I think it works the other way too. Even with some rotation, the lads who are playing week in week out will probably have been managing their bodies and mainly doing technical work that doesn't overly tire them. They probably haven't had a notable S&C block since the start of October. I agree that it looks like they got the prep wrong for Cardiff but I can see why they'd switch focus too.
Was just looking at the URC table this morning and noticed Connacht only have 1 try bonus point this season. One of the worst in the league for it only behind the Sharks and Dragons who are the bottom two.
Yeah the Glasgow and Bulls games felt like big missed opportunities at the time, hopefully it doesn't cost us.
We've left a couple of TBP opportunities behind but we've also played in a lot of matches against the stronger non-Irish teams with a very narrow winning margin. Four of our next five games are strong TBP opportunities if we play well.
Our attack structure looks like it's a work in progress, being kind. Very noticeable that the 10's both of them are not passing, they are just moving the ball one man out. We know jack has a great range of passing but is no longer using it. No idea what we are trying to do.
If you watched much of the u20s when Sexton was coaching, in particular at the JRWC, the attack was very similar - lots of short passing to flat runners. That team had such a good pack for the level that playing such a simple shape was viable, I'm not sure we have the same luxury. I don't think I've seen Hanrahan throw a pass more than 5m this season, and I'm not convinced he has it in his locker.
Was looking at the stats myself and there are three teams around us (Stormers, Ospreys, Ulster) who have the same record as us - played 10, won 6, lost 4. The Stormers are currently sixth in the table (on 30 points), we are tenth (on 28). The difference is that they have 6 BPs, we have 4. Very slim margins but making a difference in table placings.
Yeah BPs could well be crucial to us by the end of the season.
Critical to win the home games against Scarlets, Lions, Zebre and away to the Dragons.
Two try BPs from the above & nabbing a couple of losing BPs against two of Benetton, Leinster, Munster, Stormers and Edinburgh would see us on 50 points and should be enough for the last playoff spot.
I think we will need 53 to make the top 8.
Hope not. 51 is likely
Will Connacht win over or get lbp at least Benetton away? (Maybe Benetton will use near best members) I think that Connacht need super-hard physical「training」.(not enough hard working) You looked at LHP of Cardiff who played 80min full time although containing above 130kg. Maybe he has been physical hard training through 6N breaking time.He was very strong especially at the maul. Connacht struggled it. On the other hand, Benetton has a very strong FW. So from the next game, Connacht should select some bigger FWs as possible. I think that a few backrowers will reach to the standard of the URC physical revel. Whithout win at the physical fight, Connacht cannot win. (for example, 6=Dowling, 7=SHL, 8=Prendergast.) And then Bealham will be back, so Connacht's mauling(both atack and defence) will become stronger than current pack.
I would like to see us try Niall Murray at 6 as an edge forward, the same way Leinster and Munster use Baird and Ahern. He played a bit of back row for Ireland u20s so wouldn't be completely new to him.
This is actually a good idea. He’s got blistering pace for a lock and would add serious threats at lineout time.
I think that this idea deserves to test at some actual matches because he looks to have very high learning abirity. and he canrun fast.
Rumoured that Connacht will be releasing 8 players ahead of next season. Presumably some at least due to cost cutting with reduced gate revenue with no Clan Stand next season.
Obviously upgraded facilities badly needed but it may affect the quality and depth available on the pitch over the next couple years until work is completed.
Thornbury will probably be released. Duggan and McCormick don't play much, so very possible. Boyle is on a 1 year contract? Daly?
Matthew Burke, Oran McNulty and McCormack are 3 who come to mind who don't seem to be getting any game time the last couple of seasons. Tom Daly seems to be struggling for game time also, same with Boyle who was very unlucky with his face injury as he seemed to be playing well and working his way back to form.
Id be hopeful we would keep him and Thornbury but hasn't been any word of Gavin since he came before Christmas.
I'd add Mcnamara to that list too. He seems to be out in the cold.
There are 8 players in the senior squad with less than 80 minutes played this season, which suggests to me that we have some wiggle room. We also basically never use our academy so could lean on those lads to prop up the bottom of the depth chart. I can imagine the 8 released looking something like:
Matthew Burke
Dominic Robertson-McCoy
Gavin Thornbury
Oisin McCormack
Tom Daly
Liam McNamara
With perhaps a few surprises like Boyle, Tom Farrell, or Tiernan O'Halloran.
Around eight players moving on sounds about normal for a season regardless of stadium plans. We have a lot of decent squad players, a limited number of regular season games, and we're not losing many to International duty.
He probably hasn't had the minutes he'd like this season. We're generally a better team with him involved even if we can select three better individual players in the back row.
On Tiernan, I haven't seen anyone who has been used as full back doing as good a job as he has been. I'd be surprised if he was let go, but I'd also like to see some succession planning there because he's 33 now and won't be around forever.
Well they can put together any plan for full back they like so long as they leave Mack Hansen out of it.
Nothing annoys me more than one of the best in the world at one position being moved to another.
I hope we make the final eight in the URC and I'll accept that. Then they need to decide if it's the squad or coaching that needs fixing.
Cordero is under contract next year too, right?
Cordero is as signed as a fullback. Apart from that you’d have Porch, Mack , Smith and Jennings who can cover there and the lads in the academy West and Nicholson.
West played outhalf for the U20s and Nicholson was on the wing.
For me, a 15 should have a great defensive brain, consistency under the high ball, an excellent tackler, and have an eye for a break. We just need to clone Hugo Keenan, he'd be perfect ;)
I'm keen on Jenkins but would be open to trying Smith or even Hawkshaw there. Porch is too inconsistent to be the last line of defence. I agree that TOH has done a good job there of late, redeeming himself after some iffy periods. But, yes, there should be a succession plan and a bench spot reserved a full backs understudy.
I'd be very sorry to see Thornbury released. It was obvious when Joyce was signed that there was going to be a bottleneck at lock. With such congestion, I'm still not sure that was a necessary signing even though Joe has been good. Gavin has been out injured so long that it's easy to forget that he packed down with Joe McCarthy for Ireland A against New Zealand just fifteen months ago. I'd keep him.
It hasn't been commented on, but we have been following an insane policy at LH relying almost exclusively on Buckley and Dooley. They have been given all the minutes except for 91 for Duggan. Burke has been left on the shelf. This isn't a sensible approach to squad depth.
If there are eight moving on, does that include Kilgallen?
Another player who will certainly have offers is Hurley Langton. Not sure who else will be in the same boat.
We don't know what JJ's contract length was, so given all the moving parts around Irish 10s, he's not nailed on either.
Oran McNulty was being groomed for 15 I thought, but has fallen off the map.
Butler or Boyle, but not both, two great servants of the club, but now with SOB and Sean Jansen for competition.
Lastly, do we need three Senior 9s with Mattie Devine in the Academy? Next season will be his third year. So McDonald or Reilly, but not both maybe?
West has been playing for buccs at 15 recently. Nicholson was a fullback but played on the wing because of injuries and McErlean being the starting 15
Any word on when Cordero will be fit?
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