I think we need to find a 9.
Jack is fine, played really well yesterday and captained well except for the 3 kick errors which we definitely can't afford.
Always felt the pivotal moment for Connacht rugby happened so many years ago. The signing of Boshoff meaning AJ had to leave as you can't have two NIQs in the same position. And for Boshoff to suddenly feel homesick and leaving. And then spending years on years trying to fit Jack into a position he simply didn't have the overall game for.
Credit to Andy Friend for bringing in so many quality players during his tenure while at the same time this team was harbouring a disfunctional out half and more recently a scrum half would have you pull your hair out with his slow play. An elephant in the room for some time now.
At the same time there are kudos to be provided. Wilkins and Ruane have managed to retain the core of our quality players which is an achievement considering our issues.
Moving forward we will likely see Tiernan pack it in. I see no point in him staying any further. He has seen all the highs and lows so while he is playing great rugby I'm sure he can see there is no point in continuing at Connacht
Likewise there are players like Tom Farrell and Tom Daly at centre who know they need to leave. And I suspect we will see Denis retire also.
Moving forward it would be best to see Forde at 10, Jennings at 15, maybe McDonald at 9. But most of all it would be nice to see some quality coaching.
We are just in a limbo situation at the moment.
I'd give Jennings and Hawkshaw the 15 shirt for the remainder. Either one could probably step up. They also should give Tector a call?
Why don't they have Carty play 10 with someone like Forde or Hawkshaw with all kicking duties. Carty can't kick from hand or at goal and it costs us badly. Also Hawkshaw is not a 13 and that needs to stop. Wilkins is a charlatan and has been out of his depth for some time now. The constant rotation I feel stops the partnerships developing. If it was my choice I'd cut Wilkins and get Carolan back with the existing backroom team. Hes on his 3rd year with Glasgow now. We have a great squad bar the 2 10s and should be offering far more than what currently is being shown.
halfbacks are at crisis point for Connacht
If any province needs a NIQ in that position right now it is Connacht (Ulster don’t deserve it - Doak at 10 madness)
I’ve been a Carty believer but unfortunately it is time. Contract is up next season. Hawkshaw is not a 13 and at this point he should be given a shot at 10.
Wilkins must prioritise accountability for these performances e.g. Benetton endgame management and defending out wide.
Story of supporting Connacht for as long as I can remember. so flaky and bow under pressure at the death more than not. Big performance here and there, but this is a stable.
Bundee is apparently carrying a knock and Finlay and his partner just had a new baby.
How is it that Leinster and Munster have their internationals back but Connacht didn't? Surely that's not a coaching decision.
This a hard season to take onboard. But I think sometimes you need to fail to allow change. As was pointed out a long time ago we were very lucky to get top 8 last year. It has held Wilkins in a job for this year.
But let it be said. His guidance is clueless, his media interactions are nothing short of an embarrassment.
So he must bite the bullet. Else Connacht has another year of pain in the offing
Ospreys beating Lions 36 -21 shows how poor Connacht were last week.
Warriors like Prendergast and Hurley-Langton deserve better. Any of Forde or Hawkshaw at 10 would've worked better. We cannot continue with Carty at 10, and yet he's still there. Unbelievable. Like last week results are with us. Edinburgh have lost to the Sharks with no bonus point and the Ospreys are beating the Lions.
Last week is no yardstick to measure anything on.
Look at the season overall, it's been a shambles. I hate saying it but its a fact. Seriois questions need to be asked top to bottom.
To be fair to Jackman he went through them for a shortcut during the week after the Lions game. Said it was the worst performance all season by any Irish side.
This is connacht of 20 years ago...
Now that's just harsh. Yep I'm gutted but that was better than last weekend
Made some balls of that. Story of the season.
Lost the Leinster home game and Benetton away to last gasp tries. Not to mention blowing the draw at Edinburgh at the death as well.
Only caught the second half but what I saw was plenty of industry and physicality, but very little quality or smarts. Was an exciting game in its own way but you'd be hard pushed finding two attacks as unsophisticated at this level.
Never want to advocate for anyone to lose their job but perhaps we'd be a better served with Sexton as skills coach and some new ideas for the attack. If I have to watch centres taking two metre flat passes off ten at a standstill and getting stuffed for another season I will have an aneurysm.
Can't defend, can't attack, can't kick reliably, no leadership. No obvious game plan. Going backwards fast unfortunately.
Well they were no worse than the team we normally start. Maybe a couple of more games would improve them. At this stage we have nothing to gain from the season only look to develop some younger players.
Defeat from the jaws of victory yet again. In truth bar a 20 min spell before half time we are poor.
After defending pretty well most of the game the score seemed to come quite easily for them at the end
Tbh its justice Benetton got that score, Connacht have been a disgrace for most of this game. They get let off the hook with that missed DG and within 1 minute give Benetton another opportunity to win the game.
Ouch. Poor D there
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Mcjxyxyxucicovo, sick.
very clever pick and drive from Prendergast
Deserved it
Despite the forward pass
The pack did their best there to make that conversion lockable.
Obviously we don't know what happens, but I don't know what more he could do with the few minutes he does get. The sort of player that makes things happen.
Jennings is a class act, we should really be using him more.
He has been showing that since last season.
AH Colm what were ya thinking there. We seem to have lost our way completely since the missed kick. Treviso not exactly flying either this game is there to be won
Missed touch
Gimme kick missed
Out on the full
Bad day with the boot for Jack
He has so much upside but his core skills are a bit lacking, if he can improve them he could be an international.
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