Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

ShineyShiney

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123300551#Comment_123300551

Dreaming of a team of Cathal Forde's? Maybe not lock but everywhere else.

KBurke85

CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY SQUAD VS MUNSTER 

14:30, Saturday 29th March 2025 @ Hastings Insurance MacHale Park  

Number/Name/Caps 

15. Mack Hansen (38)

14. Chay Mullins (6)

13. Hugh Gavin (5)

12. Bundee Aki (146)

11. Finn Treacy (3)

10. Josh Ioane (11)

9. Caolin Blade (206)

1. Jordan Duggan (57)

2. Dave Heffernan (213)

3. Finlay Bealham (213)

4. Joe Joyce (32) 

5. Darragh Murray (34)

6. Cian Prendergast (81) Captain

7. Shamus Hurley-Langton (52)

8. Sean Jansen (19)

 

16. Dylan Tierney-Martin (51)

17. Denis Buckley (260)

18. Jack Aungier (81)

19. Josh Murphy (32)

20. Paul Boyle (109)

21. Matthew Devine (13)

22. JJ Hanrahan (24)

23. Santiago Cordero (17)

sydthebeat

good team !

AccidentallyOnside

Duggan is a bit left field; we've not seen him in a while.

Edit: also think devine should start, this hasn't been blades strongest period for us

SqueakyKneecap

That back three needs to have a solid showing if we are to have any hope. Bolton is a big loss. Like the side otherwise. Think Bucks has been dropping off so no harm to see Duggan given a chance.

Zeugnis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123306326#Comment_123306326

Agree about Devine. No Cathal Forde, I don't understand it. Would have gone for Jennings over Mullins.

Zeugnis

Munster Rugby: Ben O’Connor; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Seán O’Brien; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Oli Jager; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (C); Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Ruadhán Quinn, Conor Murray, Rory Scannell, Alex Kendellen.

realhorrorshow

Big test for Gavin. Is O'Conor injured?

kita99

Why is this good team？　Cordero？　Hanrahan who will go to Munster? No Forde. Devine should move some other decent team because Connacht cannot help his growing up.

ShineyShiney

Big ask for Connacht with those teams. JJ lucky to survive last week's effort.

testtech05

O Connor must have a knock or something to not be involved at all this week although had a few poor defensive moments last week he has been solid all year. Not sure on JJ and a few other selection either but happy to be proven wrong tomorrow hopefully.

Hearing that Brace has been swapped out for Craig Evans as referee as well but not sure if that is official news

eagle eye

Forde should be there instead of Hanrahan, I'm sure he could cover full back if needed and he can cover centre and out-half, if required.

I don't like Hansen at full back, I'd put Mullins there.

I agree with others that Devine should be starting.

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123306404#Comment_123306404

I think Devine is tracking well but faces a challenge due to essentially being the platonic ideal of a sub scrumhalf. He is so good at raising the tempo off the bench and targeting tired forwards around the fringes that it may be hard to avoid being pigeonholed into that role. Also, his passing is not good enough yet, particularly off his left hand.

Pairing him with Hanrahan on the bench is an odd choice IMO, I don't think they are a good combo. Devine and Ioane on the other hand..

MarinersBlues

With traffic and parking etc. What time should one be aiming to hit Castlebar tomorrow?

happyoutscan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123307396#Comment_123307396

As early as you can. McHale Park on sell-out day is a nightmare parking wise. One plus point is that the local bus and taxi firms in Mayo are booked solid tomorrow with plenty opting for group travel instead of car. I'd guess pubs in surrounding towns and villages will be busy early.

Trains booked out as well I think.

eagle eye

Everyone I know that's going are planning to be there an hour before kickoff so 1.30pm.

homewardbound11

quick question .
can OAP tickets be exchanged for standard terrace tickets on the day .

kita99

If Connacht lost tonight, Who will take the resonsibility or accountability?

Cherryson

Craggy rugby podcast warning people to get there as early as possible! An hour before kickoff might not be enough!

lavrenti

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123308303#Comment_123308303

It'll be down to you Kita I'm afraid.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123308371#Comment_123308371

100%. If the traffic is bad - and it normally is on match day - getting to the stadium is very slow.

eagle eye

The traffic isn't as bad as it used to be since they put in the bypass to Westport.

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123308303#Comment_123308303

If we play well but lose a tight game to a strong Munster team, I don't think that's anything to be ashamed of. Especially with such a young team, particularly the outside backs. Another performance like Ulster at home would be extremely disheartening but I'm optimistic that won't happen.

As for accountability, I think decisions regarding the composition of the coaching team moving forward have already been made.

Zeugnis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123308860#Comment_123308860

What do you think those decisions are?

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123308913#Comment_123308913

Just the ones that have been announced already, plus Fardy out as well.

I think Seib will probably subsume some element of Wilkins current role but hard to know from the outside what that will look like.

Zeugnis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123308303#Comment_123308303

I don't think there's much accountability. With Wilkins on sick leave, do we even know who made the selection?

Cherryson

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Bpxc3FzPc/

Garda traffic info

edit: Oops thought this was an update. It's just general info.

AccidentallyOnside

Great to see Connacht legends Simon Zebo and Ian Madigan in studio for premier sports

Edit: at least Jackman is co commentating

ElisaAtWar

The Cordero selection was puzzling 😟

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123309350#Comment_123309350

Unfathomable. He's the worst player I've ever seen here, relative to probable salary and number of caps. Tough for him as he's clearly struggling for confidence after injury, but professional sport is ruthless and there is no reason to keep trying to play him into form when he's out of contract in a few months.