Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

2025Connacht

Challenge Cup fixtures aren't ideal really. We should be looking to pick up 10 points from the two home games but Ospreys away and Montpellier away (in particular) are not what you'd like.

Unfortunately our biggest opportunities of doing well in the challenge cup (2018 and 2025) were when we were a mess. This season improving our league standing is priority number one but December is a long time away so let's see how we are going then.

Tommybojangles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123637010#Comment_123637010

I wouldn't say 18 was an opportunity really, that was the year Clermont laid waste to the competition. Not sure which year but the year we sent a highly rotated team to Worcester in the last group game and lost the top seed was a frustrating one

Edit; Actually that may have been 2018 and Clermont was 19 so right you are!

testtech05

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123637105#Comment_123637105

Was that Newcastle we played in the last game or was that another year?

Tommybojangles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123637132#Comment_123637132

You're right it was newcastle 2 years ago. A bonus point win would have got us top seed and the actual top seed Toulon went on to win all their knockout games by 15-20 points. All the Challenge CUp disappointments since the early 00s tend to melt in to one in my head!

Cherryson

Hi All,

Could someone put up d'Independent article about the Prendergasts please?

Many thanks in advance!

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123637346#Comment_123637346

https://archive.ph/CbSyw

this one?

2025Connacht

The Worcester game was in the group in 2018. Very frustratingly they had little to play for and we gifted them a 12 points headstart before fighting back and passing up many chances before drawing. We still had a home qf v a non vintage Gloucester but we deservedly lost on the day. The competition was pretty weak that year which is why it stands out in my mind as a lost opportunity.

Newcastle in. 22/23 was frustrating as again we buried ourselves in the opening 20 fought back and then went from potentially being top seeds to an away tie. That year was more the lost opportunity of a couple of extra home games than a chance to win it.

This year I think given the mess we were in we'd have been well beaten in the final if we got that far so probably a blessing in disguise to go out to Racing.

Cherryson

Yes. Many thanks @sydthebeat

Tommybojangles

Montpellier should be a good away trip. Haven't made a foreign one in a few years but plan on heading to that

b.gud

Excellent interview with Stuart Lancaster on Galway Bay FM

https://www.galwaybayfm.ie/podcasts/the-sunday-sports-show/stuart-lancaster-chats-to-galway-bay-fm-about-his-appointment-as-connacht-rugbys-new-head-coach-198370?utm_campaign=web&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=web

Robbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123640697#Comment_123640697

Listened to it earlier and I was very impressed by his attitude. His point about contract renewals only for players who are seriously interested in self improvement should be a warning to some lads that have been coasting a bit since making breakthroughs.

He also, confirming what we all hoped was the case, stated that he's extremely focussed on on-field coaching with Millard doing more of the management type functions.

b.gud

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123642596#Comment_123642596

Yeah I thought that but about the contracts was interesting too.

Some other things that I found interesting was that he thought there is really good young talent that are capable.

He's going to give the challenge cup a shot but he really wants to be playing in the Champions cup.

He wants to use this chance with the internationals/Lions away to build more leaders within the team so that when things are going wrong there is leadership on the field to fix it.

They had their first Stusday session this week. His philosophy with this is they should be above match intensity so that if you can perform here it will be easier to perform in the match setting. He said this week's one was about 50% which when he told the team they were a bit surprised it was that little :)

He suggested that there was a decent foundation there from last season but that there were some things that needed to change. Things like the some of the calls have been the same for years.

He suggested defence was a key area to improve on, and that there was a lot of games last year lost by a few points which could easily be turned into wins with a better defense

Zeugnis

That was a good interview and I appreciated the focus on player accountability, standards, and ambition. No doubt we'll be better, but in this first season the main yardstick for me will be player improvement.

In addition to the lads who played with Ireland in Georgia and Portugal, I'm thinking of: Forde, Devine, Treacy, Jansen, Hawkshaw, and Niall Murray.

From the front row, I'm keen to see Illo feature more regularly (which he should given Bealham will get a rest post Lions) and optimistic that Lasisi can come through. Obviously Tucker is going to bear the technical responsibility, but if these guys have the right mentality, they could benefit enormously from Lancaster.

Lastly, I'm fascinated to see how he is going to approach our 10 problem and the kicking issues. In this, however, a lot will hinge on Sam Gilbert at 15, this is a signing which needs to work!

ShineyShiney

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123643400#Comment_123643400

Great interview, it would get you excited for the new season. I'm really interested in how he sees the half back positions. Managing 3 high quality 9's and the kicking issues around 10.

FACECUTTR

Is there any word on Gilbert's arrival? Is he with the Highlanders until October?

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123654810#Comment_123654810

He's finished with the Highlanders, but he's with Otago in the NPC until probably mid October

CowboyTed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123654816#Comment_123654816

Are we sure he is playing with them?

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123662830#Comment_123662830

He's definitely playing the NPC. They said that when he was announced as joining Connacht.

CowboyTed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123654816#Comment_123654816

Sorry, you are right

https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/highlanders/gilbert-join-connacht-end-npc-season

BTW"Connacht have a couple of Otago links already on the books.

Gilbert’s fellow Green Island man, Sean Jansen, started at No 8 in their most recent game in the United Rugby Championship, and former Highlanders and Otago first five Josh Ioane is also at the club.

Irish and Lions midfield star Bundee Aki is the main man at Connacht.

The Highlanders have exciting youngsters Caleb Tangitau and Finn Hurley under contract next year, and they will be eager to have Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens and Jona Nareki back, but Gilbert’s versatility will be missed."

They have a guy call Finn Hurley, he must be Irish…

eagle eye

One of the greatest of all time is Sean Fitzpatrick, he wasn't Irish.

FtD v2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123662936#Comment_123662936

Actually he was, and would have been eligible to play for Ireland. He held an Irish passport and his grandfather was from Tipperary.

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123663098#Comment_123663098

He wasn't Irish is what I said. The fact he could have applied for an Irish passport doesn't make him Irish born. He's a New Zealander and a proud one.

FtD v2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123663105#Comment_123663105

He has an Irish passport - it's not that he "could" apply for one. He would have been eligible to play for Ireland at birth (just like Mack Hansen, Rob Herring, and plenty of other players down the years).

You said - "he wasn't Irish" - but I would suggest his Irish passport makes him exactly that.

eagle eye

He played 90+ times for his country.

My.point was relating to a comment that Finn Hurley had to be Irish. I was just pointing out that in New Zealand there's lots of Irish names of second, third and fourth generation Kiwis.

You went off on some tangent about Sean Fitzpatrick, a captain of his national team and proud New Zealander being Irish.

Well off with you.

CowboyTed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123663767#Comment_123663767

Lads, it is off season, no need to fight…

Clearly Sean had played for NZ before they told him he was Irish.. Finn doesn't need to go through that..

FtD v2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123663767#Comment_123663767

*sigh - why does virtually every second discussion you're involved in seem to descend into silly nitpicking?

You brought up Sean Fitzpatrick - with the suggestion seemingly that Finn Hurley need not necessarily be Irish (or have Irish eligibility) simply because he had an Irish-sounding name, and then hilariously, to try and reinforce your point, you used the name of a well known All Black who also had an Irish name, seemingly totally and utterly unawares that the guy in question does actually have an Irish passport.

You have a constant tendency to get involved in petty squabbles at any suggestion you're wrong, even in situations like this where you are very obviously wrong.

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123664067#Comment_123664067

There was no squabble. I replied to a post about the New Zealander Finn Hurley. It was a friendly reply.

I never mentioned Irish eligibility.

I just pointed out that he doesn't have to be Irish because he has an Irish name.

You can reply to this post, insult me again if you wish, but I'm finished with your stupid, warped mind.

You are the one digging a hole for yourself.

Mod: Warned.

OldRio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123662936#Comment_123662936

I'll leave that here.

FACECUTTR

I thought we had signed Malcom Marx with all the new posts.....

Gaztric

Would be happy with Jack Dunne and Callum Sheedy, but won't be happening. Anyone got any updates on preseason training?