Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

phog · 14-02-2024 07:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121768104#Comment_121768104

Look, I never wanted Henshaw to be allowed leave Connacht so it would be wrong of me to think Connacht losing Kilgallen to Munster is ok. Different players mind you as Henshaw was certain starter and Kilgallen does seem to have to earn a regular starting place.

But to be getting annoyed over fans (who have absolutely zero say in who moves where) thinking out loud over who would be an addition to their team is a bit extreme.

Zeugnis · 14-02-2024 08:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121768160#Comment_121768160

Your comparison of Oliver with Kilgallen doesn't stand up, and this is obvious when you refer to minutes over five (five!) seasons. Kilgallen has been our top scorer in the URC this season. He started eight games last year despite injuries. There is no comparison with Oliver with his 300 mins in the two years before departure from Munster. Sorry, if you don't see that.

And no, it's fine, you're right, why would a Munster starter move to Connacht? You have a budget that's approx. 40% bigger than ours, have wealthy external benefactors, even get a top up to bring back the club golden boy Zebo from France! Yes, I don't like it, because we are treated like the runt of the litter, whereas Munster are indulged. And now in addition to the asymmetry of resources, it feels like Munster is picking Connacht's pocket.

I'm not keen to discuss our back three options with a Munster fan who has no stake in the success of the club I support. And if you don't like my attitude, well too bad, that's fandom for you. But I keep it in the Connacht thread, note that I feel no need to share my opinions in your corner.

Dubinusa · 14-02-2024 09:07PM

How does anyone here know the bugets?

realhorrorshow · 14-02-2024 09:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121768397#Comment_121768397

"it feels like Munster is picking Connacht's pocket".

I understand this as an emotional reaction to frustrating news but tbh I'd be far quicker to blame our coaches/signings board for overstacking our squad massively in the back 3. We have 16 outside backs in our squad this season, with another 8 in the academy. Munster have 11+3, including Colm Hogan who is only on a short term deal. Even Leinster have only 12 + 6, there is absolutely no reason for us to carry more players than the bulk providers to team Ireland imo.

14-02-2024 09:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121768397#Comment_121768397

Oliver missed approx 6 months of one season after shoulder surgery, the following season he missed 12 or 13 weeks after a freak injury in the gym so no wonder his minutes were limited. His last injury free season in Munster saw him start 13 out of 14 games. I'm comparing them because they both have/had roughly the same amount of seasons under their belt at the same age, both came from Leinster into the respective academies and both moved on at a similar point in their careers.

Budget isn't the be all and end all. Munster can't outbid Connacht, the salary on offer would have been the same at whatever club he decided to stay at. The IRFU wouldn't have part-funded the Zebo return if they didn't think he was past it at international level.

Attitude? It's more like your sulking. You have 12 or 13 back three options, you can only realistically include 4 in a matchday squad.

Wegians89 · 14-02-2024 11:52PM

Disappointed but not surprised, would like to see game time given to others now as happened with Dillane when he decided to move on. Josh O’Connor has looked exciting in the couple of pre season games I’ve seen him in

Zeugnis · 15-02-2024 12:17AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121768589#Comment_121768589

We can't 'know' because the IRFU does not make them available. Jackman, who is not entirely clueless on the matter, says Connacht c.5m and Munster and Ulster c.7m, Leinster maybe 8.5m. This is my recollection from the42's podcast some time last year or in 2022.

Utopia Parkway · 15-02-2024 12:19AM

Kilgallen was definitely a starter for Connacht this season when fit. Obviously with the addendum that Cordero has missed the entire season and Hansen/Porch, etc, have both missed a big chunk of the season as well. As Munster can't outbid Connacht I presume they just whispered sweet nothings to Kilgallen and turned his head. So ultimately it's the player who made the decision. Definitely a sore one for Connacht though to lose an academy player just as he's made the breakthrough to being a regular starter.

I know Connacht say their playing budget won't be affected by a reduced capacity in the Sportsground for pretty much the next 2 years while they rebuild the stadium but I do wonder will there be some belt tightening going on as regards the spending on the playing squad.

ShineyShiney · 15-02-2024 01:10AM

There's a great opportunity for a player like killgalen at Munster. I think he right to take it.

I'd see it as a swap from 4/5/6th choice to 3rd choice with one of the guys ahead a regular enough 15.

Porch, cordero, mack, Royston, Bolton, smith,

Or

Nash, Daly, Killgalen, Coombes

I know I'm kind of ignoring Zebo but he hasn't that long left.

Seems smart to me especially if the Connacht coaches like what they've seen from Bolton

ShineyShiney · 15-02-2024 01:12AM

Big game this weekend.

I'd like to see

Buckley Heffernan Aungier

N Murray Joyce

Prendergast SHL

Sob

Blade Carty

Forde Farrell

Bolton porch

Toh

ElisaAtWar · 15-02-2024 02:16AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121769199#Comment_121769199

Kilgallen when available would always be a starter at Connacht. And it's not about money. If Kilgallen decided to leave then there has to be a very good reason. And I just wonder if it is Wilkins. Just all the dynamics seem wrong this weather

15-02-2024 10:26AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121769424#Comment_121769424

There was a someone in the 42 comments section mentioning something about Kilgallen not getting on with Mark Sexton. I'd take it with a pinch of salt but there's no smoke without fire.

realhorrorshow · 15-02-2024 11:53AM

Minutes played by players 23 or younger at the start of the season (01/09) after 13/22-25 games. Oisin McCormack is the only senior player who meets the criteria, but hasn't played yet this season.

2016Edinburgh · 15-02-2024 01:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121769424#Comment_121769424

Agree with this.

Another disappointed but not surprised.

Once the rumours started, I thought if there is any truth he's talking to Munster, then he's gone.

He's our best winger in my opinion behind Mack (who was busy at the RWC and Ireland) and behind Santi who's out for most of the season.

DK had good start to the season, got dropped with no explanation/no injury, came back and got injured.

I'd be worried about any player out of contract, if Leinster/Munster, and top English team or Top14 team come in with an offer, I think they'll leave.

The way our season has gone, the weird selections of teams, players dropped, no outhalf, I would be very worried that players don't believe in the coaching team or that Connacht has any future in the next few years as things stand.

realhorrorshow · 15-02-2024 01:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121770453#Comment_121770453

Yeah I can imagine the constant rotation is quite frustrating for players, especially in the back 3 where you particularly need consistency to build form and confidence imo. The only constants have been O'Halloran at 15 when fit, and Byron Ralston playing every single minute he's been available for, which I don't entirely get tbh. I do like him but we have other options who offer far more ball in hand.

Bolton - nowhere to be seen for half the season then seemingly becomes a mainstay
Jennings - barely seen
Kilgallen - in and out of the team a couple of times then injured
McNamara - sub first two games then banished to the AIL
McNulty - barely seen
Porch - in and out even when fit
Smith - in and out despite being fit pretty much all season (?)

I may have forgotten some injuries but I think my general point is fair.

Wegians89 · 15-02-2024 01:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121770604#Comment_121770604

Just to note Bolton was class in preseason but picked up an injury, he’s been a mainstay once he got back fit.

Jennings was away with the 7s and called back after a few injures in the back three, not sure he was supposed to be with Connacht at all this side of the Olympics.

Porch does seem to be out of favour this year but he also has had a couple of different knocks.

realhorrorshow · 15-02-2024 01:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121770643#Comment_121770643

Bolton had been with us for two full seasons prior without getting much of a shot. Makes absolutely no sense to call Jennings back because of a few injuries, we have more wingers than we know what to do with. If the plan was for him to focus on sevens for the year why disrupt that, he clearly wasn't needed seeing as he played so little.

Wegians89 · 15-02-2024 02:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121770701#Comment_121770701

Apart from his first year with Connacht, Bolton has been really hampered with injuries. Would recommend listening to Master of Nones interview with him.

From what I can remember Jennings only came back and was on the bench for two games before getting injured?

Dubinusa · 15-02-2024 03:02PM

Josh O'Connor is finishing up in the academy. He's similar type to Kilgallen. He should get a senior contract. Connacht have a big surplus in multiple positions. Inside center if swamped and there's no way they will all be kept. There's Devine, Hawkshaw, Gavin all in the academy. Contracted players are Aki, Daly and Hawkshaw. Cathal Forde could be seen as a 12 also. I can see Daly leaving or not getting re signed. There's also a glut of back rows. Losing Kilgalken hurts but, he's doing himself justice as there's better prospects of playing time at Munster.

15-02-2024 03:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121770604#Comment_121770604

If we look out to next season and assume that everyone is magically fit we end up with a starting back three of Hansen, Cordero, and one other player. I think that ends up being Ralston by default. The coaching team really seem to like his rounded skills, reading of the game, and defensive interventions. I also think that they want a very fluid backline and are unlikely to select Bolton and Kilgallen in the same team. Smith is the player that they'll try to develop in a similar mould as Ralston.

We get very little insight into how the backs are coached but if it sounds anything like my above paragraph I'd be in the same boat as Kilgallen and moving South. They're very light in the back three and will get the ball wide lots.

Tadhg Beirne and Kilgallen were practically next door neighbours growing up in in Kildare. Apparently they're fairly close despite the age gap. I'm sure he's heard most of the off the record things he wanted to know about the Munster environment.

realhorrorshow · 15-02-2024 03:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121771095#Comment_121771095

I liked what I saw of O'Connor last pre season but I don't want to us to sign him unless we have an actual plan for his development, and a realistic path to senior gametime. We'll see who else leaves but even with Kilgallen on the way out we have Cordero to come in, Mullins presumably focusing on 15s after the Olympics, and Gavin perhaps playing on the wing to ease into senior rugby. There's also the Bolton/Smith who'll be pushing hard for first choice and Jennings who will be at a critical point in his development.

15-02-2024 03:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121771095#Comment_121771095

Forde is definitely viewed as a 12 by the Connacht coaches. We've started him a 13 a couple of times but that was with Aki at 12 and Tom Farrell injured.

I'd have liked to have seen the coaches look at him as an outhalf but he's only started there once when we were deep in an injury crisis. I'd say that option has passed which is a shame. We could really do with developing an indigeous Connacht outhalf to compete with Jack over the next few years.

ElisaAtWar · 15-02-2024 07:56PM

Being thinking about the Kilgallen move and I really wonder if the reason is that Crowley and Casey allow him more opportunity than the JJ/Jack Blade axis. If I were a winger I think I would prefer the Munster setup. Kilgallen would be first choice winger at Connacht but if you playing behind the axis mentioned I honestly can't blame him for moving

phog · 15-02-2024 09:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121772622#Comment_121772622

Probably more to do with Mike Prendergast than just the half backs.

I wonder did Mossy have a word in his ear.

leakyboots · 15-02-2024 09:55PM

While the player made the decision, and I'm glad with the signing as a Munster fan, it's a **** one for Connacht. I'd hate to see us lose a promising player like Kendellen for e.g.

Leinster are a different kettle of fish given the massive population and private wealth advantages in their setup.

eagle eye · 16-02-2024 02:39AM

I don't want to see Mack at full back. He's a fantastic winger, he shouldn't be playing 15.

testtech05 · 16-02-2024 01:04PM

Team named for tomorrow evening

15. Tiernan O’Halloran (229)

14. Shayne Bolton (10)

13. David Hawkshaw (22)

12. Cathal Forde (21)

11. Andrew Smith (7)

10. JJ Hanrahan (12)

9. Caolin Blade (182) (C)

1. Denis Buckley (240)

2. Dave Heffernan (189)

3. Jack Aungier (60)

4. Niall Murray (66)

5. Joe Joyce (11)

6. Shamus Hurley-Langton (30)

7. Conor Oliver (75)

8. Cian Prendergast (59)

16. Tadgh McElroy (10)

17. Peter Dooley (29)

18. Sam Illo (14)

19. Oisín Dowling (53)

20. Jarrad Butler (122)

21. Michael McDonald (5)

22. Jack Carty (204)

23. Tom Farrell (106)

FACECUTTR · 16-02-2024 01:24PM

Good team but I don't get Farrell on the bench over Hawkshaw.

Zeugnis · 16-02-2024 01:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121775254#Comment_121775254

I suppose the thinking is they can bring TF on and then move Hawkshaw around in a utility back role. I'm glad that Michael Mcdonald is getting a decent run, but it's sad that they're not willing to take a shot on Devine. Bit surprised to Jarrad on the bench seeing as Boyle and SOB are back.l

FACECUTTR · 16-02-2024 01:54PM

I would prefer our best 13 starting ahead of 3rd or 4th choice 13 as this is a game we really could do with picking up 5 from. I would prefer Devine getting a go from the bench too. Can't understand the Boyle omission.

Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

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