Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Zeugnis · 30-09-2024 10:28PM

Great win on Saturday, I really appreciated the mentality they brought to the second half.

Forde was outstanding, and Hawkshaw and Jennings were very very good in the backs.

Unfortunate that Sam Illo and SHL appear to have been injured, seriousness unclear. But with Aungier away in SA, we will be stuck for the next two weeks if Sam is out, probably requiring either Lasisi or Barrett. Any other options, or thoughts on TH?

Should say that I liked the physicality that Illo brought to the Sharks game, definitely seems to have developed in the right direction.

kita99 · 02-10-2024 01:42AM

According to squad update, Bolton and Joyce has come back to training. But SHL, Illo, Duggan and Ioane are out. Who will be the substitude for Ioane? Carty? Forde?

realhorrorshow · 02-10-2024 09:00AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122674732#Comment_122674732

Down to 4 available senior props this weekend. You'd imagine Carty will come in at 10 but you never know.

RonnieL · 02-10-2024 11:00AM

Jack at 10, with Bundee starting at 12 and Cathal on the bench? Might be seen as harsh on Forde, but he'll play a lot for us this year so no harm using Bundee when we can.

Illo's injury is probably the most disappointing from the weekend - he's been showing some real promise. Fingers crossed it's not too serious.

serfboard · 02-10-2024 02:15PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122675492#Comment_122675492

Wilkins seemed to indicate as much yesterday: In Jack Carty we've got such an experienced and improving campaigner and also someone who's been trending unbelievably well for the last few weeks in the response to Josh Ioane’s form. Jack's still incredibly important for us. He will be this season, and, you know, Josh not being available provides a good opportunity for Jack as much as anyone.

He also paid this tribute to Cathal Forde: In terms of how he controlled the game, I think the run-kick decision making, the clarity he gave to the players around him. It's as much looking at what the shapes are like around him in attack, and is he managing to get the rest of the team functioning, as it is about what he does himself with the ball. I was really pleased, and I think that he played a hugely important part in in the way we were able to turn the game around.

ElisaAtWar · 02-10-2024 06:42PM

'trending unbelievably well' ? clearly doing his social media work in the interim.

Wilkins is an idiot. and suggesting Carty for the weekend when every point matters for a team like Connacht just boggles the mind

CuriousCucumber · 03-10-2024 09:24AM

The idea of Carty starting a game for Connacht now fills me with dread.

I hope he proves me wrong, but we've 10 years of his inconsistent play to reference.

Let Forde start with Hawkshaw backing him up

kita99 · 03-10-2024 09:54AM

Conncht needConncht need 4 try win at the next match. I think that they shouldn't stick to the rotation.

Lost Ormond · 03-10-2024 10:51AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122679110#Comment_122679110

What Rotation are you referring to exactly?

KBurke85 · 03-10-2024 11:14AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122679294#Comment_122679294

I assume he's referring to last season when we'd make loads of changes for each game.

KBurke85 · 03-10-2024 11:57AM

CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS SCARLETS
19:35, Friday 4th October 2024 @ Parc y Scarlets

Number/Name/Caps (* denotes uncapped)

15. Santiago Cordero (4)
14. Mack Hansen (34)
13. Cathal Forde (33)
12. Bundee Aki (138)
11. Piers O'Conor (2)
10. Jack Carty (212)
9. Ben Murphy (2)
1. Denis Buckley (250)
2. Dave Heffernan (20)
3. Finlay Bealham (205)
4. Niall Murray (76)
5. David O’Connor (1)
6. Josh Murphy (20)
7. Conor Oliver (87)
8. Cian Prendergast (70) (C)

16. Dylan Tierney-Martin (38)
17. Peter Dooley (39)
18. Temi Lasisi *
19. Oisín Dowling (61)
20. Paul Boyle (94)
21. Caolin Blade (194)
22. David Hawkshaw (32)
23. Shayne Bolton (14)

macslash · 03-10-2024 11:57AM

Carty back. Not surprised Forde kept in the centre but not sure about #13.

Interested to see how Lasisi goes when introduced and it's great to have Bundee back. Hopefully we get a good few matches from him before November.

Interesting that O'Conor is kept on the wing. A little worried for Porchy that we haven't seen him yet this year. Good to see Shayne on the bench though. Said hello to him on Saturday, lovely lad.

FACECUTTR · 03-10-2024 11:57AM

CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS SCARLETS
19:35, Friday 4th October 2024 @ Parc y Scarlets

Number/Name/Caps (* denotes uncapped)

15. Santiago Cordero (4)
14. Mack Hansen (34)
13. Cathal Forde (33)
12. Bundee Aki (138)
11. Piers O'Conor (2)
10. Jack Carty (212)
9. Ben Murphy (2)
1. Denis Buckley (250)
2. Dave Heffernan (20)
3. Finlay Bealham (205)
4. Niall Murray (76)
5. David O’Connor (1)
6. Josh Murphy (20)
7. Conor Oliver (87)
8. Cian Prendergast (70) (C)

16. Dylan Tierney-Martin (38)
17. Peter Dooley (39)
18. Temi Lasisi *
19. Oisín Dowling (61)
20. Paul Boyle (94)
21. Caolin Blade (194)
22. David Hawkshaw (32)
23. Shayne Bolton (14)

serfboard · 03-10-2024 05:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122679546#Comment_122679546

I hope Cathal goes well at 13 - I can't remember if he's played there before and if so, how he did?

I also hope he takes the penalties and conversions. If so, he could take a huge amount of pressure off Jack who could then do well in the playmaker role.

Note that we are now three matches in and Blade hasn't started yet, with Devine due to return from EI. I wonder if this season will mark his transition to substitute appearances only? And while Farrell has included him in Ireland panels previously, you'd have to wonder if not starting will hurt his chances this year. IMO he needed a bit of competition at scrum-half, and he certainly has it now.

RonnieL · 03-10-2024 06:52PM

Regarding Blade, I think he is excellent generally, but one thing that Ben Murphy has been doing noticeably better than him is kicking to touch - something we've struggled with for a while (Marmion was also average in that regard). For that reason alone, I'd be sticking with Murphy as our starting 9.

Wegians89 · 03-10-2024 09:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122681008#Comment_122681008

I personally think Devine is going to come back and put real pressure on Murphy. Think Blade will sip down to 3rd choice by the end of the year

SqueakyKneecap · 03-10-2024 10:12PM

I genuinely think tomorrow night will define Carty's season tbh. There's pressure on him again with Ioane, Forde showed he's probably the best outhalf in the squad despite being seen as a centre and Hanrahan would likely be back in the new year. While he's been a fantastic servant there's no way on Earth that the Carty of the past couple of seasons deserves a new contract unfortunately.

ionadnapóca · 04-10-2024 11:18AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122681786#Comment_122681786

Competition brings the best out of him. Ioane looks excellent but will be gone next season.

Carty has just turned 32. I don't recall him ever having serious hamstring, knee, ankle or shoulder injury. Ruptured his spleen alright…but fingers crossed another couple of seasons in him at least. Last season was not a good from him.

So yes needs to play allot better this season when given the chance. He's not going to get many.

04-10-2024 11:21AM

I think from hearing an interview with Jack Carty after the Leinster game last season he's accepting that this will be his last season. Whether that's because he doesn't back himself to get a new contract and would look elsewhere or whether his body is telling him he's had enough I don't know.

He's given a lot of good years to Connacht and hopefully he can contribute this season but unfortunately he's been on the downward trajectory for a number of years now and we need a long term solution at 10. I feel bad for Carty because there seemed to be no real plan for the position behind the scenes only to put all the eggs in one basket and it's cost us.

Scarlets collapsed from 15-0 after 10 mins to a 15-24 defeat at home to Cardiff. This is a test of the professionalism of the squad really. If we mean business we need to win a and ideally we need to win without it becoming a basketball game.

realhorrorshow · 04-10-2024 11:43AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122683045#Comment_122683045

I don't agree with the idea that Jack has been on a consistent downward trajectory over the past few years. In my opinion he had a very decent 22/23 campaign, and led us to the URC semis while playing 80 minutes week in, week out.

He was bad last season though, which I find symptomatic of what I believe is a pattern of poor form when faced with competition for the jersey. I'm not sure if it's because he needs very consistent match time to maintain form, or if he struggles with the pressure brought by competition. Either way, the conventional wisdom that competition gets the best out of players does not seem to hold true for him.

There are no excuses available tonight. We are playing against a weak team, our attack has been firing thus far, and he's surrounded by loads of talent in a reasonably settled team. He needs to perform. He also has the best kicking scrum half I've ever seen at Connacht inside him to relieve some of the burden on exits.

serfboard · 04-10-2024 01:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122683045#Comment_122683045

While Jack will not get another three year contract (or even a two year one) I wouldn't rule out him getting a one-year extension to be used as cover, and for that to be rolled over depnding on whether we get/decide on a permanent 10.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122683135#Comment_122683135

the conventional wisdom that competition gets the best out of players does not seem to hold true for him.

I'd agree with this. But if Jack was on a one year extension, the idea that his career is coming to an end and the concept of relishing whatever opportunities you get to play towards the end of the career, might free him up to do some of the great stuff that he's done for us over the years. One aspect of Jack's play that never gets talked about, for instance, is his defensive work, which, IMO is always good.

FACECUTTR · 04-10-2024 01:25PM

I think Murphy is also much faster at getting the ball away from the ruck. The attack is much more fluid. Blade tends to mess around with the ball too much and slows momentum.

serfboard · 04-10-2024 06:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122683619#Comment_122683619

While I'd guess that some of the time Blade is trying to induce a penalty from the opposition, he does it far too much, IMO.

ElisaAtWar · 04-10-2024 06:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122684877#Comment_122684877

We have all been there on that one. We also have seen Jack miss touch just once too much. And we no longer see Denis turning a ball over or Finlay offloading. These things matter. It's important. These days they are nothing other than bog standard

FtD v2 · 04-10-2024 07:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122684957#Comment_122684957

Those are 4 quality players who’ve given a huge amount to Connacht over their careers, and tbqh deserve a bit more respect than how you’re speaking about them here.

It’s one thing criticising guys after they make some errors or mistakes, but the pre-criticism is surely a bit much even for Boards.

ElisaAtWar · 04-10-2024 07:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122685061#Comment_122685061

pre criticism is important. post criticism is I told you so which is much easier

ElisaAtWar · 04-10-2024 07:12PM

Lets see how this plays out

FtD v2 · 04-10-2024 07:40PM

Poor positioning from Van der Westhuizen there missing two obvious Scarlet penalties on their own try line.

FtD v2 · 04-10-2024 07:48PM

If ever there is such thing as an “own try” in rugby that’s pretty much it right there.

realhorrorshow · 04-10-2024 07:48PM

Jack has started well.

Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

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