Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

ShineyShiney

Scrum half is a funny position to judge imo, subs always look good coming on as everyone tires and we saw that at the weekend. Naughton played flatter than Jack which helped and we got on top of Cardiff for the last 15. Devine will have to be judged on a performance off the back foot when the opposition is pressuring every option. Currently I really like him as our bench option, he does bring a spark. Unlike others I thought Murphy was ok.

AccidentallyOnside

Bulls are, unsurprisingly, very annoyed after their display in Belfast so we should expect a big backlash. Louw and Pollard have gone back to SA and their backup FH is a doubt so they have their issues, but based on how we fronted up against Cardiff it's a worry that Bulls will just roll into town and bully us for 80 mins.

We need a big performance from the forwards, need to either get as much size as possible in there or else pick as mobile as possible and move them about and run them into the ground. We'll need to pray for some weather as if it's raining it could be a long day.

CowboyTed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123904197#Comment_123904197

Simple case of Blade is International with some great experience. Murphy was our player of the year last year…

Devine IMHO is a real nugget and that is why Ulster and O'Gara were sniffing around…

Last year we know that there was little separating Devine and Murphy and from IRFU setting they must be thinking to separate them up. I think both have hgher ceilings than Casey who I think is too slow for top end international level, JGP has the speed of a winger (as does all the Connacht three)… Casey doesn't and Marmion a few seasons back was pulling away from Casey with ball in hand. Doak has this problem too, Conor Murray wasn't terrible slow but the way Ireland play, needing fast ruck(like Connacht), you need a fast SH.

Connacht are the same way. Because of our make up getting that ruck time down is vital… During the Cardiff game this was dire, some good work by Cardiff, us not resourcing properly and Ben just didn't seem to be reading the lines properly and got caught a bit…

Maybe Ben was anticipating line breaks which didn't come off, Ben was trying to cut the corner when the ball was going latterly across the field… I would have to watch again…

ShineyShiney

Think i'd go with something like this, Dooley heffernan Bealham Murphy joyce prendergast shl jansen Blade ioane tracey forde aki bolton Mack

Duggan dtm illo doc boyle devine naughton rolston

kita99

I remember that Bealham in former time has played often at LPT (called versatile prop). He cannot prepare for next 2 matches yet, but can work after the challenge cup pool-matches. In current rugby, it seems bigger player at LPT than before.

Yeah_Right

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123904411#Comment_123904411

Haven't seen much of Devine but I've heard good things. While its great to have 2 good young players battling for the starting spot, Connacht will need one of them to establish themselves as the starter for the good of the team. SH is not a position you want changing every week.

Interesting to read your take on Casey and JGP. I always thought Casey was quick. Maybe it's because he has short legs and they're moving quickly, he appears fast. And JGP used to have the speed of a winger but he's definitely slowed down in recent years.

FtD v2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123906858#Comment_123906858

I don't think Casey is particularly quick over the ground - I'd still back JGP to be a good bit faster than him. Casey is arguably the poorest athlete of all the scrum half candidates (combo of small stature and lack of speed), but also probably has the best pass IMO.

typhoony

Agreed on Devine seems to have time and space. You see some of our Irish scrum-havles they look sluggish and are always on the verge of being tackled off the back of the ruck. He still needs to bulk up a bit.

CowboyTed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123906919#Comment_123906919

Good synopsis…

Casey is good for a less mobile pack. Not much movement from side to side and a team that sucks and goes wide… That is more Munster DNA.

The Murphy and Devines want mobility… We don't have the power to go through them so we go side to side and probe their defences… That is Connacht.

JGP has the best of both in Leinster but really knows how to mix it up when in Ireland, when it asked for more often.

Doak might be slower than Casey.

Mr Hinx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123907553#Comment_123907553

I’m showing my age but he reminds me a bit of Joost Van Der Westhuizen less his physicality. But quite all action and arriving at rucks etc.

The Subliminal Verses

the new European jersey is pretty MEH, hopefully the training gear to accompany it is better

realhorrorshow

CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY SQUAD VS VODACOM BULLS
Friday 17th October, 7.45pm @ Dexcom Stadium

Number/Name/Caps

15. Mack Hansen (41)
14. Chay Mullins (10)
13. Byron Ralson (37)
12. Bundee Aki (151)
11. Shayne Bolton (28)
10. Josh Ioane (15)
9. Caolin Blade (210)
1. Peter Dooley (54)
2. Dave Heffernan (221)
3. Finlay Bealham (219)
4. Darragh Murray (40)
5. David O’Connor (10)
6. Josh Murphy (40)
7. Cian Prendergast (89) (C)
8. Sean Jansen (28)

16. Dylan Tierney-Martin (58)
17. Jordan Duggan (64)
18. Jack Aungier (89)
19. Joe Joyce (39)
20. Seán O’Brien (14)
21. Matthew Devine (20)
22. Sean Naughton (3)
23. Cathal Forde (53)

FtD v2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123910072#Comment_123910072

Few interesting selections - Mack at 15 very eye-opening. Cian Prendergast at openside too is very interesting. Very abrasive backrow with Murphy and Jansen.

Caolin Blade (third choice for Connacht per the Ireland thread) starts his second game (out of three).

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123910108#Comment_123910108

Hansen has never blown me away at fullback, but we've only really tried it in fits and starts before. I just find that he is not as focused playing for us as for Ireland, and can be a bit sloppy covering the backfield. Prendergast at 7 can't do his international prospects any harm. I'm not sure he will ever nail down a starting shirt for Ireland but if he can bring versatility, leadership, and work rate, he might be able to make himself a fixture in squads.

Josh Murphy is a bit underrated imo, he should be in the squad for every big game. The drop off in our ability to win the gainline between rounds 1 and 3 had a lot to do with his absence. I would however prefer him at 4 and Hurley-Langton in the back row to get our best players on the pitch, but perhaps the latter has a knock.

In fairness, Blade played the fewest minutes of any of our main three 9s in the latter portion of last season, so I can see where some who don't follow Connacht closely got that idea. He looked sharp against Benetton though, and Ben Murphy had probably his worst game for us last week.

sydthebeat

Very international feel to that connacht back line. Love it !!

eagle eye

It appears to me that Lancaster is giving everybody a fair go at it before he decides who will be his starting 15.

There's lads you'd expect to be starting who aren't even on the bench. This was the case the first two weeks and Blade is a good example, started first game and not in the squad for the second.

testtech05

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123910258#Comment_123910258

He mentioned this was the plan for the 1st 3 games before the season started, the Scarlets game being postponed obviously delayed it a bit but hopefully we can get a result tomorrow night

eagle eye

I don't expect it to last very long but it's nice to be sitting above Leinster with a better points difference and a game less played. 😁

Mr Hinx

Interesting team. First choice front row? First choice half backs?

Starting to pull things together. I really like the back row make up.

Still no start for M Devine, Jennings, J Devine, Hugh Gavin to name a few.

Re Mack at FB. Needs must I think. I think he has always given his very best for us.

Zeugnis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123910108#Comment_123910108

We'll feel the absence of SHL and Boyle. Lancaster must want to investigate the options at 7, it's the only reason i can imagine for Prendergast making his debut there. Boyle has been running the best lines and of any of our back rows and creating mayhem since he returned to form last year. Someone said he just become a dad so I assume that's why he's not playing. SHL is just a baller.

It was a pleasure to watch Niall Murray against Treviso, hopefully he recovers soon from his surgery, he transforms our line out and is a constant menace as a defensive jumper.

Promises to be a very interesting encounter. I would normally have expected the Bulls to take the win, but Connacht will be keen to make amends for that travesty last weekend in Wales, so I am quietly hopeful of an upset.

testtech05

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123910891#Comment_123910891

The one caveat I would add is that the Bulls will be looking for a reaction after their poor game up in Ulster too. Hopefully we can sneak it.

ShineyShiney

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123910154#Comment_123910154

Totally agree regarding Josh Murphy. Our best team has to have him it and for me that's at 4.

Former Coach

As already said we will miss SHL and Boyler but it's still a very strong side and I fancy us for a 5-pointer...

connachta

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123911465#Comment_123911465

How optimistic is this!

FtD v2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123911618#Comment_123911618

I think he meant he hopes Connacht will score a try at some point 🙂

KBurke85

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123910891#Comment_123910891

the article on the team announcement said Boyle and SHL are out with injury. Will be assessed for next week

ionadnapóca

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123910882#Comment_123910882

I would hope we see more of Ben Murphy and Devine at 9. Is Murphy dropped or injured?

Good to see Hansen at FB. Potentially his best position.

ElisaAtWar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123912926#Comment_123912926

Hansens best position is on the wing. I believe that has been proven time and again. As for 6 to 8, well that's just as weak as we can be. And this really impacts Ioane. So I don't see any positive outcome from this team selection

The Subliminal Verses

need a big statement win tonight, hopefully none of our boys will be caught "playing possum"

lavrenti

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123913633#Comment_123913633

Oh would you ever f@ck off!