Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

with Bolton unavailable wouldn't mind seeing Jennings and Porch on the wings. Porch must be bursting for an opportunity at the moment

Great news on Devine, fully expect him to be the long term first choice 9. Hopefully he sees plenty of game time for the rest on this season. Would look to start him against zebre.

Pro Deal for Gavin too. Interesting piece at the end about integration of the academy players. Perform well in training and that will help earn your pro deal.

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/news/hugh-gavin-to-join-pro-ranks-next-season/bp2973/

They'll get games because we'll let the likes of Farrell and Daly go - and honestly that's how it should be. You have to give talents like Devine/Gavin a chance.

I suppose that's a luxury of being a dominant side in the league. Leinster tend to have a bit of a points buffer so they can afford to give guys more exposure. Both within a given match and in terms of league league points. For Connacht points are a bit harder won so it's a more dangerous game. The risk of a guy not working out or having a nervy first game could make the difference between making the last 8 or not for Connacht.

Then of course it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy where not exposing guys means you lose some or are forced to use more of them during an injury crisis or something.

Why ask in connacht thread and frustrating why? What should it be?

It'll be interesting to see if they stick with Jack at 10 or go for JJ to start. Not sure I'd go for Bundee and Forde in the centre either - I'd start Farrell at 13, regardless of his future. Tiernan's form has taken a nose dive, so I wouldn't mind seeing a change there, although I'm not sure who to select in his place.

Really hope they can get the win - can't make it to Italy this weekend, but I'd be all over a semi final trip to Gloucester/Wales (I hear Newport is lovely in May :-))

Connacht team to play Treviso:

15. Tiernan O’Halloran (234)
14. Andrew Smith (11)
13. David Hawkshaw (27)
12. Bundee Aki (133)
11. Shane Jennings (9)
10. JJ Hanrahan (16)
9. Caolin Blade (186) (C)
1. Denis Buckley (245)
2. Dave Heffernan (194)
3. Finlay Bealham (198)
4. Joe Joyce (15)
5. Darragh Murray (22)
6. Cian Prendergast (64)
7. Shamus Hurley-Langton (35)
8. Paul Boyle (89) 

16. Eoin de Buitléar (6)
17. Peter Dooley (31)
18. Sam Illo (19)
19. Niall Murray (71)
20. Conor Oliver (79)
21. Matthew Devine (1)
22. Cathal Forde (25)
23. Tom Farrell (108)

Carty is unavailable due to a hamstring strain

Strange that Eoin de Buitléar is on the bench again. They didn't use him last week and DTM/McElroy are supposed to be available. And why are they not starting Farrell?

Been wondering is the reason for this that McElroy isn't going to be around next season so they are trying to give minutes to De Buitléar. That's the only thing I can think of

Could be the case but there's no point discarding McElroy to prioritise de Buitléars development and then leaving him on the bench. I'd be surprised if we didn't offer McElroy an extension, time will tell.

4 hookers are probably necessary, with 3 we'd only be two injuries from having to play Matthew Victory, who was a late convert from the back row. Most URC games now border on must win, having to rely on an inexperienced player in such a crucial position could derail our season.

4 scrumhalves is too many though IMO, 3 plus academy should be plenty.

Can't understand not starting Farrell either, for me he'd have to start in a game like this. Has it been decided that Hawkshaw has gotten accustomed to and good enough in the role to be the first choice?

I'd be also interested in whether Cathal is covering 10, or whether they'd switch Hawkshaw to 10 and Cathal would then cover 13.

Any knowledge as to how Victory is getting on down west?

On another matter, from a list of scrum halves, McDonald (likely gone back to Ulster at the end of this season), Murphy (who certainly didn't impress with Leinster last week), Reilly (injuries aside has looked very ordinary), Blade (who continues to frustrate with slow play), and finally Devine (who looks like he has huge potential but is untested at this level). So you are left hoping that Devine steps up. Of course to step up he needs to be given game time.

And at out half we have Carty (decent player, hard worker, some smart stuff, some terrible stuff, poor kicker from the tee), JJ (excellent kicker from the tee and nothing else), Hawkshaw (ordinary in all aspects), Forde (untested but proven he is a good kicker from the tee).

And that's where we are with the two most pivotal positions.

So it's all very fine and good to simply whine about things, but the important thing is identify what to do about this. And here you have to merciless. It all comes down to money and money is provided for IRFU and having season ticket holders.

So we have a new larger stadium in the offing and we have funds to meet that. But we also need performances to maintain the season ticket holders.

So let's talk really mercilessly. Cordero is costing us crazy money for no return (we have Jennings, Hansen, TOH who can cover that position). We have no shortage of wingers so we can let Porch go. We have so many centres it's crazy. We can release Daly and Hawkshaw. At scrum half Ben Murphy should never had been signed and Reilly should be let go. Jack needs to let go at out half and then finally we might be able to afford a player than can orchestrate our team.

I know that's a brutal assessment but that's why I tend to be unpopular