Exactly this.
When Marmion signed his last contract, he was in his 20s, first choice at Connacht and on the fringes of the Ireland squad. He's none of those now.
You'd love to be able to pay everyone what they're "worth" but we have to be disciplined because Wales.
Murray Kinsella on the42's podcast talked about hearing of the "locals first" policy directly from Connacht players. He's unfortunately not one to spread baseless information.
Ya agreed about Murray in fairness to him he's one of the best rugby journalists around and usually fairly on the ball with this stuff so I would say it's more than pub talk or rumours
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1qYNoZ8pduBXyqZZ0pVuhH?si=AOuNAcMNRu-iufRuz7UqdA
The "locals first" policy probably exists to a small extent when making tough decisions that also include who is more affordable and has more of a future. Porch was our first re-signing, Illo re-signed, Thornbury too, Joyce coming in, so it's not a cut and dry rule regardless of if there's an element of it existing or not.
My point in relation to Marmion not being in the 23 was that Connacht have rotated a lot in recent years in important games and I don’t think that puts a good message out, the only aim should be to win them, pick the best 23 to achieve that.
There’s nothing to suggest Marmion wouldn’t have the same motivation, he’s been a consummate professional for over a decade.
Plenty of players have undergone a similar transition, Dave Kearney at Leinster being an obvious example.
Nobody here knows the details of the negotiations but what’s going to happen is Connacht will bring in a cheaper alternative that weakens the squad. Marmion was eager to stay in Galway so I doubt he was demanding every euro possible, just a reasonable two year deal.
Maybe it’ll be worth the €X saved, difficult to say without all the details but I wouldn’t be overly confident.
For sure, and I'll bet Dave Kearney's current contract is a lot different to the ones he was signing when he was starting for Ireland at the world cup.
The Marmion issue isn't new, or specific to Marmion or to Connacht, it's how IRFU have always played it.
But you're absolutely right, none of that helps Connacht for next season
I doubt Marmion was eager to stay in Connacht.
He had an agreement in principle with Saracens before his last contract (but Saracens ran into trouble).
He was reported as unhappy with the renumeration of his contract at the time but he was betting on international appearances and match fees to make up the difference. That didn't happen.
Well he was per Murray Kinsella.
He had considered his options including Saracens after a massively disappointing moment in being left out of the RWC, that went against how Schmidt had selected squads for a decade, when he had always backed guys who had delivered for him. Fairly understandable.
Where was he reported it as being unhappy with his renumeration? Never heard anything about that and can’t imagine someone signing a three year deal in those circumstances.
Stormers beating the sharks is good for us, but the Stormers winger chucking one over the line with the last play of the game which would have denied sharks the losing bonus point is unfortunate.
Means we can't go into 7th today but can close to within 1 and probably better their points difference.
Lions winning away to bulls
Will be doing well to hold on now
Doing their best not to….
phew
Some finish. Bulls still get 2 BP's but better than 5 points
Jack out as a late withdrawal
Waits for meltdown about Blade as Captain
Bunch just said delahunt has been let got next year; I know that was rumoured but has there been any confirmation of that?
Edit: the dragons pack is not bad looking....with Carty out this looks a little more challenging
Should have at least 1 try on the board here hopefully won't regret it
Like that
Please can we have Tom Daly soon. Hawkshaw is a really good centre but a rubbish outhalf
Ref making a mess of this
Criminal to go in level after 6-7 mins against 13
Next to useless in the last 10 minutes
Crap 9 and a crap 10. As said Hackshaw is a good centre but a rubbish 10. It is what it always was. God these team selections would make you cry. I have no doubts we will get the bonus point but if you can't see the rubbish involved then you miss the problem
Have to say, Connacht look much better in attack when Blade isn’t involved in the play. He’s very slow to decide what to do.
Ah connacht. Should be disbanded for that
You could see that coming a mile off. 10 mins against 13 men and the score 0-7 in that time......only Connacht
just tuned in…that intercept try was against 13men!!!!
brutal
Who's come on to the bench to replace hawkshaw?
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