Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Yeah the Glasgow and Bulls games felt like big missed opportunities at the time, hopefully it doesn't cost us.

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.

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.

I think we will need 53 to make the top 8.

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.

This is actually a good idea. He’s got blistering pace for a lock and would add serious threats at lineout time.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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