Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

eagle eye · 19-01-2025 06:55AM

I have to say I think it's ridiculous that you lose in one competition and get into another one.

There's loads of teams that played better in the Champions cup and they aren't getting any silverware, why should the worse teams have a shot to win something else.

Ben Bailey · 19-01-2025 03:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123072100#Comment_123072100

There's certainly an argument that fewer teams should 'qualify' for a round of 16 in the Champions Cup. Maybe pool winners qualify and runners up have home advantage against third place teams.

Teams who finish last in their Champions Cup groups should not progress to the Challenge Cup.

Podge_irl · 19-01-2025 03:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123073114#Comment_123073114

They don't, 5th place teams do.

Ben Bailey · 19-01-2025 03:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123073139#Comment_123073139

Yes, my bad.

My badly worded response in support of @Eagle Eye

ElisaAtWar · 19-01-2025 05:30PM

Paul Boyle playing some rugby this weather

Strand1970 · 19-01-2025 07:22PM

Am a correct that Connacht will play Cardiff in last 16?

MarinersBlues · 19-01-2025 07:25PM

Yep, and possibly Perpignan in the QF

lavrenti · 19-01-2025 08:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123074043#Comment_123074043

Perpignan or Racing 92 in the q/f if we beat Cardiff. Semi would see us face one of Ospreys, Scarlets, Lyon, or Saffer Sharks.

Strand1970 · 19-01-2025 08:36PM

The last 16 game will be in sportsground as the munster game is the previous week. If Connacht were to wn the last 16 game and they got racing then I could see that going on the road

Utopia Parkway · 19-01-2025 08:54PM

Connacht probably on the easier side of the draw with Bath, Bulls, Montpellier, Bayonne & Lions all on the opposite side.

Cardiff followed by Racing or Perpignan at home still a tricky path just to get to a semi-final.

Ben Bailey · 19-01-2025 11:19PM

From GT in the Irish Times this evening

'Connacht secured top seeding in the Challenge Cup with their 28-19 bonus-point win in Cardiff on Friday night, so earning potential home ties all the way through to the final. They will host Gloucester in the Round of 16, with the possibility of a quarter-final at home to Perpignan or Bath.

After discussions with broadcasters and teams, the organisers, EPCR, will confirm dates and kick-off times on Wednesday.'

testtech05 · 19-01-2025 11:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123074839#Comment_123074839

The branch have the draw on their social media and it is as per Utopia Parkways post above. GT usually on the ball with Connacht related stuff

Cosmo Kramer · 19-01-2025 11:55PM

Would be very interesting to see where a quarter final against Racing 92 would be played if it came about. Would be entertaining if it was Castlebar again, I think some sections of the support would have a coronary if they were asked to travel outside Galway for the second time in two months. Money talks though.

Ciaran · 20-01-2025 11:12AM

The quarter finals are the week after the last 16, not a lot of time to sell a lot of tickets.

Ben Bailey · 20-01-2025 12:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123074942#Comment_123074942

Yep, think the draw as posted on Connacht app is correct, and it's a (yet another) GT miss.

CowboyTed · 20-01-2025 05:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123071601#Comment_123071601

With a bit of luck they are in hard contention in the English premiership at the end of the season and could have to concentrate other places…

Real fear could be Sharks and Bulls..

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).

Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

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