Disappointing, I though we were going to rip them one. But even if the squads had been untouched by Covid, it would not have been responsible to play it in front of a crowd. Very difficult situation in Dublin, not clued in on elsewhere, but happy Christmas to all you Connacht fans. with Daly and Bealham having re-signed, and a bunch of players due to return soon from injury, 2022 is full of promise.
Do you know if he will be replaced by someone within the other provinces or are they looking abroad for an 8 ? It's a pity about Robb as he was decent when he was fit but that was not much. Wouldn't be surprised if someone else pick him up. Look at how Tom Daly got on after a move.
Robb is the lad that couldn't catch a break. Talented and physical but, very injury prone. Connacht have had bad luck recently with players being mangled. Stephen Fitzgerald being an obvious one.
It would be difficult to see any side take a risk on a player like Robb! He has no real history of longevity. His career has been stop/start for years. It's a shame.
We may trust Forde and focus on 8/4/5
Fiita'a may be released too
We have IQ options of his level and Papa's level
I'd bet, like we did with Tom Farrell at the time, on low-money but decent options for guys who're not starters
Ryan (n°8) from Ampthill seems on the upward curve, and Bradshaw-Ryan (2nd row) is doing the job in physical prod2
That leaves money and NIQ spot to recruit the big marquee lock we need for Dillane spot
I would rather Connacht focus on bring in 1 or 2 marquee players than 4 or 5 good players but ultimately no more than good URC/CC level players. Connacht have some really quality up and coming players like Oisin McCormack & Darragh Murray plus guys in the senior squad like Sam Illo, Niall Murray, Cian Prendergast, if Connacht could bring in a quality player or 2 in the pack for these players to learn off it could be very useful longterm.
Connacht team abroad
1) Carey (Northampton/Perpignan/Worcester)
2) Tadgh McElroy (ex academy on short-term, London Irish/Brstol)
3) AhYou (Vannes/Newcastle)
4) Roux (Toulon)
5) Dillane (LaRochelle)
6) Heenan (Bristol)
7) Fainga'a (Lyon)
8) Papali'i (Brive)
9) Kerrins (Ealing/Bristol)
10) McGinty (Sale/Bristol)
11) Adeolokun (Bristol)
12) O'Brien (Exeter)
13) Akhi (Toulouse)
14) Arnold (Brive)
15) Kelleher (Ealing)
Hell of a decent team. For those saying Connacht don't produce/improve players wanted elsewhere after their passage in the West
half decent, but our Team would still beat them,
With Thornbury, Boyle, and Daly/Farrell back, I do think so
if not, it would be a 50/50
Mix of reasonably bad news : no Blade this week-end, Tierney-Martin (and Robb) not making it, long-term injury again
and good news : Hansen, Boyle massive boosts now, Daly/Thornbury/Buckley maybe for Stade Français!
1) Duggan
2) Heff
3) Bealham
4) Fifita'a (scrum stabilizer)
5) Murray
6) Prendergast
7) Oliver (on fire vs ex-club)
8) Butler
9) Marms
10) Carty (if fit)
11) Hansen
14) Ben O'Donnell
15) Porch
12) Aki
13) Farrell
16) Delahunt
17) Tuimauga
18) Aungier
19) Dillane
20) Papali'i
21) Reilly
22) Fitz
23) Wootton
With DTM and Murphy yet to start, I wonder if we'd be better to release both, trust Adamson as 4th choice and enlist IQ Declan Moore to prepare Heff retirement
Would be surprised to see Adamson get a senior deal from what I've seen. Heffernan is 30 he's a while away from retiring yet.
Loosehead
Denis Buckley (32) - Signed contract in 2021
Matthew Burke (25) - Signed contract in 2021
Jordan Duggan (24) - Signed contract in 2021
Tietie Tuimauga (28) - Signed contract in 2021
Charlie Ward (22) - Academy year 2
Tighthead
Jack Aungier (23) - Signed contract in 2022
Finlay Bealham (31) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Sam Illo (21) - Signed 2 year contract in 2021
Greg McGrath (25) - Signed contract in 2021
Dominic Robertson-McCoy (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Hooker
Shane Delahunt (28) - Signed contract in 2021
Dave Heffernan (31) - Signed contract in 2021
Jonny Murphy (30) - Signed contract in 2021
Dylan Tierney-Martin (23) - Signed contract in 2021
Declan Adamson (23) - Academy year 3
Eoin De Buitléar (20) - Academy year 2
Lock
Oisin Dowling (25) - Signed contract in 2022
Leva Fifita (33) - Signed contract in 2021
Niall Murray (22) - Signed contract in 2021
Gavin Thornbury (28) - Signed contract in 2021
Darragh Murray (21) - Academy year 2
Back row
Paul Boyle (25) - Signed contract in 2021
Jarrad Butler (31) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Eoghan Masterson (29) - Signed contract in 2021
Sean Masterson (24) - Signed contract in 2021
Conor Oliver (26) - Signed contract in 2021
Cian Prendergast (22) - Signed contract in 2021
Ciaran Booth (22) - Academy year 2
Donnacha Byrne (21) - Academy year 2
Oisin McCormack (21) - Academy year 3
Scrumhalf
Caolin Blade (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Kieran Marmion (30) - Signed 3 year contract in 2020
Colm Reilly (23) - Signed contract in 2021
Will Reilly (u22) - Academy year 1
Outhalf
Jack Carty (30) - Signed 3 year contract in 2022
Conor Fitzgerald (24) - Signed contract in 2021
Centre
Bundee Aki (32) - Signed 3 year central contract in 2020
Shayne Bolton (22) - Signed contract in 2021
Tom Daly (29) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022
Tom Farrell (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Peter Robb (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Cathal Forde (20) - Academy year 2
Shane Jennings (21) - Academy year 3
Back 3
Mack Hansen (24) - Signed 2 year contract in 2021
Matt Healy (33) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Oran McNulty (22) - Signed contract in 2021
Ben O'Donnell (27) - Signed contract in 2020
Tiernan O'Halloran (31) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
John Porch (28) - Signed contract in 2021
Peter Sullivan (24) - Signed contract in 2021
Alex Wootton (28) - Signed contract in 2021
Diarmuid Kilgallen (22) - Academy year 2
Josh O'Connor (21) - Academy year 1
IN:
OUT: Ultan Dillane (Lock, La Rochelle), Abraham Papali'i (Back row, Brive), Sammy Arnold (Centre, Brive)
*ages as at 01/09/2022
Maybe you can add Gilvarry
Would like to see something like:
duggan heff Bealham
dowling Murray
prendergast butler Oliver
marmion fitz
bundee Bolton
wootton Mack porch
delahunt Burke aungier fafita papalii Reilly forde kilgallen
Why not Farrell?
Supposed to be fit last week,..
Had forgotten about him, Would start him and move Bolton to 23
From that 23 I'd have Dillane and Wooten start instead of Fifita'a and BOD (who I think hasn't shown anywhere near enough in the games he's played). Apart from those changes, it's a good squad - big IF being Jack's availability. Conor obviously starts if he doesn't make it, with Cathal Forde on the bench presumably. I just hope it goes ahead.
Not looking like a strong crop for us at u20 this year unfortunately, disappointing after a bit of golden generation last season. No representation in the 23 Vs Munster dev, and only Matthew Devine (scrumhalf) in and around the squad.
will be recruiting heavily from leinster.. expect Ben Popplewell to end up at Connacht along with several others.
There were a few in the Ireland u20 six nations team. In particular there was a red haired centre who played really well. Needed a lot of bulking up though.
this mindset shows you how daft Irish rugby can be. lose a talented Irish lock and then want him replaced by a NIQ. Connacht and the IRFU need to get players to Connacht. Deegan, Penny, jack o sullivan. Granted, lock will be more difficult.
agree, no option for lock, that's why
I've never ever called for a NIQ 8 to replace Papali'i next season, as Leinster's barred talents should move yeah
yeah i mean its light for all the provinces in fairness. ok i take it back. i mean we want balance between the old days of being obviously development and having actual long term(ish) options. Dillane is a clear example of why players might be reluctant to go. dicked over by Ireland constantly and you wonder if he was with Munster would that be the case.
Pap should never have been signed in the first place. an utter waste of time for Irish rugby. i said it at the time, and Ben o´donnell the same.
The IRFU need to convince players that Connacht is an option for a long term career. Penny, Deegan and OŚullivan are talents Irish rugby cannot afford to waste. There was a load of options better than BOD as well.
What does "Leinsters barred talents" mean
Devine on the bench on Saturday?
Might regret asking this but how was Dillane dicked over by Ireland?
Ah here, at this stage we all know niall is the hyperbole king and has a massive chip against the irfu
He was on the bench for the game vs Italy. Not in the squad for the Munster game today.
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