Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

connachta · 09-04-2023 12:43PM

Any news about Bealham injury recovery?

Former Former Former · 09-04-2023 02:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120456918#Comment_120456918

This would also happen if Treviso win

realhorrorshow · 10-04-2023 10:52AM

Loosehead

Denis Buckley (33) - Signed 2 + 1 year contract in 2023

Matthew Burke (26) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Peter Dooley (29) - Signed contract in 2022

Jordan Duggan (25) - Signed 1 year contract in 2023

Oisin Michel (21) - Academy year 1

Charlie Ward (23) - Academy year 3

Tighthead

Jack Aungier (24) - Signed contract in 2022

Finlay Bealham (31) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Sam Illo (22) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Dominic Robertson-McCoy (29) - Signed 1 year contract in 2023

Hooker

Eoin De Buitléar (21) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Dave Heffernan (32) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Dylan Tierney-Martin (24) - Signed 3 year contract in 2023

Lock

Oisin Dowling (26) - Signed contract in 2022

Leva Fifita (34) - Signed contract in 2021

Joe Joyce (29) - Signed contract in 2023

Josh Murphy (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Darragh Murray (22) - Signed contract in 2022

Niall Murray (23) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Gavin Thornbury (29) - Signed 1 year contract in 2023

Back row

Ciaran Booth (23) - Signed contract in 2022

Paul Boyle (26) - Signed 1 year contract in 2023

Jarrad Butler (32) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Shamus Hurley-Langton (23) - Signed contract in 2022

Sean Jansen (24) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Sean Masterson (25) - Signed contract in 2021

Oisin McCormack (22) - Signed contract in 2022

Sean O'Brien (23) - Signed contract in 2023

Conor Oliver (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Cian Prendergast (23) - Signed 3 year contract in 2022

Donnacha Byrne (22) - Academy year 3

John Forde (20) - Academy year 1

Scrumhalf

Caolin Blade (29) - Signed 3 year contract in 2023

Colm Reilly (24) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Matthew Devine (21) - Academy year 1

Will Reilly (22) - Academy year 2

Outhalf

Jack Carty (31) - Signed 3 year contract in 2022

Conor Fitzgerald (25) - Signed contract in 2021

Harry West (20) - Academy year 1

Centre

Bundee Aki (33) - Signed 3 year central contract in 2020

Shayne Bolton (23) - Signed 1 year contract in 2023

Tom Daly (30) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Tom Farrell (29) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Cathal Forde (21) - Signed contract in 2022

David Hawkshaw (24) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Byron Ralston (23) - Signed contract in 2022

John Devine (19) - Academy year 1

Hugh Gavin (19) - Academy year 1

Daniel Hawkshaw (21) - Academy year 1

Back 3

Adam Byrne (28) - Signed contract in 2022

Santiago Cordero (29) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Mack Hansen (25) - Signed 3 year contract in 2022

Shane Jennings (22) - Signed contract in 2022

Diarmuid Kilgallen (23) - Signed contract in 2022

Oran McNulty (23) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Tiernan O'Halloran (32) - Signed 1 year contract in 2022

John Porch (29) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Andrew Smith (23) - Signed contract in 2023

Shane Mallon (21) - Academy year 1

Chay Mullins (21) - Academy year 1

Josh O'Connor (22) - Academy year 2

*ages as at 01/09/2023

IN: Eoin De Buitléar (hooker, academy), Joe Joyce (lock, Bristol Bears), Sean Jansen (back row, Leicester Tigers), Sean O'Brien (back row, Leinster), Andrew Smith (back 3, Leinster)

OUT: Shane Delahunt (hooker, retiring), Grant Stewart (hooker, TBC), Kieran Marmion (scrum half, Bristol Bears), Alex Wootton (back 3, retiring)

Former Coach · 10-04-2023 12:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120460953#Comment_120460953

Cordero!!

Wegians89 · 11-04-2023 11:44AM

Carty, Bealham and Buckley all back this weekend.

Id go for something like:

Buckley DTM Bealham

Murphy N Murray

Prendegast Butler Oliver

Blade Carty

Forde Farrell

Mack TOH Porch

Heff Dooley Aungier Dowling Boyle Marmion Bundee Jennings

connachta · 11-04-2023 12:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120464378#Comment_120464378

So relieving,

mine would be

Buck Heff Aungier

Murray Dowling

Prendergast Boyle Butler

Blade Carty

Forde Farrell

Hansen Porch TOH

Dooley/DTM/Beal (slowly for Glasgow)/Murphy/SHL/Marmion/Aki (Forde covering 10)/Jennings

Wegians89 · 11-04-2023 12:21PM

heff out for the next two rounds, porch nursing injury and Ralston back in training but not down as available this week

connachta · 11-04-2023 12:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120464529#Comment_120464529

Gosh.

DeBuitlear 16 then, no choice.

Kilgallen Byrne or Jennings on the wing, choices there

Wegians89 · 11-04-2023 12:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120464550#Comment_120464550

Is delahunt fit? Would be keen to see him on the pitch one last time.

connachta · 11-04-2023 12:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120464611#Comment_120464611

Was supposed out for the season and even if he theorically is, very bad idea to throw him without gametime for months and apparently not very happy how it went...

Though have him in the pocket for next week in case of injury would be a plus...

11-04-2023 05:52PM

Connacht announced a signing today too - Liam McNamara, an Aussie who is IQ through his Dad. Has played 7s for Australia and Ireland.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-rugby/connacht-land-sevens-star-liam-mcnamara-for-next-season-as-stars-return-for-key-cardiff-clash-42427749.html

What's going on with Chay Mullins? Is he still part of the Connacht squad / Academy?

connachta · 11-04-2023 05:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120465983#Comment_120465983

What's going on with TOH situation above all

CIARAN_BOYLE · 11-04-2023 06:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120465983#Comment_120465983

He is still part of the connacht academy but he has been playing 7s recently.

Connacht have also signed ex leinster academy winger Andrew Smith who has been playing 7s.

Going for a full ex 7s back line soon?

Wegians89 · 11-04-2023 06:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120466001#Comment_120466001

Assume he’s gone and we’ll get an announcement this week thanking him

Wegians89 · 11-04-2023 06:18PM

Looking more likely no ten will be coming in next year. Think a nine might though. Not too many backs all things considered.

9 Blade Reilly Devine

10 Carty Hawkshaw

11 Hansen Smith

12 Bundee Forde Daly

13 Farrell Ralston Jennings

14 Porch Killgallen Bolton

15 Cordero McNulty McNamara

Acadamy lads who could also feature:

Will Reilly, West, Gavin, Devine, Hawkshaw, O Connor, Mullins

Zeugnis · 11-04-2023 06:37PM

Wouldn't have expected us to have such a big game at this point this season, but a win against Cardiff gives us a lot of the cards necessary to get to the Champions' Cup.

Honestly, my expectations for the season have already been exceeded. This is not just becasue we're still in contention to qualify, where I was sure that the shield system represented an insurmountable barrier, but also because a lot of new talent has been gotten the necessary development minutes with very positive results: Cathal Forde, Darragh Murray, Sam Illo, Shane Jennings, Diarmuid Kilgallen.

Furthermore, three of our four arrivals from Leinster this season got the game time they came for - the only exception being the injury-cursed Adam Byrne - which will be good for future recruitment out east.

Yes, there were errors, Newcastle etc, but for me this season has been something of a success and a good platform for next year.

11-04-2023 08:07PM

Ultimately imo Saturday will decide if this season is a positive one. Cardiff have turned us over so often over the years im wary of them.

If we win that should effectively seal Top 8 with hopefully the potential for Top 7 and Champions Cup which is a positive finish. Maybe a bit simplistic an evaluation but unless we achieve something concrete in the league the season is a failure for me.

To date we are only 3 points ahead of last season. Last season we played 6 European Cup games at full tilt and never threatened Top 8 in the league whereas the challenge cup this year was a bit of a half baked effort that had no logic behind it.

On the positive side of the coin a lot of players have got more gametime and the depth looks a bit stronger in certain positions but for most of the season we've been unconvincing at best. I think a lot of things fell in our favour.

The South Africans were dipping their toes into European action and effectively threw some league games to concentrate on Europe. That was a distraction they didnt have last year. Sharks was a soft 5 pointer for example.

The Welsh teams tanked for a lot of the season but likes of Scarlets found form late on and took points off others. Luckily we'd got them when they were poor.

I'd have had Edinburgh as a shoo in for Top 8 and they have caved in entirely. Munster gave everyone else a big headstart too

We have done well to recover from the start we had especially after Ulster at home before Christmas I thought the league season was over.

We've put ourselves in position to achieve something but the nagging feeling is that this group don't deliver under pressure. I hope they can at least get a result Saturday and we'll see how things are for the final game. Maybe in that situation Glasgow will have no skin in the game and may rotate heavily but its all academic if we don't get a result Saturday.

11-04-2023 09:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120464611#Comment_120464611

Even if he was fit I'm not sure if that would be a great idea after how badly things seem to have ended.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120466001#Comment_120466001

My understanding is that he doesn't necessarily want to move abroad right now so unless we can put a last minute deal in front of him that might be the end for him.

realhorrorshow · 11-04-2023 10:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120465983#Comment_120465983

Funnily enough I had my eye on McNamara as a potential signing years ago, he looked very decent for Australia u20s. Just assumed he was IQ due to the name. Hasn't done a whole pile since though, particularly in the XV a side game.

Seems a strange signing, we haven't had to reach particularly far down the depth chart in the back 3 this season, and we have now signed three more players. Even if Adam Byrne and Tiernan O'Halloran both leave, we still look a bit overstocked imo:

Santiago Cordero (29)

Mack Hansen (25)

Shane Jennings (22)

Diarmuid Kilgallen (23)

Liam McNamara (26)

Oran McNulty (23)

John Porch (29)

Andrew Smith (23)

---------------------

Shane Bolton (23)

Byron Ralston (23)

---------------------

Hugh Gavin (19)

Shane Mallon (21)

Chay Mullins (21)

Josh O'Connor (22)

Wegians89 · 11-04-2023 10:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120467138#Comment_120467138

Seems McNamara has been playing full back in Scottish semi pro rugby during 2022. He was on a bench for Glasgow selection in a best of AIL sort game between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Saying that there is a good chance that Bundee, Mack and Cordero could all be going to the World Cup. So the short term depth might be needed

Former Coach · 11-04-2023 10:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120467138#Comment_120467138

Cordero and Mack are likely to miss a good portion of the season and if you throw in a few injuries then we might look thin enough in the back 3.

realhorrorshow · 12-04-2023 01:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120467167#Comment_120467167

We have more outside backs in our squad than Leinster, seems like overkill to me.

FACECUTTR · 12-04-2023 01:45PM

They should be more concerned signing a hooker as 2 seniors with another just promoted from the academy is not enough.

Treaty fella · 12-04-2023 01:53PM

Declan Moore joining from Ulster ?

salmocab · 12-04-2023 02:37PM

No particular beef with any of Connacht signings but are they in the positions that Connacht don’t seem particularly weak in.

FACECUTTR · 12-04-2023 02:40PM

Was there an announcement on that or just rumour ?

FACECUTTR · 12-04-2023 02:45PM

We needed an 8 and a 15 and got Jansen and Cordero. A 10 and 2 but we have Hawkshaw but no real backup to him. Moore as mentioned above was rumoured to come in but nothing there yet.

Wegians89 · 12-04-2023 02:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120469375#Comment_120469375

McNamara being mentioned as able to cover 10 would suggest to me that there isn’t a ten coming in.

Would also add a physical second row to the list of needs and Joyce ticks that box.

Treaty fella · 12-04-2023 03:02PM

https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/1646151288994791424?s=46&t=bBfKvlC9CzSxnwXskLDiYg

O’Halloran signs on

Wegians89 · 12-04-2023 03:09PM

Is McNulty out of contract?

Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

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