No objections to Fitz filling in, but to my mind he's won't be our starting ten. I'm still a Carty loyalist, but am convinced that he needs real competition to drive him on and avoid excess reliance on him. If the tail end of our season is a series of dead rubbers, I would like to see Forde and Hawkshaw given lots of time at 10. If they are both destined for 12, and presuming Harry West is too callow, then we should recruit.
I think Fitz has done intermittently well for us, he's been involved in some big games (Munster and ulster away in the rainbow cup spring to mind). There's a reason jack is preferred, the gap is still there but if at some point jack got a injury that kept him sidelined for 4/5 games (and to be clear I really hope that doesn't happen to him) I wouldn't mind seeing seeing get a solid run of games starting ten and see how he has done after them
Not an ouncer sense in any of the posts at all...
I'd prefer if we kept Mack in the backfield. He's already brilliant on the wing and should definitely be given more time at full back. If he improves his positional and backfield management skills there, he'll solve a major problem for us. He may have played out half when younger but I'd rather see him focus on the position where he can definitely deliver.
Hawkshaw is worth some more time at out half but in reality we need another player there unless Fitz comes good suddenly.
I agree. But I think it's clear the '10 issue' they consistently refer to is Jack Carty.
Tbf we do have an issue behind jack at 10, everyone seems to be a 12 who can play 10 rather than an out and out outhalf, with the exception of fitzy who hasn't established himself at this point so probably never will.
We need someone to be putting pressure on Jack or just another option. Listening to the rugby pod Mack was on and mentioned how he has played outhalf until he was 20, wonder if he'd fancy a pop there if we have a load of dead rubbers to finish the league.
Illo getting an extension is great news, he's really growing into the pro game this year after struggling a bit last year. Could have a big future in the game.
You are one of the only posters who thinks Connacht have a '10 issue'. And you make stuff up to support it. . .
Let's take your post about MacGinty. Carty ran that team until his injury. Up until that point MacGinty only started one game for Connacht, in the Challenge Cup too. His first start for Connacht in the Pro12 wasn't until match day 14 in mid-February.
My favourite bit is when you said the team "was going nowhere until McGinty". Before he signed Connacht had won 7 from 8 and had 32 points in the league.
2 Yr extension for Sam Illo today and the Treviso game fixed for April fools day, seems fitting enough.
Out till march from first reports
There's a lot of merit in this idea, unfortunately it will never happen. I'd be surprised if Joey doesn't concentrate on earnings maximization after 2024, probably in France.
Think he’s back mid February but will miss the only match Connacht have in February
No mention that I've see other than it's his ankle. There was probably an update from the Craggy crew but I haven't got around to listening to it. Would be great if it's not serious as he has hit the ground running. Would live if he got more game time at 10.
Any idea how long he's expected to be injured for?
Those comments were in very poor taste and not a reflection of core Connacht support. I was close to one of those folks and they clearly had got into 'the New Year spirit' very early in the day
Not sure how universally beloved Bundee is anymore if you heard the reaction of some in the Clan to his substitution vs Ulster!
Hawkshaw signed on for 2 more years.
I agree with bazwraf. During the league win season the key things were 1) a quality replacement in AJ when Jack got injured and 2) having already built the performing structures where individual players became interchangeable. Shane O'Leary slotted in well because of how well drilled the team were.
This season Jack has come back from a surgery that will have have restricted his ability to kick or pass for two to three months. He clearly wasn't match ready but we've had to stick him straight into a malfunctioning backline because our alternatives are a 12 who can cover 10 but needs lots of game time there, an out of form 12 who occasionally provides bench cover at 10, or a young 10 who's gone backwards massively.
That is such a terrible post.
McGinty was good, but the team were doing fantastic before he arrived. Also, Shane O'Leary probably played as often as AJ after Jack got injured.
Connacht is a really decent team. It just needs an out-half. Much like McGinty in 2016. That team (which was a darn good team) was going nowhere until McGinty. Amazing how one player can change everything
Swap Joey for bundee? Now that a novel idea. Don't think Joey would be too keen
Funny thing is that I believe Joey could be an answer to Connacht's woes and to his own problems as well. As discussed we have 10 and 15 issues. He just might be the answer
Dylan Tierney-Martin signed through to 2026. Big show of faith, we don't hand out many 3 year deals.
I think Joey Carbery is commuting from Kildare every day. Dunno if it's 2 hours, but a decent spin most days.
Friend seems fairly definite Aki will be here next season anyway. Standing by their selection for last weekend also but I suppose wouldn’t expect any other answer.
I understand your point but I would say it’s far from ideal for a professional athlete to be doing two hours commute every day (assuming a relatively clear run). Munster did make it work somehow when they had two bases in the 2000s I suppose! I doubt there’s any international player in Ireland doing that daily these days however.
Of course it’s possibly these links may be more substantive but I still find it unlikely to happen. Aki would either have to uproot his family who are well settled in Galway at this stage and everything that goes along with it in terms of changing homes schools etc or take on a two hour commute daily, not exactly ideal for an elite sportsman. For potentially only one year with a province still fairly unlikely to win anything. Also leaving a province where he is beloved on what would inevitably be a bit of a sour note. They are reasonably likely to stay in Galway long term also I believe.
If the rift is large enough and Wilkins is appointed of course it’s possible but I still think high likelihood is it to be another one in the category of rumoured to Munster but remains with Connacht.
It’s interesting that it seems to be generally accepted that it’s Friend that Aki fell out with and not Wilkins. Is there any reason for that to be the care? As it coincides with Wilkins taking a step up.
I think this situation is different to the previous Ultan, Tiernan, and Bundee ones. Those were examples of another province making an enquiry about a player who was in contract negotiations but who was happy to stay once a the right Connacht offer was on the table. There's nothing wrong with those discussions - we've normally been the beneficiary from them recently. A lot of journalists are happy to get some easy column inches once they're told there's interest. This time we have a player who is in contract, having a disagreement with his province, and will have needed to be an active party in any suggested move before it gained traction.
I can see how Bundee might not be completely happy with things at Connacht. He'll keep coming back from a high performance international setup where the players are having major impacts to a dysfunctional backline in games where the season's outcome is already in serious doubt. You can't just slot in and play well in a failing structure without any cohesion. We spend most of last season unable to defend and most of this season struggling to attack. A player might start to feel like his primary purpose is to sell season tickets and want to be in a position to win things again.
That said he only has himself to blame for a long suspension and the messy falling out there seems to have been in camp.
Not sure how many rumours there have been about players moving to Munster in recent years but it’s been a lot and none have come off, Dillane a few times, Aki previously, TOH was reported in Indo same day new contract was announced couple of years ago, others I can’t recall.
If you’re settled in Galway and playing first choice rugby, I’m not sure there’s massive appeal in a move to Munster.
If Connacht’s regression continues or Munster rise to near Leinster they may start to actually happen.
I think that's it in a nutshell. Bundee is not even relevant.
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