Yeah, thought as much. I know he took a sabbatical to finish his medical training.
But basically, I'd be looking at anyone on a decent chunk, who's not playing much, and look to move them on.
Paul Boyle's career has really taken a nose dive.
I love Butler, but can't see how he's justifying a wage right now.
Similar to Tom Daly. Got close to the Ireland cap, and then just fell off a cliff
There are worse names than "Dexcom Stadium" in fairness. And the fact that it's coming at the same time as a big redevelopment means it won't seem as tacky as when they just change the name of an existing stadium like Musgrave or (potentially) Pairc Ui Caoimh.
And "The Sportsground" is kind of a generic name at the moment anyway so it doesn't feel like you're removing some kind of heritage in place of a corporation. As long as they pay handsomely for it, happy days.
Cian Prendergast misses the 6N squad, feels tough to me.
I think Bundee and Finlay selected (with Mack missing out through injury) is a fair enough reflection of our season so far.
Prendergast will be disappointed but he's spent too much of the season getting on the wrong side of referees for lying on rucks and giving away avoidable penalties. Deficiencies in our game has left him without the opportunity to show off his other skills as regularly. O'Mahony being made captain also made getting selected a bigger ask.
I don't think Blade was in the conversation. He hasn't had the platform in enough big games to show off his value and his service has been a little slow at times.
Yeah, think he's unlucky as he's been playing well IMO. Think he's missed out because there's a queue and pecking order at blindside, where he's behind POM and Baird (and possibly Conan/Doris), and as a versatile back rower / openside cover I think Timoney is deemed a better fit.
If you remember Zeugnis, Forde took over from JJ during the Glasgow game in the Sportsground, when JJ took a heavy ariel challenge,and slotted everything. On top of that his lower elevation of kicking style suits the conditions normal to Galway
He's playing way better this season than he was last season when he was much closer to the squad. Unfortunately for him Timoney has rediscovered some form and Ahern has also emerged. Just fierce competition in the back row. They'll probably be a slot available there when POM retires which is probably not far off.
I'm open to the idea of Forde at 10, i just wanted to underline the consequence of your proposed selection. I'd like to see him do some more kicking before saddling him with that responsibility on an ongoing basis, running a back line is a lot of pressure as it is.
Agree with regard to Forde's lower elevation style being a better fit to the ground, am surprised that JJ hasn't been caught out more on this but it speaks positively about his ability to adjust for conditions.
Agree with regard to Blade. Cian is still very young and will have other opportunities, he's also probably next cab off the rank in terms of an injury during the tournament.
I think Jack Aungier isn't a million miles away, he's made good progress and is very young for a prop. It was natural that Farrell would take a look at Jager as a 28 year old with a lot of self belief and experience in NZ. Finlay's absence means more opportunities for Jack to start and go at good quality opponents.
Very disappointing for Prendergast and I thought Aungier was an outside shot but not to be. Both still very young. Blade needs to improve at the ruck an speed up delivery if he wants to break back into the squad.
Sean Jansen wins try of the round for his opening try against Lyon
Yeah I'd like to see Aungier make his way into that development slot in the next year or two. Furlong, Bealham and TOT (not necessarily in that order imo) are there now with the likes of Aungier and Jager behind them. I wonder is there a case for one of the 5 to switch to loose head.
I'd agree about Aungier. But for Oli Jager he might have been in the conversation for that training slot callup. Like it or not Jager was very likely to be brought in after Munster bringing him back from NZ.
I also think his recent lack of minutes might hurt him too. Only 40 mins across the Christmas interpros, then falling ill when he was likely to get 60+ minutes against Lyon. He could have put down a big marker in France by locking down the scrum.
What Forde in the centre has provided is go forward. And then he can kick as well. What JJ and Jack has provided is no go forward and mixed kicking results. Is it not worth a punt. Otherwise it's just more of the same
Disappointed for Prendergast. It's hard to shine in an underperforming side. He has time on his side.
I don't get Timoneys inclusion. I like him as a player but I'd happily have Hodnet, Prendergast, Connors, Ahern, Penny, Deegan or Combes in there ahead of him. No disrespect intended, Timoney is decent enough and won't let anyone down but can't help feeling there's a touch of politics in that one.
Otherwise a fairly predictable selection.
On Aungier, let's remember that Salanoa was the next man in before Jager arrived and if anyone suggested we let Aungier go and sign Salanoa I'd think they were proper nuts. Aungier should be very close to that panelist 🙄 set up imo
define underperforming side
https://www.google.com/search?q=definition+of+underperforming&oq=definition+of+underperforming+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIKCAEQABgPGBYYHjIICAIQABgWGB4yCAgDEAAYFhgeMgwIBBAAGAoYDxgWGB4yDQgFEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgGEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgHEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgIEAAYhgMYgAQYigXSAQg5NzYzajBqN6gCALACAA&client=ms-android-oppo-rvo3&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8&chrome_dse_attribution=1#sbfbu=1&pi=definition%20of%20underperforming
Truthfully this is not an underperforming side.. Many players play so well. It is more about some players who play so poorly and I think we all know about selection issues.
So that's grand. But what really is our strategy? I can't see anything. What is Wilkins plan. Totally lost.
Not one minute of sun in Lyon over the last 5 days. Utterly fecking freezing every day. But a lovely city. Didn't realise that the Boston Tavern was sitting in the middle of Hotel de Ville.
"Many players play so poorly" is that not what underperforming is? If those many players played less poorly then we wouldn't be underperforming 😁
Connacht Rugby
I agree on a NIQ loosehead and 10 but with both JJ and Jack still under contract it's hard to see another coming in. I don't think either 10s are good enough for starters but either could be kept as back up next season. Harry Byrne would be a fantastic option but he has gotten in to the Irish squad where he is so I doubt he is an option. Tector would be a good pick up. What's the story with West ? Would be nice to see what level he is at. Fullback needed too as TOH seems to be picking up a lot of injuries. He started the season well which is a shame.
CONNACHT VS BRISTOL BEARS
20:00, Friday 19th January 2024 @ The Sportsground
15. Tiernan O’Halloran (228)
14. Andrew Smith (6)
13. David Hawkshaw (21)
12. Bundee Aki (131)
11. Shayne Bolton (9)
10. JJ Hanrahan (11)
9. Caolin Blade (181)
1. Denis Buckley (239)
2. Tadgh McElroy (9)
3. Finlay Bealham (196)
4. Niall Murray (65)
5. Joe Joyce (10)
6. Cian Prendergast (58)
7. Shamus Hurley-Langton (29)
8. Jarrad Butler (121)
16. Dave Heffernan (188)
17. Peter Dooley (28)
18. Jack Aungier (59)
19. Oisín Dowling (52)
20. Conor Oliver (74)
21. Michael McDonald (4)
22. Jack Carty (203)
23. Oran McNulty (14)
Tadhg McElroy looks to have worked out as a nice pick up for Connacht, and seems to be getting plenty of game time (9 games, 5 starts).
I know his line out throwing still isn't where you'd want it to be, but he's a good player around the park and has an abrasive style that I like.
It's strange to me that we essentially retired a very decent player in Shane Delanhunt, seemingly to facilitate Tierney-Martin (who was given a three year contract last year, a rarity usually reserved only for top players like Prendergast, Hansen etc.), only to jettison him in favour of McElroy. Nothing against McElroy, just seems unusual for an opportunistic short term signing to move up the depth chart so quickly.
It's great to see Tiernan back fit. He may be at the tail end of his career but our backfield is much better managed when he's on the pitch.
Niall Murray finally gets a start too. He'll be trying to impose himself on the game and prove to the coaches that he's been underused this season.
DTM must be struggling with some sort of injury in the background, makes no sense he’s getting so little game time. At least with Niall Murray you could say they’re prioritising size in the second row.
Tierney-Martin has had injury issues, at the moment something with the neck which has kept him out last week and this.
McElroy has just worked out well, and in some weird way, this is not a huge surprise. It's ironic that he was to come to Connacht years ago, opted for Saracens, got dropped from the Irish U20s as a result - a lot of drama. And then he ends up back here with us after all. Is ait an mac an saol.
The player who has actually suffered in this scenario though is Eoin de Buitléar, he signed a pro contract last year and has had a grand total of fifteen minutes this season...
i'm tryng to avoid doing something in work so I've gone back through the appearances by all of connacht's hookers.
Based on the team that was named last week before DTM pulled up injured, the numbers are as follows for the first 12 games of the season:
Heffernan: 6 appearances, 4 starts, 4 weeks injured (start of season)
DTM: 9 appearances, 4 starts*,
McElroy: 9 appearances, 4 starts*
DTM got all of his starts at the start of the season, when heffernan was out. Then he missed out last week.
There's only been 2 games when McElroy started and DTM was on the bench vs 4 when the inverse happened.
Mostly it looks to me like Heffernan is still the preferred choice and the rest is a pretty even rotation between McElroy and DTM.
And now It's my break time. Look how successful all of that was.
Good few changes again this week, good to see Niall Murray getting an opportunity and Tiernan back should help shore up the back field cover a bit.
Few strange calls for me besides. I know we don't see the full list of knocks etc but Thornbury I thought we might see involved again after being brought back in over the Christmas period and Farrell again who for me is by far our best 13 plays a game and then seems to not be in the squad for the next game, maybe he is carrying injuries too. I don't know offhand but Id wager we have had an awful lot of different pairings in the center this season.
DTM has played the same amount of games as McElroy to be fair this season. I'd hardly say he's been jettisoned in favour of McElroy.
In fairness to McElroy he's played well and taking his chances. Just because you have a long contract it doesn't and shouldn't guarantee selection
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