The Connacht lads at the u20wc went well. Pity Flynn has to pull out I was looking forward to seeing what he had to offer.
On Patchel, lovely player but would we be better off trying to get our hands on someone who might ask questions of our two elder lemons when contract renewal time comes around?
Patchel would fit the bill for 6 months though.
I read elsewhere that Flynn's withdrawal was due to food poisoning rather than an injury. If so, we'll hopefully see him against Georgia and Australia.
Otere Black
Ex blues and Māori All Black latest rumor to take the 10 spot
From what I can remember he was an absolutely bang average super rugby player. But I mean, I guess we'd take any sort of living breathing 10 at this stage.
Does he quit current team? In the squads list of HP (24~25 season) of Urayasu D-Rocks (Japan), his name is still remaining. But in Japan, the contract is not so strict in many cases. So if there is mutual agreement, (I think) it's not impossible. And this team has been in low situation last season, so changed team by merge with other team. (new members by the merger involve Elton Jantjies) On the other hand, Urayasu city is well known by Tokyo Disney resort, but actually is not good for living or housing environment. So, it's no wonder that he or his family want to leave there.
Just throwing other names out there, but tiaan falcon is a decent kiwi 10 plodding the boards in Japan
He was unreal at U20s a few years ago. I think he was the same year as Aumua and Caleb Clarke when they absolutely obliterated Ireland.
yeah he was a real future star back then, never really happened for him at senior stage afterwards though. He had an injury ravaged 2019 and just went to japan after that, and is there since.
draw complete
Unless (and I don't know can you) you get the two French teams then that's not a bad draw for you.
I believe we will play the two French teams, cheetahs and one of Cardiff or zebre
They really don't help themselves with the complicated setup of groups. Like the URC there's an inherent unfairness for certain teams inbuilt into the european competition depending on geography.
As always it depends on how serious the French teams take it. I don't think Perpignan will care based on past experience but Lyon seem to take Europe a bit more seriously. Getting Zebre instead of Cardiff would be hugely beneficial. Cheetahs have shown they will be competitive too and I wouldn't fancy another South African trip.
Ideally for me we get Lyon and Cheetahs at home and Zebre and Perpignan away.
What has remained consistent in this tournament over the years is that if you are realistic about going far in the challenge cup side you need 1st or 2nd seed. I don't hold much hope but scraping through the group as a low seeding is wasting everyone's time.
Seems you were right, Flynn is in to start against Georgia. Extremely excited to see him play live, can't remember us ever producing a player like him. Will be good to see Naughton from the start, he seems to have very good fundamentals but hasn't been charged with leading the team from the start yet, Italy were a bit of a beaten docket by the time he came on. Interested to see if he can make good decisions and put his team in the right areas, as Jack Murphy does so effectively.
Treacy was good in the centre against Italy and I believe it's his favoured position, although he looks very much like he'll be a wing at senior level to me. He shouldn't be too far away from senior rugby but it's hard to see where his minutes will come from. Gavin is just a cut above at this level, the sequence where he made a clean break around halfway, then chased down the counterattacking Italian wing with the space of about a minute, was absurd. He needs to be playing senior rugby from the off next season. I think he could easily be in position to replace Bundee at 12 for the 25/26 season (assuming Bundee leaves at the end of his current contract), but may need a bit more time to establish himself if we see him as more of a 13.
I thought the 20s ran a similar attacking shape to ours, with lots of intricate passing. However, it was much more effective because there was more depth and deception, and the quality of the defence was far below what we encounter in the URC. I think the latter may be the biggest factor to be honest.
cheetahs will playing their home games in Amsterdam
Josh Ioane close to a done deal according to galway bay
That would be a huge step up from any of the names mentioned here already
https://www.connachtrugby.ie/news/shane-gaughan-to-officiate-at-the-womens-u20s-six-nations/bp3073/
I remember him reffing a good few of my games when he must have been 20/21. He was very good, glad to see it working out well for him.
Was he one of the starting members of Maori AB who fought against Ireland (including Prendergast , Heff and others) at 2022? At that game, Last name of No.10 of Maori was Ioane who was a bit small player.
Was on Reddit there and the kiwis don't seem to think much of him. I guess when you are shopping at Poundland you take what you can get and hope it still works when you get it home.
The place to look for a 10 is South Africa. The Bulls have three very good ones.
Agreed, can't understand why more provinces aren't dipping into the SA talent pool.
Connacht (try from Gavin and Treacy) helped Ireland in spite of no help by IRFU at all.
What are you on about?
We need someone, Naughton looks like a good prospect and could be a long term starter but he's a long way away currently.
Yeah, Wikipedia has him at 1.76m (5ft 9 in old money) which would be small for an outhalf nowadays.
have you seen the size of the outhalf joining ulster from the hurricanes ? :D
6 women from Connacht was excellent in Palma. ( Kiripati who has not been named at first but appeared as substitute in missing player). Especially Faith Ovaiwe stood out. Connacht women will be more competitive at next inter province matches.
Josh Ioane confirmed.
Josh Loane signing confirmed
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