Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

ClanofLams · 21-02-2023 07:13PM

You consider the calibre of our the three previous head coaches

Pat Lam was a heineken cup winning captain as a player, assistant coach experience at international level, head coach of Auckland and the Blues in Super Rugby.

Despite how it went, Kieran Keane had a lifetime of experience, was highly regarded to the extent that Warren Gatland offered him attacks coach on the 2017 lions tour.

Andy Friend head coach of Harlequins in the premiership, head coach of Brumbies in Super rugby, Australia 7s coach.

After appointments with that level of quality and experience, now it is Pete Wilkins who Edinburgh opted to remove as defence coach in 2017 and has since been part of a set up at Connacht that has made par at best.

ClanofLams · 21-02-2023 07:25PM

A three year contract annoys me too the more I think about it. Let's be real here, it's not like Wilkins was getting head coaching offers from any comparable team. Connacht were in the driving lane as regards negotiations obviously. He is already in a senior position, two years would have been plenty. If there's marked improvement next year could have been extended. If they end up having to pay the six month redundancy after two seasons, will be more money pissed up against the wall.

21-02-2023 07:30PM

Seems like a nice man but to me this is a terrible decision.

I think this squad has potential with a couple of additions but I don't see it being realised under this coach. Senekal leaving is a big loss too.

With a new coach you have to give them time but he's been around a long time and had a trial run this season and to me this season has been average at best despite the squad improving.

I don't think we've had any game this year that you could be happy with the control we had and no big results really.

Munster were in bad shape when we beat them. The other victories would be expected and there were lots of wins against 2nd string sides.

Our attack has been laboured and its only improvements in the forwards that have helped us get some ball to work off. The tendency to collapse in games and not show up when needed is still there and shows up with alarming regularity.

The two defining games of our season were Newcastle away and Ulster at home and both were horrible performances.

Everything about the Newcastle game was unforgivable and still angers me. We effectively blew our chances for the season through poor squad selection and this was compounded by a completely brainless opening 20 minutes where we gifted Newcastle the game through a series of idiotic penalties.

You'd have to wonder where this leaves Bundee too.

I don't think this appointment will have people flooding in to renew their season tickets.

21-02-2023 08:34PM

I'm not at all excited by the appointment but he has the job now. Priority should shift to getting three good coaches in to replace Friend, Lawlor, and Senekal. Andy Friend should spend his remaining time as DoR helping Wilkins get the appointments he wants and the squad members he needs. I'm fine with it being a three year deal. Now that the choice has been made we need to try to build some stability of coaching and game plan. We've been chopping and changing for years now.

The reason I'm not excited about Wilkins getting the appointment is that we have very little indication that he's the coach who's going to bring the improvements that will give us a consistent game plan that will help us push on. He's been senior coach, then defacto head coach in a setup that's hasn't produced results. We rebuilt our attack and defense multiple times in two seasons while he had a large share of the responsibility. Wilkins does deserve some credit for our improved defense this season and based on Friend's comments our improved attack part way through the season. We've failed to establish any consistency, have rotated the squad in a way that didn't build combinations, we regularly start games poorly, and we are vulnerable to mid/late game collapses. I also think we've failed to turn up in key games multiple times.

I don't expect us to be top of the league, but I do think we should be higher up the league directly in the hunt for a Champions Cup qualification, and nailed on for a home path in the Challenge Cup, Hopefully I'll be proven totally wrong. Maybe Wilkins will have learned what's needed through the difficult times and build a coherent consistent game plan that gets us there. Friend's era developed us a pretty decent squad but I don't think it did enough with it.

ElisaAtWar · 22-02-2023 12:20AM

Confirmed. Wilkins head coach. Just lovely.

ElisaAtWar · 22-02-2023 12:22AM

And on review of the Zebre game, when Marmion came on things finally became a bit normal

kita99 · 22-02-2023 03:22AM

The possibility for connacht will get above 7th place is narrow way,but it's not no way,so They must fight remaining match desperately. Now it is limited time and ability,so they must do the scrum -work in as possible as long hours every day. It looks that the defence at unstructural situations is poor hand (or inept) for them, and it cannot be improved in the short time.They can only get rid off I it. I think strong -scrum Connacht may win to even Glasgow at away from the home. Scrum,Scrum,Scrum.Maybe after that super hard work,Sam IIlo etc will become very strong player. In his era of Japanese coach,Eddy Jones implements 9 opponents scrum training for small size Japan FW.Such an idea is necessary for Conncht.

serfboard · 22-02-2023 02:01PM

Looking at the tables for the URC, Pro 14, Pro 12 and Celtic League going back to 2010, this is how Connacht have fared:

Apart from the 16-17 season, there was no great past that supporters can look to - and for this season we are currently bang on our average for the past two years, with our long-term average at 44% and our average since 15-16 of 48%.

Between playing population, supporting population and consequent effects on budgets, I'm not sure where people think we should be, or where these amazing unemployed coaches are.

Wegians89 · 22-02-2023 02:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120274933#Comment_120274933

Think it’s fair to say it would be disappointing not to pick up three wins in the next 4 games also. Three wins would give 56%

22-02-2023 03:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120274933#Comment_120274933

I'd have liked a team that had built progressively across multiple seasons rather than had to completely rebuild both defense and attack since last Summer.

I'd have liked a team that didn't go into a difficult opening fixture list without an attack.

I'd have liked the team to have stayed in the fight better in some games. Tighten up a few of those games and we might have a few extra points on the table.

I'd require a more experienced 9-10-12 combination and a better performance away to Newcastle. Home advantage for the rest of the Challenge Cup and a minimum of one extra home fixture when finances are tight would really help.

Hopefully we'll be able to pull out three good wins against Dragons, Edinburgh, and Cardiff. That might at least set us up for a chance in Glasgow.

realhorrorshow · 22-02-2023 04:45PM

Denis Buckley re-signed on what seems to be a two year deal with the option of a third, the wording of the announcement is a bit confusing. Good bit of business and plenty more to do.

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/news/denis-buckley-signs-new-deal-at-connacht-rugby/bp2452/

AccidentallyOnside · 22-02-2023 04:47PM

The addition of the south Africans makes the notion that we should be appearing regularly is a bit of a stretch for me. Leinster, Ulster, Munster, Sharks, Bulls and Stormers are all massive clubs who, whilst they may not be challenging for trophies every year they should all be top 8 every single year barring a disaster.

That leaves 2 spots up for grabs (not taking the winner of each pool currently qualifying automatically). For those spots we are competing to be in the top 2 of:

Connacht, Cardiff, Llanelli, Osprey, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Benetton.

We can ignore Zebre and Dragons as they are adrift at the bottom. We would have a smaller budget than all of those teams (Welsh teams less so in the future with cost cuttings coming). So to get HC we need to be outperforming 5 clubs on bigger budgets, with bigger playing pools and better facilities. It's not impossible but it's a bigger task than most would like to pretend it is.

The somewhat boring truth is that we are currently a pretty well run coached and managed team and this is reflected in our standing in the table. That doesn't mean we shouldn't be looking to improve and do better but thinking we could appointment some high level head coach that will bring us to the next level is unreasonable.

For me Wilkins has shown himself to be a pretty good coach, who seems to be very well respected by the players. I'd have liked to see someone come in with knowledge of another market to be able to identify some quality value signings, but that can be done with some of the coaching appointments.

That said I can see 1 or 2 of the coaching roles being filled internally again with maybe one coming in from outside the Connacht eco system.

CowboyTed · 22-02-2023 05:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120247706#Comment_120247706

Leinster will have to off load a outhalf at the end of the year... They will have five and that is too many for the game time...

Personally I think Sam Prendergast could be a lovely fit, age profile with Carty.. Forde can still play at outhalf and could go there too..

The Player we would love to have is Brendan Glesson, I would just say to Munster, how much game time would you give him over the next 2 years? He could come to Connacht, he is a Munster man and on contract renewal we could have a fair competition at the time for him...

I think that Connacht could say the same to Leinster on out halves... Leinster have a far higher chance of getting a top level out half back from Connacht than any other province.

It is not perfect but the I say it... If Frawley was in Connacht for the last 3 years he would be pushing Jack really hard if not over take him. I think Jack would hold but that would have been for us to see. There is plenty of minutes in Connacht for young players aspiring to be an International. Prendergast v Sorka is a great example. Prendergast was behind Sorka at under 20s but look where they are now.. Prendergast has played more professinal rugby in 3 weeks than Sorka has played in his whole career.

That is one of the main things we offer.. Minutes on the field if you are good enough.

22-02-2023 06:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120276061#Comment_120276061

I doubt Brendan Gleeson will give up the acting to focus on rugby at his age.

But I hope you've a better chance of getting him than you do of getting Sam Prendergast out of Leinster!

22-02-2023 06:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120276061#Comment_120276061

I have a disturbing mental image of Colm from The Banshees of Inisherin trying to play out half without the hands for it. 😂

Unless Wilkins thinks that Hawkshaw or Forde are both viable long-term projects and ready start there next September, we'll need to get a second choice out-half signed. I'm happy to see another young Irish player come in if that's what it takes.

22-02-2023 06:38PM

The branch have frozen season ticket prices and added an option to spread the cost over up to six months before next season starts. Hopefully that'll make it easier for some fans to afford their renewal when their wallet is already stretched.

Zeugnis · 22-02-2023 06:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120276115#Comment_120276115

I could see Leinster parting with Tector, or even Harry Byrne, but no way Sam Prendergast. Expectations may change but for now there's a lot of excitement about him out east.

22-02-2023 07:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120276237#Comment_120276237

I would really hope they don't lose him, but there is probably a slightly more elevated chance of him going to Connacht because of the lack of clear second choice outhalves to Carty there (I'm counting Hawkshaw and Forde as 12s), and obviously because of his brother and how well he's getting on down there.

But Prendergast is probably the most exciting young talent in the Leinster system in years. They've already had him travelling with the senior squad ahead of some of the European games this year to get a feel for the experience, and I'd be hopeful he might travel to SA this year in April and make his debut.

FWIW - I'd still be really high on Harry Byrne too. He's a really talented 10 who has all the fundamentals you want. Injuries have knocked his development a little, and he still can fade out of some games and make some silly mistakes, but that's what you expect from a guy who's just 23. I can't see Leinster wanting to let go of any of them this year, given we'll likely have Sexton and Ross Byrne gone to the RWC.

realhorrorshow · 22-02-2023 07:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120276237#Comment_120276237

Yeah there's a certain tier of prospect that Leinster won't lose, and I think Prendergast is on the same level as the likes of Porter, Ryan, Doris, Ringrose etc. It seems like Tector will struggle for game time eventually but I'd imagine he's happy for the moment.

I think Prendergast turned us down last summer and I can't imagine anything has changed since then.

sydthebeat · 23-02-2023 04:10PM

Gavin Thornbury signed back up.

https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/1628771728070438913?s=20

ClanofLams · 23-02-2023 04:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120274933#Comment_120274933

There is no comparison between the calibre of squad Connacht have had over the last six or seven years and the years previously. Connacht are now better funded and as a result attracting far better players.

The table shows a slight regression under Friend with his first season being the best.

I don’t think anyone has suggested there are amazing unemployed coaches available, rather simply that there is better options than Pete Wilkins. Alternatives do not need to be unemployed either, I’m sure there are many assistant coaches elsewhere who would relish the opportunity to be a head coach.

KBurke85 · 23-02-2023 04:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120279624#Comment_120279624

One year deal understandable considering his injury record

Zzippy · 23-02-2023 05:07PM

I'm loving the contract renewal videos! 😄

ElisaAtWar · 23-02-2023 07:09PM

Maul much better, scrum much better, lineout much better. But still the same problem that has been there season after season. You can't coach a player who simply is unable to use all these improvements.

sydthebeat · 23-02-2023 07:23PM

Someone's vinyl is scratched

onefinemorning · 23-02-2023 07:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120280296#Comment_120280296

Lovely positive comment there ElizaAtWar 😳😳 not

ElisaAtWar · 23-02-2023 08:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120280386#Comment_120280386

Year on year the same problem. We build every aspect of the team, improve every aspect of the team and still left with the same problem. Why do we struggle so much with so much possession. You tell me.

connachta · 23-02-2023 11:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120280479#Comment_120280479

Not because of Blade.

Because our pack is too light, and our carriers not follewed closely enough.

We need bigger lock doing the unseen work IMO, that's why I've hopes in Joyce (+ Thornbury renewed)

ElisaAtWar · 24-02-2023 12:51AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120281688#Comment_120281688

Jack is unable to manage a game. And we have zero backup. That is it.

kita99 · 24-02-2023 08:42AM

I think Thornbury is late blooming player like Donnacha Ryan. He is clever, so after now he'll work well long time enouph.

Now Ryan(39) is assistant coach at La Rochelle. Is he thinking to return to anywhere in Ireland? And Is Felix Jones happy in SA too.

Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

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