Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

SaoPaulo41 · 01-03-2025 10:21PM

Very good win for you guys.Really enjoyable game.

Gaztric · 01-03-2025 10:23PM

Will probably be shot down, but Devine should be starting every game.

Shelflife · 01-03-2025 10:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123223531#Comment_123223531

I don’t think there’s any obligation on the ref to do so.

Some do, but it’s up to the player to kick within 60secs.

AccidentallyOnside · 01-03-2025 11:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123223569#Comment_123223569

Id agree with that, he made a very positive difference when he came on, took some really great options. JJ was good too. Ioane is an absolute baller, he's delightful with ball in hand and thought he fronted up really well in defence too. If he could find a kicking game we'd have found our starting 10. That said Albernotz was the best player on the pitch, did everything well but his kicking was different level, didn't put up on kick that was loose.

The league table is a joke at the moment and don't even know where to start with trying to predict it......but can't help but thinking than we don't make top 8, but should be exciting!

kita99 · 02-03-2025 03:52AM

There were too many Ill-Disciprlns and handling errors. How long Buckley has played rugby? that's one of the most stupid penalties by him. On the other hand, I couldn't understand Prendergast' one in defending maul at the finishing stage. And there was uncredible mis-selection at LO no.5. Wilkins used D. O'Connor as the starter although there was J.Murphy . If Connacht lost this must-win match, how he explain about it. Anyway next two games will be must-win too. Connacht are not forgived any mis -selections.

ShineyShiney · 02-03-2025 11:16AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123222418#Comment_123222418

Don't be coming at me with facts, stats and the truth. This is no place for that kind of thing.

Good win last night, I thought Treviso were pretty good but we found a way. Thought ioane and Bolton were very good and a good first start from Tracey.

eagle eye · 02-03-2025 12:05PM

If we beat, and pick up a bonus point, against Edinburgh and Cardiff we have a real chance of making the top 8. We'd need away wins against Ospreys and Zebre. There's nothing impossible about that.

realhorrorshow · 02-03-2025 12:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224549#Comment_123224549

The Cardiff game is a Challenge Cup tie.

eagle eye · 02-03-2025 12:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224566#Comment_123224566

I just remembered we played them twice close together. I was thinking we had to meet them again in the challenge cup and also in the URC.

02-03-2025 02:38PM

We definitely did what we needed last night, but other teams did too. The Lions and Stormers have good run ins and we play them both away in SA. Other teams picked up points they'd be very happy with too.

ElisaAtWar · 02-03-2025 08:27PM

thought Devine did well ,😂

Ben Bailey · 02-03-2025 08:42PM

Really enjoyed the game last night. Great atmosphere & great to meet up with some of the loyal Benneton supporters. Caolan went well, but Devine seems to direct his forwards better. Coming from behind to win is always sweeter. Loved big Sam's smile as the team applauded the support afterwards.

Wegians89 · 02-03-2025 09:27PM

Some of those young lads would give you plenty of reason to be optimistic. Tracy and Devine look like they could start big games for the rest of the season. The Forde and Gavin partnership looked much better in their second game together too. Bolton will get capped in the summer.

FACECUTTR · 03-03-2025 03:26PM

Mack Hansen gets a 2yr central contract. Great for him and Connacht.

b.gud · 03-03-2025 05:16PM

Darragh Murray called up to the Irish squad, a total of 10 Irish players have been called up to the squad during this 6 nations

Zeugnis · 03-03-2025 05:17PM

Darragh Murray called up to the Irish squad. IIRC that makes ten of ours in Ireland camp at some point during the 6N.

Strand1970 · 03-03-2025 07:59PM

Central contracts are a crazy reflection on Irish rugby at the moment. It's all players that went to school in Leinstet or players originally from NZ and Australia. No players who went to secondary school from the other 3 provinces.

niallm77 · 03-03-2025 08:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123228494#Comment_123228494

That's now, it wasn't always that way and I doubt it will always as it is now

ElisaAtWar · 03-03-2025 08:08PM

9 points between 4th and 15th in URC. Then 7 points from 4th to third 10 points to second from 4th and 23 points to first from 4th. Just saying outside the top 3 this is a competitive league and most games are impossible to forsee. And that is how sport should be

Lost Ormond · 03-03-2025 08:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123228494#Comment_123228494

Henshaw has onw and for rugny purposes was in a connacht school but overall its a still not a good trend to have so few from across the country..

Strand1970 · 03-03-2025 09:42PM

Apologies I forgot about Henshaw

Utopia Parkway · 04-03-2025 03:23PM

So by the sounds of it for next season on the coaching front. Sexton has gone to Ulster. Fardy thought to be leaving as well. Muldoon is staying.

Rod Seib is joining in some capacity. Attack coach? Head coach? DOR?

Wilkins is staying in some capacity but rumoured to be coaching the defence in place of Fardy.

b.gud · 04-03-2025 04:06PM

Seib confirmed as Senior Assistant Coach, with responsibility for team attack, no mention of how long the contract is

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/news/rod-seib-appointed-senior-assistant-coach/bp3317/

eagle eye · 04-03-2025 06:47PM

I was just thinking about the future and if you look at the underage Ireland teams we have plenty of players on them.

We have six with four regular starters on the under 18 team, Leinster have five starters, I think it's two from both Ulster and Munster and a couple from IQ rugby.

We have young players coming through all the time now and they need to be introduced to senior rugby once they hit 21. They don't need to get much time at that age but they do need some experience.

We are the second best academy in the country right now behind Leinster and with a lot less players to pick from.

If we integrate our young players into the senior squad the future is very bright I think.

All our local clubs are doing a stellar job.

04-03-2025 11:17PM

Hugely positive player work across the province.

Sometimes people think of the academy as if it's been there forever, but it doesn't take a very long memory to remember when there was little or no formal player development structures in Connacht. The branch have done a brilliant job of building a strong academy from nothing starting with a tiny budget and some enthusiastic development officers who wanted to work in rugby.

The coaching team have also been able to start making some more agressive decisions about making space for them in the senior squad. They get quite a bit of negativity about about how they've treated some players around the end of their time here but they've done a reasonably decent job of clearing a path for young players who put their hand up.

Hey_Ho_Lets_Go_3 · 05-03-2025 01:01PM

It's rumoured Munster are signing a tighthead from Connacht too.

FACECUTTR · 05-03-2025 01:21PM

Lasisi hasn't had many opportunities so could be him. Would be disappointed if it was Illo and doubt its Aungier or Bealham.

Hey_Ho_Lets_Go_3 · 05-03-2025 01:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123233697#Comment_123233697

Barrett or Illo.

RonnieL · 05-03-2025 01:40PM

Hopefully not Illo - he's been showing some serious promise, not least when he came on the last day

05-03-2025 02:14PM

Bealham is out of contract in the Summer. It wouldn't surprise me if Munster were interested but I don't see why he'd leave.

Aungier signed a two year deal last year.

Illo signed a two year deal in January.

Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

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