Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123942707#Comment_123942707

I'd be shocked if we didn't go for Stephen Smyth. A good prospect but it's hard to see his route to the first team at Leinster with three internationals under the age of 28 ahead of him. I think he could nail down a spot in our 23 almost immediately, and likely the starting jersey within a season or two.

realhorrorshow

I think the cancellation of the Scarlets game was extremely unfortunate. Not only was it a likely 5 pointer, given the team Scarlets named and their results so far, it also derailed our early momentum and likely disrupted our prep for Cardiff. It also put Lancaster in a tricky spot regarding selection for the Cardiff game. He could either select the same 23 named for the Scarlets, or bolster the starting lineup with the likes of Dooley, Josh Murphy, and Hurley-Langton. I understand why he went for the former, as dropping players would likely send a message incongruent with his declaration that he would give all a chance to impress. Unfortunately, as a result I think we went to Cardiff with a team strong enough to beat Scarlets at home, but not strong enough for the task at hand.

Looking forward, I think 8 wins from the remaining 14 games will have us in the mix for a playoff spot, if we continue to pick up bonus points as we have so far. We have the Sharks at home at a good time, with the Springboks playing the same day. We also still have to play three poor Welsh teams and Zebre. If we can pick up two wins from the five remaining interpros, of which I'm optimistic despite the fact we've lost the last seven now, we should go into the last game against Edinburgh away.

If we can ally the above with a win in South Africa (unlikely IMO) and/or beating Glasgow at home, we could potentially be pushing for 6th.

FtD v2

I wouldn't want to see him go, but John McKee is a really good hooker too. He's pretty solid at all the basics, puts himself about well and has pretty good size.

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123943360#Comment_123943360

It's probably an either/or for Leinster with Smyth and McKee, with Connacht seeming like the natural destination for whichever is to leave. McKee might be positively disposed towards a move, he had his best season in 22/23 under Lancaster and looked like a potential international at the time. He played in three Champions Cup knockout games that season but hasn't played in Europe since Lancaster left.

The more I type the more it makes sense tbh.

Mr Hinx

We will need size and power next season. I know it’s not everything but it helps a lot.

We are most weak at 1, 2 and a gigantic, over grown , terminator spec second row.

Mr Hinx

Smyth seems bigger 6.2, 114kg according to Wikipedia , which is completely accurate always.

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123943461#Comment_123943461

Seems about right, he's a very big hooker.

CuriousCucumber

Just putting this out there

If, and I really hope it doesn't happen. If Joey Carberry joins Connacht next season, he will be no better at kicking than anyone else we have.

He's not an answer to any questions Connacht are asking

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123943496#Comment_123943496

100% agree.

We are better off developing our own players and if we bring in a young player from elsewhere then I'm all for that as well.

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123943496#Comment_123943496

Carbery is a good goalkicker, probably somewhere between Jack Carty and Ioane in terms of kicking from hand, and less error prone than both. I don't particularly rate him at the highest level but I wouldn't turn my nose at Carbery as a short to medium term option, and don't see us getting anyone better.

We need to develop a quality IQ outhalf, we can't expect one to fall in our lap. I think Naughton could be the guy, but he's only just turned 21. Having a reasonably solid hand like Carbery for a few years while Naughton and Conor O'Shaughnessy develop is acceptable to me.

Mr Hinx

Looks like Naughton and West will be used at 15 with Gilbert. Hopefully we see one or both get a shot at 10 at some stage. As plenty say, be great for one to step up at 10.

CowboyTed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123938726#Comment_123938726

I would give Naughton a proper run at it… He has least got the range and hits a more stronger flighted ball.. He hasn't started as a kicker yet, only been asked after the other kickers gave up…

Forde doesn't seem to have a hug amount of distance off the hand and very inconsistent off the ground…

West could be anything.. Might be the best kicker in the world…

I will point out that the last two games have been played in benign conditions wind wise… They were not hard nights for kicking.. Carty is looking a better and better kicker everyday…

Presently, 25/26 kicking percentage in URC…

Ioane 50%

Forde 50%

Naughton 33%

FYI

Jack Crowley 81%

Sam Prendergast 87%

Nathen Doak 85%

CowboyTed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123943163#Comment_123943163

Definitely be very interested, our present crop of young hookers are not very big…. Smyth is sizeable… I also like the look of Alan Spicer, he is abnormally big, looks like a massive prospect if can get fit…

ShineyShiney

My first choice signing at 10 would be Ross Byrne if England wasn't to his liking. A very solid pro with massive big game experience, and has worked with Lancaster, who could guide through Naughton and maybe another young 10 like Gabriel, Weisineski or Our academy guy Shaughnessy.
I'd say the current plan is for Gilbert to kick from 15 and try to give Naughton some development time.

CowboyTed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123943496#Comment_123943496

He might not be the answer but could be a bridge to answer..

Naughton and West are still very young… It normally takes 1000 mins of rugby at outhalf before they get up to the speed of the game. Jack Crowley only beat Dragons in his first 10 months, his next game he needed Ben Healey to come from behind and beat Ulster (at Christmas). By the end of the season he was driving Munster to a URC win….

It takes investment and putting the whole club on a young lad might not work…

Jack Murphy (was in the same u20 Ireland class) got 894 min for Ulster last year (58 from year before).. 11 of them starting at out half. This was an incredible leavel of invest ment for Ulster. Jack started 5 games towards the end of the season and lost 5 all games

Look at there return on the investment this season… Not all Jack Murphy but you can see it…

Sean would need the same investment… Having a senior 10 makes a big difference in relation to pressure… In fairness to Jack Murphy he kept plugging…

typhoony

I'm not convinced about Carbury, showed glimpses of excellence at Leinster and Munster but in general i thought he was poor for both teams. Jackman saying the IRFU should support connacht signing him is similar to the media pushing eddie o'sullivan for the coach's job

Mr Hinx

Ciaran Frawley anyone? Think he’s class.

Agree with the sentiment around Carbery. We need a very strong personality.

ShineyShiney

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123944750#Comment_123944750

I like Frawley but I wouldn't put my house on him being the solution at 10. He's another 12/10 a pretty good one but a 12 first.

Gaztric

Callum Sheedy or Ciaran O'Donoghue are other options, but probably not available? Welsh rugby is not in rude health and O' Donoghue is in the same age profile as the young guns coming through. Signed a new contract at Bath recently, but is one the IRFU should be targeting as 10 is still an area in need of improvement from an Ireland perspective.

FtD v2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123944445#Comment_123944445

Joey Carbery was not poor in his time at Leinster - he was only 23 at the time he left, and in that timeframe he'd won a European Cup and a URC. He was an incredibly exciting player when he broke through - in his first real season (2016-17) - as a 21-year-old he played 22 games for Leinster (16 starts - 10 at out half), including multiple starts in Europe. He scored 8 tries that season.

He was sensational (playing at 15) when we beat Wasps in the QF of Europe that season, some of his playmaking from 15 was exceptional, and that team of that era remains one of my favourite Leinster teams to watch.

He had slightly more injury issues the following season, but still played 15 times for Leinster and turned in some superb performances.

I didn't know any Leinster fans who were happy to see him go.

KBurke85

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123945127#Comment_123945127

We have Ioane, we're not going to get another NIQ 10 which rules out Sheedy

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123945476#Comment_123945476

He's IQ, last played for Wales in March 2022.

CowboyTed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123945330#Comment_123945330

Joey Carberry is a fine player and is well more rounded that the players we have… He was Munster's No.1 out-half in 2022 - 2024.

At 29 he is probably out of the Irish scene but one injury and bit of form that could all change. The only thing that has stopped him succeeding was injury, we used have a player called Tom Farrell…

He must be playing well in France.. He is no.2 to Matthieu JALIBERT…

https://all.rugby/player/joey-carbery

KBurke85

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123945718#Comment_123945718

Named in the Wales Squad last week

https://www.wru.wales/2025/10/tandy-names-first-wales-squad-for-quilter-nations-series/

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123945856#Comment_123945856

Ah fair enough, didn't realise that.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123945127#Comment_123945127

The IRFU should be all over Donoghue if he's available, played some very good rugby towards the end of last season but Bath have signed Santi Carreras which might mean he's starved for gametime.

FtD v2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123945856#Comment_123945856

The other interesting inclusion there from an Irish perspective is Rhys Carre - he was on the cusp of becoming Irish eligible too (hadn't played for Wales since the 2023 6 Nations) and would possibly have been a target for some of the provinces, but capping him this November will eliminate that.

typhoony

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123945330#Comment_123945330

I thought it was between himself and Ross Byrne that Leinster had to decide which one to keep back in 2018 maybe it was because Byrne could only play fly-half. Anyway it doesnt say much for leinster's belief in Carbury that he was the one being asked to leave. I think the IRFU originally asked for one or the other to move to Ulster. What did the Munster fans think of Carbury's form while he was there, i know he was injured a fair bit

FtD v2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123946095#Comment_123946095

He wasn't "asked to leave" by Leinster - Joe Schmidt wanted him to leave because he saw him as his #2 out half for the Irish squad, and wanted him starting week in week out.

Leinster were notably pissed off about this:

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/leinster-rugby/leinster-fume-as-joey-carbery-leaves-for-munster-in-two-year-deal/36967111.html

Stuart Lancaster also publicly implored him to stay with Leinster and resist moving on:

https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2018/0507/960801-lancaster-carbery-should-stick-with-leinster/

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123946095#Comment_123946095

You honestly think leinster asked Joey carberry to leave?? Jesus that is showing a complete lack of understanding of the situation at that time. I suppose seeing as you can't even spell the guys name correctly is a sign you haven't much grasp on the facts

Sexton was clearly Leinsters first choice out half. The irfu saw Carbery as the best option to be his Ireland back up. Leinster knew how good joey was so we tried to get him on the field as often as we could, and that tended to be in the 15 shirt which rob Kearny left behind. The irfu did not want Carbery (1) as a provisional back up and (2) playing most of his rugby in a non out half position.

Carbery didn't want to leave Leinster, Leinster didn't want him to go, but Schmidt orchestrated the move to munster in order have his three choices for 10 being top dog at different provinces. Sexton at Leinster, Carty at connacht and Carbery at Munster.

typhoony

The reality was that he never became the no1 starting out-half at any of the provinces or even the 2nd choice for Ireland. He just wasnt good enough and Leinster would have kept him 2nd choice behind Byrne with or without sexton