Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

connachta · 13-04-2023 11:31AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120472102#Comment_120472102

I didn't think he was 6'9 on video of the game vs Wales that's why I re-assessed (not that much taller than Irish n°4, but if the latter is already on 2m, maybe...)

If so, at 18 only he's simply about to be the tallest rugby player in the world on a par with du Preez

b.gud · 13-04-2023 02:19PM

Connacht have confirmed Adam Byrne, Leva Fifita, Conor Fitzgerald, Seán Masterson & Ciaran Booth will be leaving the club along with Alex Wooton, Kieran Marmion & Shane Delahunt.

https://twitter.com/Furlo/status/1646501123115630594?t=RrxIE2Jw-Y9H1BqO5t-_zw&s=19

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/news/connacht-rugby-confirm-departing-players/bp2533/

freyners · 13-04-2023 02:20PM

Confirmed that the following will depart. Think most were announced

Booth

Byrne

Delahunt

Fifita

Fitz

Marmion

Masterson

Wooten

realhorrorshow · 13-04-2023 02:29PM

Hopefully they pick up decent contracts elsewhere. Think Conor Fitz could be a good player if he finds a team that backs him week in, week out. Played some good stuff after the WC but once Jack took his spot back he never really got a good crack at it.

Leaves Bundee and the year 3 academy lads as the only loose ends as far as I can tell.

connachta · 13-04-2023 02:47PM

50/50 t'morrow calls

Dooley vs just back Buckley

Murphy vs never disappointing Dowling

SHL vs good but penaly conceeding Oliver

Butler vs Boyle our best 8 but out of rythm

Killgallen vs Jennings vs Bolton

TOH vs NcNulty vs Byrne

AND above all

Forde vs Aki (we're blessed either way)

KBurke85 · 13-04-2023 02:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120473180#Comment_120473180

Think it pretty much confirms Bundee is staying more than anything

13-04-2023 02:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120473180#Comment_120473180

Agreed - kind of puzzled on his release.

Is 23 year old Jake Flannery a much better player than 25 year old Conor Fitzgerald, to the point that the former has just gotten a 3 year deal (having barely played this season) and the latter has been released?

Any chance Conor Fitz rocks up down in UL again?

RonnieL · 13-04-2023 03:03PM

Fascinated to see the team for Saturday - listening to the most recent craggy podcast, they said Bundee has only played 3 times for us this season, is that right? None of them good performances, including a red card, and a terrible display against Ulster. I think I'd pick Forde personally, but I can see why they'd give Bundee another crack.

Wegians89 · 13-04-2023 03:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120473396#Comment_120473396

He was pretty good in the URC game at home to treviso

BleedGreen · 13-04-2023 03:37PM

He's played 6 times for Connacht so far this year compared to his 7 Connacht apps last year. Considering he's a year older, is managed by Ireland and had an 8 week ban I'd say that's about where we could have hoped for this year.

13-04-2023 04:30PM

No real surprises in that exit list.

I'm happy to see the branch find a one year deal for TOH. When fully fit he's still been our best fullback and we could do with another experienced head around the squad next year.

I hope Conor Fitz has a chance to find his game again. I had hopes for him when he first started playing for us but he's lost confidence in his game and it's been very clear that the coaches have lost confidence in him.

ionadnapóca · 13-04-2023 05:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120473132#Comment_120473132

Any idea where Byrne is going? I think its unlikely he will play for an Irish province again.

KBurke85 · 13-04-2023 05:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120473869#Comment_120473869

Some talk that he is heading over to play in America not sure how true it is

salmocab · 13-04-2023 05:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120473869#Comment_120473869

You’d have to feel for the guy, had unbelievable talent, might have amassed a lot of caps but injury after injury just kept him out almost constantly

stephen_n · 13-04-2023 06:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120473869#Comment_120473869

He announced his retirement

realhorrorshow · 13-04-2023 06:49PM

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

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

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

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

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

Daniel Hawkshaw (21) - Academy year 1

Back 3

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

Liam McNamara (26) - Signed contract in 2023

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

Hugh Gavin (19) - Academy year 1

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), Santiago Cordero (back 3, Bordeaux Bègles), Liam McNamara (back 3, Ireland Sevens), Andrew Smith (back 3, Leinster)

OUT: Shane Delahunt (hooker, retiring), Grant Stewart (hooker, TBC), Leva Fifita (lock, TBC), Ciaran Booth (back row, TBC), Sean Masterson (back row, TBC), Kieran Marmion (scrumhalf, Bristol Bears), Conor Fitzgerald (outhalf, TBC), Adam Byrne (back 3, TBC), Alex Wootton (back 3, retiring)

realhorrorshow · 13-04-2023 06:56PM

Loosehead: no change

Tighthead: no change

Hooker: 2 out, 1 in

Lock: 1 out, 1 in

Back row: 2 out, 2 in

Scrumhalf: 1 out, 0 in

Outhalf: 1 out, 0 in

Centre: no change

Back 3: 2 out, 3 in

Stronger year on year at tighthead (no change but good Aungier and Illo have gotten decent minutes), lock, back row, and back 3. Will have to see if we make any more signings at 2, 9, or 10, but definitely looking weaker in those positions as is currently.

connachta · 13-04-2023 07:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120474342#Comment_120474342

10 we won't, Carty/Hawkshaw, Forde is ok back-up, McNamara recruited for that too, West coming

9 we shouldn't Devine Reilly both need to be trusted now, an Academy signing might come

2 we should. Neither of our 3 hookers are perfect. So it's Declan Moore, Galwayman Dylan Donneelan, or NIQ

as after we only have Cordero, Porch and SHL (project player) in the category (Leva leaving)

Moneyball Pacifican n°2 are easy to find IMO

tintedgreenglasses2016 · 13-04-2023 09:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120473427#Comment_120473427

Treviso is not a good example. We were not competitive in that game. Everything folded in that game. So he really had no say in the game whatsoever.

Wegians89 · 14-04-2023 07:26AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120474981#Comment_120474981

I was talking about the URC game before Christmas that Connacht won. Bundee and Boyle linked up particularly well

Wegians89 · 14-04-2023 07:32AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120474391#Comment_120474391

Absolutely do need short term experience at 9. Blade is fourth choice with Ireland and on form should travel ahead of Casey to France (not likely).

If he goes to France or gets injured you only have Reilly who barely has an experience. Bring someone in for a year, the younger lads will still get plenty of game time

Wegians89 · 14-04-2023 07:42AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120474311#Comment_120474311

RWC definites:

Mack

Finlay

RWC likely:

Bundee

Cordero (not sure if he’s still getting call ups)

RWC hopefuls:

Prendergast

Blade

Longshots:

Heff would be fifth choice it seems but Kelleher and Sheehan haven’t the best records. Forde would be my long long short bolter. If he was with Leinster he’d be in similar conversations to Frawley and Osbourne.

FACECUTTR · 14-04-2023 01:42PM

Niall Murray has 14 lineout steals in the URC this season so far. 6 more than any other player. Phenomenal talent.

RonnieL · 14-04-2023 03:19PM

Logged on expecting to see plenty of commentary around the selection for tomorrow, but nothing. Am I sensing a lack of interest for what is a pretty big game? They went for Bundee, which is fair enough - pressure on them all to perform, but him especially you'd have to say. Feel for Cathal Forde, but he has a long career ahead of him for us you'd hope.

CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS CARDIFF RUGBY

Saturday 15th April, 19:35 Irish time @ The Sportsground

Number/Name/Caps

15. Tiernan O’Halloran (218)

14. Diarmuid Kilgallen (15)

13. Tom Farrell (95)

12. Bundee Aki (124)

11. Mack Hansen (25)

10. Jack Carty (191) (C)

9. Caolin Blade (166)

1. Denis Buckley (224)

2. Dylan Tierney-Martin (20)

3. Finlay Bealham (185)

4. Josh Murphy (14)

5. Niall Murray (52)

6. Cian Prendergast (43)

7. Conor Oliver (59)

8. Jarrad Butler (111)

16. Eoin de Buitléar (1)

17. Peter Dooley (16)

18. Dominic Robertson-McCoy (78)

19. Oisín Dowling (40)

20. Shamus Hurley-Langton (16)

21. Kieran Marmion (226)

22. Tom Daly (74)

23. Shane Jennings (3)

realhorrorshow · 14-04-2023 04:13PM

Sharks Vs Benetton at half 5 this evening is a big game for us also. Gave myself a headache thinking about the permutations but I think we want a Benetton win?

Lost Ormond · 14-04-2023 04:15PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120477869#Comment_120477869

Yeah Treviso win with no bonus and no sharks bonus would be most ideal result

connachta · 14-04-2023 04:19PM

Very interesting to see how Friend decided to chose experience over youth for that game. Hold nerves may have been the word.

ALL and every 50/50 calls went to the lad with more time under his belt

Buckley ahead of Dooley

Murphy ahead of Dowling

Dowling ahead of D.Murray

Oliver ahead of SHL

Butler ahead of Boyle

Kilgallen ahead of Jennings/Bolton

Aki ahead of Forde

Daly ahead of Hawkshaw

Marmion ahead of Reilly

McCoy ahead of Augier/Illo

And you can suspect Thornbury and Heff may have been prefered to DTM and Murray if fit (though I do think Murray would have been retained and Murphy dropped)

Only Prendergast and Hansen are "too good to be wasted"

MarinersBlues · 14-04-2023 04:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120297073#Comment_120297073

I see he has signed for Munster.

That's a little disappointing.

Would love to have seen him come home.

ClanofLams · 14-04-2023 08:53PM

Scarlets 9-5 up in Glasgow with just under half an hour to go. Could really do with Glasgow pulling it out here. Think they were twenty point favourites before game so would hope they will still win but not the score line expected after fifty odd minutes.

Citizenpain · 14-04-2023 08:59PM

12-9

Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

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