A number of players who just departed Connacht were in action in the TOP 14 and D2 yesterday. Papa Leahy started for Brive, Eoghan Masterson for Stade Aurillacois, and Ultan Dillane was on the bench for Stade Rochelais. On Murray Kinsella's Twitter you'll also see video of Kyle Godwin getting smashed in Lyon v Brive - Papa not responsible and AFAIK kept his bib clean.
Quinn Roux has moved from Toulon to Bath, we'll see how that goes with JVG. Hope he didn't sell his house in Knocknacarra...
Ultan on for la Rochelke, interesting to see how he goes this year. I really hope his form is back to 2016
PS We had big problems defensively at midfield and out wide last year and everyone from 11-15 was implicated. Some of the solution will be based on alterations to the system more broadly, but my selection preferences are based on the hope that the players who occupied those positions last season adapt effectively. If we see a continuation of last years' malaise, we need to be quicker to drop people and give others a chance.
LH is going to be interesting. What can Dooley achieve with consistent game time? Maybe a lot. Buckley is a local hero but was struggling even prior to his injury, IMO, and I felt Burke well exceeded expectations in his absence. Good strength in depth for us there.
If Mack is out, Wooton to 11, Byrne to 14. Maybe Byrne to 14 in any case.
Daly or Forde for Bundee if unavailable, facing McCloskey it might be better to have Daly's physicality than Forde's playmaker brain.
On the bench:
I'd like to see Shamus Hurley Langton in for Jarad.
Murray for Dowling? It's marginal, we have a strong pool of second rows and can rotate based on fitness/opposition.
Haven't seen enough of Ralston to assess at 23, but why not? Byrne, Hawkshaw, Forde, Jennings would be other options. I want to see the latter two getting games, but maybe Ulster isn't the place to start them.
Surely not
Back for 2nd game.
Maybe Heff though..
Buckley to start IMO
They have been back in training for a while now, but perhaps not.
Not sure will we have the Irish lads. Bundee and Mack anyway
Your 23s for the season opener vs Ulster? (Yes I'm procrastinating).
Defence not looking too hot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEwHHyOzJzY
Just looking at the pricing for Munster's game against SA in PuC:
Adult Jnr
Cat 4 €20.00 €10.00
Cat 3 €30.00 €15.00
Cat 2 €40.00 €20.00
Cat 1 €50.00 €25.00
Family: 2 Adult+2 Jnr Cat C €75.00
Family: 1 Adult +1 Jnr Cat C €40.00
Family: 2 Adult +2 Jnr Terrace €50.00
Family: 1 Adult +1 Jnr Terrace €25.00
Would be good to see some of that. Also liked what Munster did with the subsidised buses for the QF against Toulouse in the Aviva, 10 euro return from Ennis, Tralee, Thurles, Waterford city, Limerick city, and Cork city. Other provinces could take a leaf from their book.
New Away jersey. I'll reserve comment until I see it in person.
This is a naive take. The provinces are all branches of the IRFU. The players are all IRFU employees. They may grumble about it, but they cannot and will not refuse to release players.
Recent U20 players mentionned by Murray Kinsella,
yeah I think Jennings has a good chance to be in it, Illo maybe too
Anyway better now than later (injuries), except if Heff is picked
Dowling/Murphy + one of Thornbury/Murray, we're ok
Same for Blade and Marmion
And Prendergast (Butler/Murphy/Boyle)
Daly would be an issue, but I was said Bundee will play after missing the 1st game of the season :)
so not that much troubles for now
Forgot about Carty’s surgery. That may well factor in on him going.
I think Thornbury deserves a place but I’m just not sure they will take 4 out and out second rows. I also think Blade deserves a spot too but am not sure it will happen.
Connacht actually play 2 games v the Stormers and Bulls in SA at the same time these games will be on. I think it's a great opportunity but totally at the wrong time.
That’s if it goes ahead. No club are obligated to release any players for a tour that clashes with URC fixtures. Players (apart from those centrally contracted) are independent assets of the provinces and will be released at their discretion. Can’t see Munster or other provinces releasing any starters I.e Coombes or a James hume. Only way this tour goes ahead on such short notice is if it’s a u23/academy side that’s selected
Depends on this tour is made to prepare this RWC, or 2027 as really "emerging"
Thornbury, Prendergast can be in both anyway, should be picked
Blade, Dooley maybe (only for 2023). Hope no Heff (we're out of depth there)
Byrne Wootton Farrell and Daly are too short for 2023 and too late for 2027
Boyle faces too much competition
N.Murray will be brought if 2027 is the perspective, S.Jennings, known by IRFU U20 and 7's, as a surprise call maybe
Ralston, Bolton, Forde, Hawkshaw are for now unproven but may be in the mix for next Emerging/Wolfhound tour
That's all fair. There won't have been the game time for anyone to have proved anything, my mind was functioning on another (irrelevant) track ;)
You mentioned Carty above, not sure where he stands in terms of recovery from his wrist operation in the summer, and didn't play in either pre-season game.
Still think Thornbury would be a deserved shout.
Back row is highly competitive, so tough for Boyle who got his cap against the US. Can Oliver produce a progression like JVDF? He had a great season last year, let's see.
There won’t be any time to force his way into this. Oliver was consistently good last year but Timoney was on a level above I think.
Id imagine about 25 of the players on this tour will have been in NZ.
The criteria for inclusion seem very unclear at this point, I'll grant you: ois the Maori squad plus 7? In any case, I think if Thornbury hadn't been injured last season he would have won a place on the plane to NZ. And Murray is thereabouts as well. In second row we're otherwise talking about Treadwell, McCarthy, and Baird. I see GT and NM as operating at a similar level, and if pushed I rate Thornbury higher the others. Just my opinion.
Connacht's scrum halves have been unjustly neglected, both very game, both creative workers, neither would let Ireland down (although Marmion is better classified under 'neglected' than 'emerging'). Anyway, I was listing those I see as contenders.
Agree on Doak.
Possibly Carty, I would imagine that none of Thornbury, Murray or Boyle will be in the running. Depending on how many Second rows we bring. It will most likely be Treadwell, McCarthy and Baird, possibly bring another but I would think it might be Prendergast covering that. Boyle might be in with a shout but I don’t see it based on last year. Kendelan might be an outside bet in the backrow or Deegan but the starting backrow will probably be the same as in NZ Timoney, Coombes and Prendergast. Scrumhalves probably be Doak and Casey, not sure we would bring 3 in a 30 man squad.
Prendergast, Heffernan, Carty, Thornbury, Murray, Boyle, Blade/Marmion, maybe Oliver. Yes, it would mess with the URC campaign, but it would be a good experience for the players involved, and would certainly allow them to build or advance their case for Irish selection. I think that's an important part of why players from other provinces want to come to us, to get opportunities to show what they can do which they don't have at home.
Murphy, Dooley and Byrne could also be in the running, maybe Farrell or Daly as well, but it's too early in the season, they don't have the body of work yet. That could look different after Xmas. Farrell should look at doing something similar during the 6Ns.
Who are Connacht likely to loose? Aki and Hansen will be nowhere near this. Prendergast, possibly Heffernan if he’s fit. Who else?
This “Emerging Ireland” tour of South Africa is a complete joke. Connacht could lose 5/6 of their best players to it, totally undermines the league, absolute farce.
Denis Buckley was very good against Castres.
Last two season was impacted by injuries, but this one and next one are there for him to shine!
Unfortunately time catches up with everyone and it comes to a point where that negates experience.
Maybe I am reminiscing a bit but why is Denis not looking as good as he has in the past. Surely with all his experience he should be killing it these days. So is the experience of veterans like TOH or Denis no longer fit for purpose.
When you look at the other options are they really providing an enhanced solution. The team is leaking trys and is all over the place.
Our support play is simply terrible. We are just never there when required
As was said on this forum it wasn't really surprising that our defense was better against Sale. Thornbury adds loads to the lineout wins and his fitness will be crucial to Connacht this season.
And while there has been negative comments about TOH, let's look at the other options and why none of them are lighting up the world. If we think back to years ago, TOH was the man who drew in the defense and then provided the offload. Now he just brings ball into contact. So this looks negative but in reality if you put Porch or Wooten or Bolten in the same place, they are all struggling to find supporting players because the supporting players are simply not there. And that's a coaching issue, not a player issue
Byrne looked ok walking out of French stadium on Wedensday night, should be precaution
![Photo of [Deleted User]](https://wa.vanillicon.com/v2/ad289898c0c6dda7e667bf900ae26d0c.svg)
