Lol, i'm not but i just subscribe to not going too much one way or the other to wins and losses.
In fairness to Pete, he was probably in shock after the game. They just got destroyed, there was no positives from the game and they did it at home...
Everything he has been working on for months is mess on the floor...
While the screaming inside your head of where do you go from here, someone puts a microphone in front of you... At that point you go into survival mode and say it ain't that bad..
The big concern is how much we've regressed in 12 months.
Who do you blame for that?
Finlay and Bundee ruled out of the Benetton game.
To be reintegrated this week and made available for the Pau game.
https://www.the42.ie/connacht-treviso-aki-bealham-6336727-Mar2024/
I didn't mind the selection too much as he's such a talented footballer and had shown glimpses of potential at 13 in the previous few games, but he was dreadful at the weekend unfortunately. Based on what we've seen of the alternatives to date, letting Tom Farrell go at the end of the season would be madness.
True. I'd be inclined to try Hawkshaw out at fb.
anyone renew their season tickets today?
Nope, not yet
I thought it wasn't opening until the 15th from the email I received.....maybe I misread or something to do with the clan redevelopment
enclosure, main stand, behind goals open today, clan terrace open on 15th
Can understand Bundee but Finlay only had some minutes off the bench and missed one game altogether. No reason he shouldn’t be back.
I think he is already gone realhorrorshow. If you were Tom Farrell would you not already be gone
Thoughts on Andrew Smith so far?
Work in progress. Clear talent and great mentality but needs to fine tune a few things. Probably the best tries not given highlight reel in Ireland.
He has impressed me. I thought he was the only back who put in a creditable performance at the weekend. Sometimes goes too lateral but has good footwork and great hunger for a turnover.
I think he has massive potential. More gametime will benefit him hugely. Looks for work, has good skills and has a great attitude.
https://www.connachtrugby.ie/news/jack-aungier-signs-twoyear-contract/bp2950/
That's an epic re-sign. I'm sure there was plenty of interest in him.
Looking more likely that Farrell is off with not getting into the team at all lately.
thats great news hes been doing really well for us and gives us 2 really strong options with Finlay aswell.
Thank f*. That's the troubling bit of the signing season mostly over for me.
Based on what we've seen with alternatives at 13, I'd like to see Tom Farrell renewed as well, don't think Ralston or Hawkshaw have demonstrated any ability to bring what he does to the position.
Think there’s a lot of expectation on Gavin making it. Would love to see a move for Liam Turner made
Gavin at 13 - ok, he played there last summer but I don't recall him being as impressive there as at 12.Shane Jennings played 13, don't known if John Devine has ever been tried.
But, and I'm repeating myself here, when are Connacht going to give the youngsters a chance? Leinster had six lads from that year of U20s on the pitch against Zebre on Saturday, we have five from the same team in the academy and none of them have been capped...
Anyway, you're persuaded that Tom F is gone?
Yeah I think the long term partnership will be Forde and Gavin. Forde has a couple of games at 13 but think Gavin is better suited. Gavin played 13 for Galwegians and the Eagles I think.
Jennings looks to have been converted to a back three player. John Devine was playing at 13 outside Forde for Corinthians I believe a couple of years back.
I think there's no reason Gavin can't be our long term 13 but next season is too soon. Even Garry Ringrose spent a season playing wing after u20s to ease into senior rugby, and he's always been an out-and-out 13. Finn Treacy is a lot more likely to be a 13 at pro level than Devine imo, he and Gavin played in the centres together a few times for Wegians this season.
Personally think Treacy will make it as a winger. I know he’s played at 13 underage but he just looked like a mixture between Ralston and Bolton on the wing. Serious work ethic, defensively solid and sharp in attack.
Liam Turner is only Irish 13 I can see that could be signed, apart from that it’d need to be an niq
So the assumption seems to be that Farrell is gone. Sean O'Brien was a good 13, we let him go after he'd been with the province for what, five years? Next year he'll be playing inside Kilgallen at Munster, it's insanity.
Hawkshaw was good at 12 and if Forde is out this weekend, he'll be back there. Otherwise we can try him at 15 or have another go at 10. If we had an Eagles schedule these things could be tried out.
yeah think Connacht are really missing a trick with the lack of A games / friendlies in comparison to the other provinces.
Yeah I tend to agree, just wanted to mention him as he's said his preferred position is 13 and I think he tends to fly under the radar a tad when we are discussing the next generation of Connacht outside backs.
The Sean O'Brien situation was unfortunate, from what I remember he found form very late in the 20/21 season, long after contract decisions would have been made. He wasn't really on anyone's radar before then. At the time we had Tom Farrell and Sammy Arnold at 13 with Tom Daly covering occasionally, I think it was a justifiable decision. He would certainly fill a gap now though.
I'd love to see someone ask Wilkins about the lack of Eagles/A games. It just seems so obvious, especially given the fact that a lot of our academy players are playing in the lower reaches of the AIL.
Perhaps the other provinces are not interested in A games. Their players are playing at much higher levels of the AIL, they may be happy with that as their primary pathway, and not want to pull players from their clubs. Overseas A competitions are probably not financially viable unfortunately.
It's a tough situation for the academy lads, especially the less obvious prospects. How does someone like Charlie Ward earn a new contract?
Ditto...
Main thing is he is defence which seems to be good...
Obviously from 7s he is a glorious open field runner..
I think he is one to watch, he's improving..
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