn't it be great if we could do it playing a more entertaining style? Mini-rant over!

Digifriendly

I think Henshaw/Aki is a better combination than Henshaw/Ringrose who are too similar to each other. Also England will be very physical so glad Aki has been brought in. Should be a good game.

ElisaAtWar

Digifriendly wrote: »

I think Henshaw/Aki is a better combination than Henshaw/Ringrose who are too similar to each other. Also England will be very physical so glad Aki has been brought in. Should be a good game.

I tend to disagree. I believe Aki offers very little. It's just this bit of physicality but no offloading. It's much like Earls, he looks grand on the face of it, but Earls couldn't beat his way out of a paper bag.

If there is one player I would like to see let go it would be Bundee. He is not a team player. He has his own issues but where once he was the basis of a team, now he seems a lost cause. I have no clue what he is doing these days but I think Connacht will be ok without him

b.gud

ElisaAtWar wrote: »

I tend to disagree. I believe Aki offers very little. It's just this bit of physicality but no offloading. It's much like Earls, he looks grand on the face of it, but Earls couldn't beat his way out of a paper bag.

If there is one player I would like to see let go it would be Bundee. He is not a team player. He has his own issues but where once he was the basis of a team, now he seems a lost cause. I have no clue what he is doing these days but I think Connacht will be ok without him

Damn i don't think that worked. Im working on far too little sleep to fix it. It was supposed to be a gif of the Fonz jumping the shark

Wegians89

Team be named on Sunday?

Bazzo

Wegians89 wrote: »

Team be named on Sunday?

Yeah, that's what the craggy rugby lads said anyway.

FACECUTTR

Bazzo wrote: »

Yeah, that's what the craggy rugby lads said anyway.

Any news on SOB ?

KBurke85

FACECUTTR wrote: »

Any news on SOB ?

Damn it looks
Like Bundee is out of the Leicester game too