Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

ElisaAtWar · 20-01-2025 05:35PM

Kudos to Jarad Butler for his impact with Wegians at the weekend

RonnieL · 20-01-2025 08:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123077399#Comment_123077399

The more I look at the draw, the more hopeful I am of an exciting run to the final - we should really be able to beat Cardiff at home. Then maybe Racing 92, followed by Lyon? It wouldn't matter who we got in a final, because it would be a day out, and we're undefeated in finals :-)

realhorrorshow · 21-01-2025 11:47AM

Loosehead

Denis Buckley (35) 2025+1

Peter Dooley (31) 2025+1

Jordan Duggan (27) 2026

Billy Bohan (19) Year 1

Tighthead

Jack Aungier (26) 2026

Finlay Bealham (33) 2026

Sam Illo (24) 2027

Temi Lasisi (24) 2025?

Fiachna Barrett (22) Year 2

Hooker

Eoin De Buitléar (23) 2025

Dave Heffernan (34) 2025

Adam McBurney (28) 2025?

Dylan Tierney-Martin (26) 2026

Matthew Victory (22) Year 2

Lock

Oisin Dowling (28) 2026

Joe Joyce (31) 2025?

Josh Murphy (30) 2025

Darragh Murray (24) 2026

Niall Murray (25) 2027

David O'Connor (30) 2025?

Back row

Paul Boyle (28) 2027

Shamus Hurley-Langton (25) 2026

Sean Jansen (26) 2027

Oisin McCormack (24) 2025?

Sean O'Brien (25) 2025?

Conor Oliver (29) 2025

Cian Prendergast (25) 2028

Max Flynn (20) Year 1

Eanna McCarthy (20) Year 1

Scrumhalf

Caolin Blade (31) 2026

Matthew Devine (23) 2026?

Ben Murphy (24) 2026

Colm Reilly (26) 2025

Tomas Farthing (20) Year 1

Outhalf

Jack Carty (33) 2025

JJ Hanrahan (33) 2025?

Josh Ioane (30) 2025

Sean Naughton (21) Year 2

Harry West (22) - Year 3

Centre

Bundee Aki (35) 2026

Cathal Forde (23) 2026

Hugh Gavin (21) 2026?

David Hawkshaw (26) 2025

Piers O'Conor (30) 2026?

John Devine (21) Year 3

Daniel Hawkshaw (23) Year 3

Back 3

Shayne Bolton (25) 2026

Santiago Cordero (31) 2025

Mack Hansen (27) 2025

Shane Jennings (24) 2026+1

Chay Mullins (23) - 2026?

John Porch (31) 2025

Byron Ralston (25) 2026

Andrew Smith (25) 2025

Shane Mallon (23) Year 3

James Nicholson (22) Year 2

Finn Treacy (21) Year 2

*ages as at 01/09/2025

realhorrorshow · 21-01-2025 11:49AM

Lots of business to be done still - Josh Murphy, Joyce, and Hansen would be my priorities.

eagle eye · 21-01-2025 12:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123078164#Comment_123078164

I'd be very happy to meet French sides because the top 14 is far more important to them than the challenge cup.

lavrenti · 21-01-2025 09:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123079917#Comment_123079917

Dave Heffernan and David Hawkshaw too: plus getting Ciaran Frawley or Ben Healy in as a 10.

connachta · 21-01-2025 11:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123082333#Comment_123082333

or Brett Connon if Newacastle are relegated

Robbo · 22-01-2025 10:05AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123082333#Comment_123082333

How long in the de-contamination showers until the Healy becomes IQ again?

b.gud · 22-01-2025 11:28AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123083403#Comment_123083403

According to the below link his last outing for Scotland was July last, but he also played for Scotland A against Chile. Assuming he gets no other caps in the next 3 years then he would be eligible in 2027 either August or December, which month depends on whether or not the A game is a fully capped game

Having said that I think it would be risky on the part of the IRFU to bring him back because Scotland could run into a run of injuries and call him up at any stage and your screwed then. If the IRFU were to push any exiled OH towards Connacht you'd imagine it would be Harry Byrne as eligibility wouldn't be an issue

https://all.rugby/player/ben-healy

b.gud · 22-01-2025 12:10PM

Connacht host Cardiff at 8pm on April 5th.

AccidentallyOnside · 22-01-2025 12:17PM

Anyone heard any concrete rumours about players Connacht might be after?

Ulster already announced an excellent signing and Munster being linked to a lot of promising players..... not a dicky bird about us.

realhorrorshow · 22-01-2025 02:28PM

Would like to see a depth chart of something like the below next season:

Loosehead: A.N. Other, Dooley, Buckley, Duggan; Bohan

Hooker: Heffernan, A.N. Other, Tierney-Martin, de Buitlear; Victory

Tighthead: Bealham, Aungier, Illo, Barrett; Watchorn

Lock: J Murphy, Joyce, D Murray, N Murray, Dowling, O'Connor/Dunne/A.N. Other; Ronan

Back row: Prendergast, Hurley-Langton, Boyle, A.N. Other, Jansen, O'Brien, Oliver; Flynn, McCarthy, Power

Scrumhalf: Murphy, Blade, M Devine; Farthing

Outhalf: Byrne/Frawley/A.N. Other, Carty; Naughton

Centre: Aki, Gavin, Forde, David Hawkshaw, J Devine; Walsh

Back 3: Hansen, O'Conor, Bolton, Jennings, Ralston, Mullins, Smith; Nicholson, Treacy, Farrell

42 senior players, down from 44 currently. Barrett and John Devine on dev contracts.

Zeugnis · 22-01-2025 02:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123084593#Comment_123084593

Did you overlook Lasisi or exclude him intentionally?

realhorrorshow · 22-01-2025 03:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123084632#Comment_123084632

Excluded as we don't seem to have a plan for him and I think it's time to accelerate Barrett's development, but I'd be happy to see him stay (preferably as a loosehead).

b.gud · 22-01-2025 06:05PM

Due to weather conditions the game against Warriors has been moved to Sunday 26th at 3:30

Redo91 · 22-01-2025 06:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123085655#Comment_123085655

Just saw that. Travelling over but flight home is at 6pm from Edinburgh so missing the game now. Gutted. No issue with the game being rescheduled but what was preventing them from fixing it for Saturday or Sunday early afternoon. Must have known there would be a decent travelling support going over and most would be going back the Sunday.

ElisaAtWar · 22-01-2025 07:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123085655#Comment_123085655

Was just about to post it was unlikely to go ahead. Thanks

Lost Ormond · 22-01-2025 07:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123085842#Comment_123085842

Maybe Want to move to best opportunity to be played and to still allow game be shown on tv

Redo91 · 22-01-2025 07:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123085968#Comment_123085968

Yes probably something to do with TV alright but still don’t see what would have stopped them televising an early Sunday kick off. Would hardly be clashing with anything.

Wegians89 · 22-01-2025 10:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123084593#Comment_123084593

I think Carty is gone. Out of all the tens here, I’d say JJ would be the most likely to stay around.

The master of none podcast have also said that Cordero would be happy to take a pay cut to stay for another contract. He’s starting to pick up a bit of form, personally wouldn’t be against it.

realhorrorshow · 22-01-2025 10:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123086751#Comment_123086751

You could be right on the 10s. I would prefer Carty as I think he's a better player with a better injury profile, and homegrown also. On the other hand JJ provides more of the steadying influence you'd want from an older 10, and is already coaching several of our academy backs for Corinthians. If either is to stay I would only want it to be as backup and a mentor to Naughton, who I think is a proper prospect.

I assumed we wouldn't be able to renew Cordero but if the finances were right I wouldn't be opposed. He hasn't set the world alight but plays a lot of minutes and and is improving, seems like a good guy to have around the squad too.

eagle eye · 22-01-2025 10:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123086751#Comment_123086751

I'd like to see Cordero back too.

As regards the out-half I'd prefer Carty as a ten minute man.

crinkley · 23-01-2025 09:09PM

any confirmation if the rescheduled game is going to be on tv? tG4 appear to be showing the Galway game

Lost Ormond · 23-01-2025 10:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123091000#Comment_123091000

It's on tg4 player and app only

realhorrorshow · 24-01-2025 01:21PM

CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS GLASGOW WARRIORS
15:30, Sunday 26th January 2025 @ Scotstoun Stadium

Number/Name/Caps

15. Santiago Cordero (15)
14. Chay Mullins (4)
13. Piers O’Conor (11)
12. David Hakwshaw (39)
11. Byron Ralston (35)
10. JJ Hanrahan (20)
9. Caolin Blade (203)
1. Peter Dooley (46)
2. Dave Heffernan (209)
3. Jack Aungier (77)
4. David O'Connor (5)
5. Joe Joyce (29)
6. Josh Murphy (28)
7. Shamus Hurley-Langton (48)
8. Sean Jansen (16)

16. Dylan Tierney-Martin (47)
17. Jordan Duggan (55)
18. Sam Illo (26)
19. Oisin Dowling (68)
20. Paul Boyle (105)
21. Matthew Devine (9)
22. Jack Carty (217)
23. Finn Treacy*