Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

CowboyTed · 21-05-2025 01:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123470351#Comment_123470351

Agreed… Really no disrespect but we would be relying on a guy to come in and have to take the team on with a bunch of new coaches too…

Andy Friend had Nigel and Duffy (I think), it was pretty settled and he could come in and just put his stamp on it after KK… Expecting a Seib to be a first time Head Coach(ie.e manager of Coaches) and take a team of caches that have not worked together really and then give results straight out the door is unrealistic… (And also the plan from 2 years ago)

Seriously would love the idea of Dan Mc Farland and Jarrad Payne coming in, they know each other and start with a stable relationship and trust…

CowboyTed · 21-05-2025 01:56PM

BTW

Munster's Tom Farrell nominated for Irish Players' Player of the Year award

https://www.the42.ie/tom-farrell-2-6710650-May2025/

A player the Connacht Management thought wasn't good enough for a contract….

This is why I think letting Conor Oliver go is not a great idea…

BrokenMan · 21-05-2025 02:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123470428#Comment_123470428

Exact date and time as opposed to venue I think.

ShineyShiney · 22-05-2025 02:50PM

Ulster have announced their completed squad for 25/26 41 fully contracted player and 2 development players.

I would be expecting something similar for us although I think I read somewhere that the Bell signing was funded externally, not sure if that's true.

Are we done with our new signings? I think we might be.

AccidentallyOnside · 23-05-2025 09:22AM

Hadn't realised Morgan was released by Ulster. Suppose you gotta read the writing on the wall when the guys vying for your spot are the head coaches son and the son of performance director of the IRFU!

cson · 23-05-2025 04:02PM

Anyone know when they'll open up season ticket sales to everyone? Looking to get one for the old man for Fathers Day.

2025Connacht · 23-05-2025 04:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123478212#Comment_123478212

Poor man do you dislike him that much 😛

RonnieL · 24-05-2025 10:15PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123478212#Comment_123478212

Have you a season ticket yourself? You can buy additional ones at the renewal price if you have

ShineyShiney · 25-05-2025 11:46AM

Congratulations to Ben Murphy, Player of the year, thoroughly deserved award. Congratulations to all the other winners.

eagle eye · 25-05-2025 12:14PM

I'm very proud of my own club winning a number of awards with my good friend Kolo Kiripati winning coach of the year, we won club of the year, Jemima Verling winning women's club player of the year, Brian Diffley, whose two brothers played for Connacht, winning junior player of the year and Siofra Hession winning under 18 women's player of the year. We also had two other nominees.

We haven't had a season anywhere close to this since 1988.

We won the J1A and Junior Cup.

We lost out in the AIL playoffs but we had no hope as the game took place 6 days after winning the Junior Cup. Obviously there were celebrations as the whole club was over the moon after we got the double. The boys basically had about two days to focus on the game and were playing a team, Bective, who had two weeks off before it. Nobody was disappointed after that loss.

Ben Murphy certainly deserved player of the year.

ShineyShiney · 26-05-2025 02:00PM

Squad Update:

West, Tracey and Devine promoted from academy.

Prop: Denis Buckley, Peter Dooley, Jordan Duggan, Finlay Bealham, Jack Aungier, Illo, Lasisi

Hooker: Heffernan, Dylan Tierney Martin, De Butlair

Lock: Josh Murphy, Darragh Murray, Niall Murray, Oisin Dowling, Joe Joyce, David o Connor

Back Row: Cian Prendergast, Sean o Brien, Paul Boyle, SHL, McCormack, Jansen

Scrum Half: Devine, Murphy, Blade, Reilly

Out Half: Ioane, Carty

Centre: Forde, Gavin, Ralston, Aki, Hawkshaw, Devine

Back 3: Hansen, Jennings, Bolton, Mullins, Gilbert, Tracey, West

Total 41

RonnieL · 26-05-2025 02:09PM

What's the story with Sean Naughton? His name was being mentioned a lot over the last year or so as a future starting out half, but I feel those calls have quietened over time.

KBurke85 · 26-05-2025 02:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123486988#Comment_123486988

He should get more game time next season I'd imagine. He was probably unlucky this season that there was 3 outhalves ahead of him and the coaches were probably reluctant to put him into a struggling team plus he fact we often went with a 6-2 split on the bench

ShineyShiney · 26-05-2025 04:09PM

He's young, playing well for Corinthians but probably not ready yet. I thought he might get promoted as he's in a position that attracts interest.

CowboyTed · 26-05-2025 05:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123486933#Comment_123486933

Devine and West have not played for Connacht.

I am sure Elwood would know these guys very well and wouldn't be pushing. Just hope this isn't a budget decision, i.e. we need players and these are cheap… Treacy is a great find and that quality is like finding gold… Devine has the minutes played at Ireland U20 to justify this..

Harry doesn't… Cian Prendergast didn't either and he turned out alright. Elwwod found one before and here is hoping he does again.

Well done to the lads

==============

McCormack has played 33 min in two seasons…

I hope he can push on from his underage showing…

===========

https://all.rugby/transfers/connacht

So this season we lost 7 players

We have so far replaced with one buy in and 3 promotions from academy.

ShineyShiney · 26-05-2025 06:45PM

I love seeing guys push through from the academy. It must give the whole organization and wider Connacht Rugby community a huge lift to see these guys make the grade. There is massive energy and effort invested not least by the guys themselves but also by so many others along the way.

Considering the professional environment I very much doubt that anyone ever gets a pro contract for any other reason than hard work, dedication and talent.

eagle eye · 27-05-2025 12:01AM

Bringing lads through from the academy is a great thing for a number of reasons. Firstly it shows the academy is doing a great job, secondly it shows that our clubs are developing young players very well. It means young lads are more likely to keep playing the game than switch solely to GAA and that potentially leads to more talent coming through.

As a fan I love it, nothing better than seeing homegrown talent on the field.

CowboyTed · 27-05-2025 12:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123488012#Comment_123488012

Shiney,

I am more pointing out the financial strain all the provinces are under…

Ulster looks pretty radical…

https://all.rugby/transfers/ulster

17 players out, 8 players in (3 bought, 5 academy)… (I think that is finalised)

Munster is fairly aggressive too..

https://all.rugby/transfers/munster

13 players out , 9 player in (2 bought, 7 academy)… (As it stands)

Connacht are

7 players out , 4 player in (1 bought, 3 academy)… (As it stands)

On player count Ulster (down 9), Munster (down 4) & Connacht (Down 3).

There must be a national pressure on the wage bill for Ulster & Munster and that would mean the same for Connacht… Connacht attendance is taking a hit this year, the coaching debacle was not helping..

I am not saying that these guys aren't good and I have a lot of respect for Elwood in this regard and think he has done amazing things in the past… But the pressure is there…

I am also pointing out that Ulster didn't promote anyone who hadn't played for the Senior team… I am giving leeway here because Pete was very conservative in his selection and struggled with trusting players coming through or even returning from injury…

seanin4711 · 27-05-2025 12:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123490207#Comment_123490207

Its a difficult sell to pay hard earned money to attend the SG this and last season ,exposed to the elements (behind the goals) and watch the same gameplan every week leading to the same results each week, never mind watching them on TV.

It must be asked - are the guys from academy(ready firstly)& the less expensive option than buying in cover?

They gave the crowd nothing to cheer hence less and less turned up.

can only go upwards from here!

realhorrorshow · 27-05-2025 02:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123490207#Comment_123490207

I think there's an element of adapting to the reduced fixture list. We paid six senior players to play less than 80 minutes this season - Lasisi, McBurney, McCormack, Reilly, Smith, and Porch.

CowboyTed · 27-05-2025 05:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123490509#Comment_123490509

Sorry forgot to post this:

https://all.rugby/transfers/connacht

Mc Burney, Smith and Porch left…

Porch started 5 TOP 14 games in France and racked up 400 min by end of season. HE played on a side that beat Toulon and lost to a La Rochelle side by 1 point. He was treated pretty bad by Wilkins… Really deserves to be picked up.

Smith did the same, found any place else to be than in Connacht cause he was in the fridge in Connacht.. Played in two champions cup games and got a renewal..

Lasisi is 24 which is young for a prop and doesn't have international like Finlay giving up time while on International duty…

McCormack is the question when you consider Oliver isn't back for next season… Oliver is generally a 1000 min a season guy, SHL was eating into that but he still racked up 600 min while being int he fridge for 6 months last season. Mc Cormack has take up that slack, SHL doesn't go on internationals so he will have to fight for every minute..

Reilly is a really good rugby player in Connacht's most competitive area… He is on a long term injury (I think). Say he is retained because Connacht don't think they are keeping all their SHs… Devine and Murphy in the one club considering age profile and ambitions doesn't make sense….

ShineyShiney · 27-05-2025 09:13PM

Oliver, Smith, McBurney and Porch are all decent players but we will probably not miss them too much. No disrespect intended to good guys.

Sometimes it's not a tragedy when players move in it's just pro sport.

Oliver was a senior player when he signed his last contract, he's been overtaken as a starter by SHL and our style of play has changed a bit and not in his favour. The reality is he was probably worth 30% less to us and other options were cheaper. It's business.

If Oliver tears it up somewhere then fair play to him but it doesn't make it the wrong decision.

Kilgallen was the right decision for Connacht, good player but we haven't missed him. Smith was the right decision for Smith we haven't missed him.

We missed Farrell but you can't get them all right. Remember someone let everyone of our recruited players go otherwise they wouldn't be here.

kita99 · 28-05-2025 08:48AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123491162#Comment_123491162

Connacht must keep Devine because he is excellent tackler as same as Dupont and Connacht-grown. And I expect three new comers this year (Treacy, West, J.Devine). Especially West, If escaped nasty injury, I think he would appeared in senior match already because he has some good rugby sense like Treacy.

AccidentallyOnside · 28-05-2025 09:02AM

Delighted to see West get a contract, looked good any time I've seen him (very few TBF), would probably have seen minutes at u20s most years but had Prendergast in front of him. Has all the attributes to fit in at FB so really hope he sees some decent minutes. Have spoken to a few people that have known him since his school days and they said he's a cracking young lad too.

El_Duderino 09 · 28-05-2025 10:27AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123492486#Comment_123492486

With only 2 full-time out-halves, I'd imagine there will be time for others this season through injury or rotation.

Is Hawkshaw still an out-half these days or has that ship sailed?

eagle eye · 28-05-2025 11:16AM

Maybe they are going to give Sean Naughton a go.

CowboyTed · 28-05-2025 11:26AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123491782#Comment_123491782

Very fair points.. I still annoyed about Farrell, could see that all he needed was a small bit of luck on injury… I have the same feeling about Smith, think he is going to mature very well..

Porch is annoying as we kept very little cover for FB and treated him pretty poorly… I suppose we let him get a shop window in France which he did use.

AccidentallyOnside · 28-05-2025 11:27AM

West is down as back three player, would imagine he's a use in case of emergency at 10 like Hawkshaw is. The best performances we've seen from Hawkshaw have always been in the center so I doubt we'll see him there much.

We also need to accept that playing 10 for Connacht is a very, very tough gig; constantly playing behind a beaten pack, very little go forward ball, usually in some pretty terrible conditions. It's not a great place to be introducing a young players.