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Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

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ShineyShiney

connachta wrote: »

I think many do not realise how short we are for centre/wing
Because Bundee was released at the right time, but this won't happen too often, and Porch basically plays every games (fingers crossed it continues but we can't rely too much on that.).

SOB 2.0 doesn't seem to make the cut, and still him or Jennings, are due to start because there's no one else if Aki is brought back in the Irish squad. Healy and TOH are in their 30's too, won't play 80 min for 25 games

Robb/Farrell/Healy are all injury prone. We need what we had with Poolman and Ili to cover 13/14, and give an extra year to U20 McNuilty/Kilgallen/Jennings, who're still boys

O'Donnell to cover anywhere if there's absolutely no money, ok, but seems way too light for centre IMO

I'd be happy if we could keep this squad together for next year. It's small at 39 players ( including 6 academy graduates from last season) but good quality in every position, with genuine competition.

We have had SOB, Fitzgerald, Farrell, Gallagher and Dean out pretty much all season and lost Papilli for key periods so we have done well with a limited group.

Gallaghers lack of rugby over a few years must be s concern as is Sob injury worries. Two big units that when fit could add significantly.

I'd be more concerned about who we might lose than who we might get.

KBurke85

Leicester Away is the draw in the challenge Cup.

Ospreys or Newcastle at home in a quarter final should we win

Wegians89

Ironically gallagher pictured training today

realhorrorshow

connachta wrote: »

I think many do not realise how short we are for centre/wing
Because Bundee was released at the right time, but this won't happen too often, and Porch basically plays every games (fingers crossed it continues but we can't rely too much on that.).

SOB 2.0 doesn't seem to make the cut, and still him or Jennings, are due to start because there's no one else if Aki is brought back in the Irish squad. Healy and TOH are in their 30's too, won't play 80 min for 25 games

Robb/Farrell/Healy are all injury prone. We need what we had with Poolman and Ili to cover 13/14, and give an extra year to U20 McNuilty/Kilgallen/Jennings, who're still boys

O'Donnell to cover anywhere if there's absolutely no money, ok, but seems way too light for centre IMO

We have 5 centres contracted for next season, it's probably the last position we would need to bolster.

It is definitely a nice luxury to have a back 3 player who can slot into the midfield comfortably, but not a priority. Maybe the plan is for Ben O'Donnell to fill that role, he played 13 for the Eagles last week.

Bazzo

Think Leicester are one of the few English teams we haven't had in Europe (or at least not recently). Shame we won't be able to attend the match in Welford Road, was there for a Munster match and it was good craic.

[Deleted User]

Bazzo wrote: »

Think Leicester are one of the few English teams we haven't had in Europe (or at least not recently). Shame we won't be able to attend the match in Welford Road, was there for a Munster match and it was good craic.

We have never played Leicester

RonnieL

KBurke85 wrote: »

Leicester Away is the draw in the challenge Cup.

Ospreys or Newcastle at home in a quarter final should we win

Add Welford Road to the list of great away trips we've missed out on! They're mid table in the premiership, and with no crowd, maybe now's the time for that elusive win in England.

realhorrorshow

ShineyShiney wrote: »

I'd be happy if we could keep this squad together for next year. It's small at 39 players ( including 6 academy graduates from last season) but good quality in every position, with genuine competition.

We have had SOB, Fitzgerald, Farrell, Gallagher and Dean out pretty much all season and lost Papilli for key periods so we have done well with a limited group.

Gallaghers lack of rugby over a few years must be s concern as is Sob injury worries. Two big units that when fit could add significantly.

I'd be more concerned about who we might lose than who we might get.

We have 43 contracted senior players this season.

ShineyShiney

realhorrorshow wrote: »

We have 43 contracted senior players this season.

Thanks ðŸ‘ I was thinking it looked very light.

gally74

realhorrorshow wrote: »

We have 43 contracted senior players this season.

i wonder will there be a clear out like last season

connachta

realhorrorshow wrote: »

We have 5 centres contracted for next season, it's probably the last position we would need to bolster.

It is definitely a nice luxury to have a back 3 player who can slot into the midfield comfortably, but not a priority. Maybe the plan is for Ben O'Donnell to fill that role, he played 13 for the Eagles last week.

I know, my last sentance is about this option, not conviced...

connachta

Bazzo wrote: »

Think Leicester are one of the few English teams we haven't had in Europe (or at least not recently). Shame we won't be able to attend the match in Welford Road, was there for a Munster match and it was good craic.

Worst draw with Bath IMO, if we target win

but nice match

KBurke85

Listened to today’s press conference on the Craggy rugby patreon page

Friend was suggesting they’ll be using the next two games to maybe try a few lads that haven’t gotten much game time this season.

connachta

KBurke85 wrote: »

Listened to today’s press conference on the Craggy rugby patreon page

Friend was suggesting they’ll be using the next two games to maybe try a few lads that haven’t gotten much game time this season.

I perfectly back this strategy.

More than 10 games to go let's keep in mind.

Gallagher back now is nice, he will have his chance before mid-June.

connachta

KBurke85 wrote: »

Listened to today’s press conference on the Craggy rugby patreon page

Friend was suggesting they’ll be using the next two games to maybe try a few lads that haven’t gotten much game time this season.

We have to rest Daly, Bealham, Thornbury, Boyle, Blade, Carty, Porch

+ Aki, Heff, Dillane maybe brought in the Irish squad

And try over the two games : S0B 2.0, Tierney-Martin, Kenny, Gallagher, Murray, S.Masterson, Reily, C.Fitz+Dean, O'Donnell

Wegians89

The team is go for this weekend:

Buckley (was on media duty)
Delahunt
Aungier
Prendergast
Dowling
E Masterson
Oliver
Papalii
Reilly
Carty
Wootton
Daly
Bod
Sullivan
Toh

DTM
Duggan
McCoy
Murray
S Masterson
Blade
Forde
Kilgallen

And for scarlets:
Duggan
Murphy
Bealham
Murray
Thornbury
Prendergast
Butler
Boyle
Marmion
Fitzgerald
Healy
Bundee
Sob3.0
Kilgallen
Mcnulty

DTM
McAllister
Kenny
Gallagher
McCormack
Reilly
Daly/ Forde
Porch

[Deleted User]

I wouldn't go heavy heavy on rotation.

We still need 3 points from the last 2 games, to mathematically guarantee 2nd and a better champions cup seeding. I know that's assuming that Scarlets get 10 points but we'll know how much we can rotate after this weekend

Bazzo

Reilly is injured I think? Not as seriously as they thought be might be but doubt he'll be available straight away.

connachta

Wegians89 wrote: »

The team is go for this weekend:

Buckley (was on media duty)
Delahunt
Aungier
Prendergast
Dowling
E Masterson
Oliver
Papalii
Reilly
Carty
Wootton
Daly
Bod
Sullivan
Toh

DTM
Duggan
McCoy
Murray
S Masterson
Blade
Forde
Kilgallen

And for scarlets:
Duggan
Murphy
Bealham
Murray
Thornbury
Prendergast
Butler
Boyle
Marmion
Fitzgerald
Healy
Bundee
Sob3.0
Kilgallen
Mcnulty

DTM
McAllister
Kenny
Gallagher
McCormack
Reilly
Daly/ Forde
Porch

Two quite nice team except i think Dean will be ahead of Forde for nw, but who knows..

BOD is NOT a 13. Not enough density.
Ok to try him there, just to eliminate the idea...

Wegians89

connachta wrote: »

Two quite nice team except i think Dean will be ahead of Forde for nw, but who knows..

BOD is NOT a 13. Not enough density.
Ok to try him there, just to eliminate the idea...

Dean is injured last I heard.

connachta

Wegians89 wrote: »

Dean is injured last I heard.

that explains why he wasn't in th eagles team!
thought he had fallen in the picking order for those A games

Bazzo

https://twitter.com/TheLooseH/status/1369740206564384771?s=19

Good quick look at picking apart Munster's lineout. Boyle deserves a lot of credit.

Wegians89

Contract news incoming

arsebiscuits1

SqueakyKneecap wrote: »

Quinn Roux is out of contract and I believe Tom Farrell also.

I'd be gobsmacked if either of them go - unless they got deals elsewhere.

Any other notable omissions pointing to player departure?

Wegians89

arsebiscuits1 wrote: »

I'd be gobsmacked if either of them go - unless they got deals elsewhere.

Any other notable omissions pointing to player departure?

Papalii and bod are two I think we’re on one year deals. Was Arnold one or two?

Arnold, dowling and aungier all signed two year deals

arsebiscuits1

Wegians89 wrote: »

Papalii and bod are two I think we’re on one year deals. Was Arnold one or two?

Didn't Arnold turn down a Munster contract to come to Connacht? Can't imagine he'd have agreed to a one year deal as an internationally capped player

ClanofLams

Very happy to see John Porch on that list. Happy to see others too but thought Porch might be lost.

Lebute

SqueakyKneecap wrote: »

Marmion, Blade, Healy and Daly are already signed for next season anyways IIRC.

So is Farrell from examiner in January

Connacht have already nailed down key players such as Bundee Aki, Kieran Marmion, Jarrad Butler, Caolin Blade, Tom Daly, Tom Farrell, and Tiernan O’Halloran over the past year or more but the concern now is around the level of experience of the players due for contract renewals, with five of them having made more than 100 appearances.

In relation to BOD the fact you would be tempting him to leave the 7's there was probably a 2 yr contract on the table.

Wegians89

ClanofLams wrote: »

Very happy to see John Porch on that list. Happy to see others too but thought Porch might be lost.

Yeah I was a little worried about that myself. Back three looks nicely settled now for next season

yerrahbah

Delighted for Wootton, part of me was hoping he'd come back to Munster although that was never likely

Great to see him performing