Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

realhorrorshow

The Connacht Eagles matchday squad has been named for tomorrow's IRFU 'A' Interprovincial Championship meeting with Ulster 'A' at Creggs RFC (k/o 3pm).

CONNACHT EAGLES VS ULSTER 'A'

15. Harry West
14. James Nicholson
13. Finn Treacy
12. John Devine
11. Shane Mallon
10. Sean Naughton
9. Colm Reilly (C)
1. Temi Lasisi
2. Adam McBurney
3. Fiachna Barrett
4. Joe Joyce
5. Charlie Coghlan (u20)
6. Niall Murray
7. Charlie Keane (u19)
8. Oisin McCormack

16. Matthew Victory
17. Jordan Duggan
18. Thomas Connolly
19. David O'Connor
20. Cian Brady (u20)
21. Chay Mullins
22. Shane Jennings

SqueakyKneecap

Ioane signs a 1 year extension. Can't say he's really looked like he's earned it tbh but if it means we're still looking at bringing in a decent OH to replace Carty and JJ I'm OK with it.

Wegians89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123263556#Comment_123263556

Apart from his kicking he 100% has earned his place, adds so much in attack.

testtech05

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123263565#Comment_123263565

He looks excellent in attack but if there isnt scope to improve his kicking from both hand and the tee then I'm not sure you can afford to have him 1st choice 10 unless you make Forde the goalkicker fulltime and find another option who can kick to touch reliably.

People spent a lot of time complaining about Jacks goal kicking but Ioane is quite a bit worse. Hopefully they have a plan to work around his limitations if he is going to be 1st choice 10 next season.

realhorrorshow

The Instagram post reads like it's a 2 year contract. If we're signing another outhalf they'll have to be IQ so probably not many live options.

FACECUTTR

Ya It says 2026/2027 which I assume is a 2 year deal.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123263631#Comment_123263631

A good 10 in play with an alternate kicker is far, far better than a mediocre 10 who is a great kicker.

His kicking from play albeit, is something he needs to improve. But he's exciting and a lot of this is coachable.

He's brilliant with the ball in hand but the coaching team better have a solid plan for kicking. We can offset it a bit with Forde at 12 but that plan goes out the window with Bundee playing some of our biggest games. It's not just penalties or line kicks either. Our exits have suffered badly from poor length at ten (not just Ioane) and opposing teams have been able to pressurise our scrum halves as a result. How many times in the last couple of seasons have we barely scrambled the ball off the pitch? He'll be setup to fail if we don't sort that problem.

ShineyShiney

Glad to see him resigned he's been good.

ShineyShiney

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123263308#Comment_123263308

Signs of things to come for next year? West at 15, Naughton at 10 and Tracey at 13.

2025Connacht

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123263701#Comment_123263701

In fairness he's 30 in the summer. If his kicking game isn't up to scratch at this stage of his career he's unlikely to improve hugely in that area and it's not like we have better coaches than what he would have been exposed to in New Zealand.

Not against keeping him on but this idea that his kicking game is going to improve is optimistic.

realhorrorshow

Finn Treacy looking sharp at 13, scores the first try of the game after 10. Naughton converts from 15m in on the right side for 7-0.

realhorrorshow

Try for Zac Ward from close range after we conceded multiple maul penalties. 7-5.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123264210#Comment_123264210

I didn't realise he was that old, assumed he was a youngster. All the same, he is a flawed player but he is very good at certain aspects and I think, no disrespect, that is the kind of player Connacht probably need to build around.

realhorrorshow

Close range Oisin McCormack try on the second phase from a tap penalty, converted by Naughton. 14-5 approaching half time.

realhorrorshow

Ulster try from Tom Brigg breaking off a maul, brilliantly converted by Morgan. 14-12 at HT.

realhorrorshow

Beautiful try, Fiachna Barrett runs a nice line 5m out and steamrolls Morgan for the score. All came from a line break from McCormack. 21-12 approaching 50 mins.

realhorrorshow

Ulster sneak it at the death, finishes 21-24. Lots of good individual performances but we didn't get much from the bench and Ulster finished strongly.

FACECUTTR

Thanks for the updates. Any stand out performances?

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123264642#Comment_123264642

Oisin McCormack was the best forward and Treacy the best back imo. Barrett and Naughton impressive too. Victory off the bench was an improvement on McBurney in the loose but his throwing is far from the required standard.

Harry West and Shane Mallon got injured, both seemed like hamstrings potentially.

lavrenti

I presume it'll have been written into Andrew Smith's loan contract that he can't face us in Castlebar?

Zeugnis

How was James Nicholson?

Zeugnis

Unfortunate time for those two to pick up an injury, given they're both in the last year of the Academy.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123264898#Comment_123264898

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123265679#Comment_123265679

I thought the backs looked well drilled and cohesive as a collective and Nicholson played his part in that, looked sharp and had some nice touches. Mallon was good on the other wing too until his injury and West had just made a nice half break when he got injured. John Devine had a good outing too.

I just felt Treacy and Jennings stood out that extra bit from the others, the extra athleticism makes a big difference imo.

ElisaAtWar

thought Hansen was incredible and deserved MOTM

Citizenpain

love Hansen - he had a lot of good moments but he was culpable for 2 Italy try’s

kita99

In U20 team, I was impressed by Bobby Power (opensider). I think he will become 'Ireland' in the future time. I hope that Connacht have long-term point of view about young talented players like West, Mollan or Victory etc….. I think that the investment will surely get big return.

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123267906#Comment_123267906

Interesting, I didn't see all the games but wouldn't have picked Power out as a major prospect. Max Flynn is only 4 months older and has a higher ceiling imo.

I think Mallon and West will leave at the end of the season. Victory is a tricky one, it would be good to see him supplant McBurney but he cannot play senior rugby with his throwing where it is currently.

Zeugnis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123269199#Comment_123269199

Victory has another year in the Academy. Don't know what the purpose of McBurney is to the squad, he's played 18m this year. In the case of an injury crisis we'd be better off using Victory.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123271411#Comment_123271411

It's very easy to say that in March 2025 with hindsight. The coaches would have been making the same decision about Victory's development in April 2024 when he was just being retained for second year in the academy.