May need time to overcome a really good pairing like Farrell/Daly, but Sam Arnold is, yes for now maybe more cohesive, but not more talented IMO
Seems a powerful runner but I thought he was caught out quite badly in defence a couple of times vs Irish.
Bolton may be the surprise call for 23 at least
Loosehead
Denis Buckley (31) - Signed contract in 2021
Matthew Burke (24) - Signed contract in 2021
Jordan Duggan (23) - Signed contract in 2021
Charlie Ward (21) - Academy year 2
Tighthead
Jack Aungier (22) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Finlay Bealham (30) - Signed contract in 2021
Sam Illo (20) - Signed 2 year contract in 2021
Greg McGrath (24) - Signed contract in 2021
Dominic Robertson-McCoy (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Hooker
Shane Delahunt (27) - Signed contract in 2021
Dave Heffernan (30) - Signed contract in 2021
Jonny Murphy (29) - Signed contract in 2021
Dylan Tierney-Martin (22) - Signed contract in 2021
Declan Adamson (22) - Academy year 3
Eoin De Buitléar (19) - Academy year 2
Lock
Ultan Dillane (27) - Signed contract in 2021
Oisin Dowling (24) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Leva Fifita (32) - Signed contract in 2021
Niall Murray (21) - Signed contract in 2021
Gavin Thornbury (27) - Signed contract in 2021
Darragh Murray (20) - Academy year 2
Back row
Paul Boyle (24) - Signed contract in 2021
Jarrad Butler (30) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Eoghan Masterson (28) - Signed contract in 2021
Sean Masterson (23) - Signed contract in 2021
Conor Oliver (25) - Signed contract in 2021
Abraham Papali’i (28) - Signed contract in 2021
Cian Prendergast (21) - Signed contract in 2021
Ciaran Booth (21) - Academy year 2
Donnacha Byrne (20) - Academy year 2
Oisin McCormack (20) - Academy year 3
Scrumhalf
Caolin Blade (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Kieran Marmion (29) - Signed 3 year contract in 2020
Colm Reilly (22) - Signed contract in 2021
Will Reilly (u21) - Academy year 1
Outhalf
Jack Carty (29) - Signed contract in 2021
Conor Fitzgerald (23) - Signed contract in 2021
Cathal Forde (19) - Academy year 2
Centre
Bundee Aki (31) - Signed 3 year central contract in 2020
Sammy Arnold (25) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Shayne Bolton (21) - Signed contract in 2021
Tom Daly (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Tom Farrell (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Peter Robb (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Shane Jennings (20) - Academy year 3
Back 3
Mack Hansen (23) - Signed 2 year contract in 2021
Matt Healy (32) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Oran McNulty (21) - Signed contract in 2021
Ben O'Donnell (26) - Signed contract in 2020
Tiernan O'Halloran (30) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
John Porch (27) - Signed contract in 2021
Peter Sullivan (23) - Signed contract in 2021
Alex Wootton (27) - Signed contract in 2021
Diarmuid Kilgallen (21) - Academy year 2
Josh O'Connor (20) - Academy year 1
So something like:
Hooker could go either way, Delahunt had serious wobbles at the lineout against Irish but was great all last season. Not a great balance in the second row but we don't have much in the line of tighthead locks available. It's likely that one or both of Masterson and Butler will start for leadership, but I went with the form players in the backrow. The coaches will obviously have a good read on whether Farrell is ready to start but I've conservatively opted to ease him in from the bench. Hard to call the back 3, think it's Porch + Wootton + another but with Wootton injured it's wide open.
Seems like a big list already. Good opportunity for Murray and Dowling and the Academy sh,s.
Training must be hot and heavy.
Not good for Thornbury but Dowling looks fit.
I'd have no SH on the bench in the situation, and put Healy in n°21 for 2 games before Caolin is back
Marmion can play 80 and Matt will provide cover only if needed
Great great news about LH prop!
Injury info here. Thornbury out long term with a shoulder injury
Looking at some of he training photos it looks like Wootton is out anyway
Murray Kinsella
@Murray_Kinsella
#Connacht boss Andy Friend says they are close to finalising a deal for a new loosehead prop.
Denis Buckley will sidelined with his knee injury through until the end of the year.
It's finally game week !!!! We get a team update today don't we ?
Leinster had a very young and inexperienced team we had a much stronger team named in fairness. Great result all the same
FT | Connacht Eagles 67-7 Leinster Development XV
Dont think too many expected that result!
Well except 4-5-6 and bench, that's a team made of (potential) senior players
Hansen, McNulty, Fitzgerald, Tierney, McGrath, even Sullivan and Murphy out of positions will benefit from gametime and be readier if needed, which is the aim of Eagles.
Niyi starting for Bristol tonight against Saracens, with Jake Heenan on the bench.
That's proving, again, McGrath is NOT moved to LH and Bealham will
that's my guess
Senior players yet to feature this season:
Denis Buckley
Finlay Bealham
Sam Illo
Leva Fifita
Gavin Thornbury
Sean Masterson
Abraham Papali'i
Caolin Blade
Bundee Aki
Peter Robb
Alex Wootton
Seems that Illo, Fifita, Thornbury, Masterson, Robb, and Wootton may be injured.
Callow team. A hooker at 6, two u19s in the row, and no sub tighthead. If McGrath is to be 3rd choice loosehead it would have been nice to get him some minutes there during pre season.
u20: Kolo Kiripati, Kacper Palamarczuk, Matthew O'Hara, Matthew Devine, Darragh Kennedy, Declan O'Loughlin
u19: Eoin Ryan, Fiachna Barrett, Gareth Kilkelly
From what I saw Connacht were well and truly hammered never mind the TMO and poor refereeing.
Rewatched the first half of the London Irish match there after being up at the match last week.
wasnt half as bad as I expected. Line out is still shocking and kills any forward momentum.
with a tmo and a decent ref could have been a different game.
Came to ask the same question. Don't recall there being any other Jonny Murphys?
Eagles playing Leinster A tomorrow, the Eagles will line out as follows:
15. Oran McNulty
14. Josh O’Connor
13. Peter Sullivan
12. Cathal Forde
11. Mack Hansen
10. Conor Fitzgerald (C)
9. Will Reilly
1. Charlie Ward
2. Dylan Tierney-Martin
3. Greg McGrath
4. Eoin Ryan
5. Fiachna Barrett
6. Jonny Murphy
7. Oisin McCormack
8. Ciaran Booth
Reserves
16. Kolo Kiripati
17. Bart Vermeulen
18. Kacper Palamarczuk
19. Gareth Kilkelly
20. Matthew O’Hara
21. Matthew Devine
22. Darragh Kennedy
23. Declan O’Loughlin
That's hardly the hooker Murphy at 6 is it??
Since Fainga left Jarrad has looked very ordinary
Shane Jennings included in sevens squad for World Series in Vancouver this weekend. Only three guys left from Olympics squad they are trying some new people/testing depth.
Not sure what to think about it, I thought he might get some game time on the wing (as centre is stacked) this season but it has helped the development of some such as Hugo Keenan.
Anyway best of luck to him.
Are those 2 games the only pre season games for Connacht?
Could do with 1 this weekend too by the looks of things.
Oliver is in form and gets turnovers.
But he's too small and light ... I'd still go with Butler, very consistant if not shinny, and bring more fuel, support around the ball carrier
Tbh Oliver has consistently outperformed Butler since his arrival. I do think Jarrad deserves a chance to play himself into form however.
Prendergast 6, Butler 7, Boyle 8, Masterson bench!
Boyle Butler Masterson Prendergast Oliver
pick 3 (4 with bench)
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