Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

CowboyTed · 09-04-2025 01:38AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123336227#Comment_123336227

I like the idea of Callum Sheedy…. If Cardiff need to reduce their wage bill we could jump in…. It is hard on Cardiff but if needs be we might as well have him… The guy is from Cardiff BTW…

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/15189/13344530/cardiff-rugby-wru-to-appoint-administrators-after-club-serves-formal-notification-they-intend-to-enter-administration

eagle eye · 09-04-2025 09:49AM

Ioane has to start and no Hanrahan on the bench. Forde should be on the bench to cover multiple spots, including ten if required.

We want Ioane on for the full game. He'll cause havoc all game long and he could be even more successful late in games when teams start to tire.

b.gud · 09-04-2025 10:02AM

Yeah I think this is a game for a 6-2 bench so Forde would be a good call as he could cover centre of our half

b.gud · 09-04-2025 10:03AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123338031#Comment_123338031

I agree with you that Duggan has played well the last few weeks and I was just thinking with Porter likely gone on the Lions tour and Healy retiring he might have a shot of touring this summer

kita99 · 09-04-2025 01:01PM

Connacht need the pack weights (920kg+) and momentum (quantity of physical activity) to win. Maybe Racing will like kicking game for the energy-saving. So Connacht should move the ball quickly and run.They need piecing tackling too.

b.gud · 09-04-2025 03:03PM

Millard confirmed as coming back to Connacht in the new role of General manager of performance. I wonder what this means for Tim Allnut, not sure how both will have viable positions going forward

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/news/billy-millard-appointed-general-manager-of-performance/bp3378/

ShineyShiney · 09-04-2025 03:10PM

A good appointment I think.

RonnieL · 09-04-2025 03:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123341168#Comment_123341168

I always assumed Tim's role was more around logistics?

09-04-2025 04:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123341168#Comment_123341168

I don't see it affecting Allnutt's role in any way. The last thing we want Millard doing is getting stuck in the day to day minutiae of managing the senior mens team's travel and other logistics.

b.gud · 09-04-2025 04:29PM

Fair enough I probably wasn't too aware of what his actual role was but based on the responses it definitely sounds like there is room for both

2025Connacht · 09-04-2025 04:33PM

The situation with Wilkins is the elephant in the room. Sick Leave is one no one is going to touch with GDPR etc. in terms of asking hard questions.

The appointment of Millard is good news in theory anyway and I understand his role is broad but there does seem to be a lot of window dressing and playing with words at the moment. We need to nail down who is responsible for what and what the chain of command is. I keep seeing Seib being referred to as a senior coach. Senior in what way? Who is feeding into him etc. I know Connacht will say it's a collaborative approach at coaching level and that's fine you have your units and specialists within a coaching team but ultimately to bring it back to basics who is the person the squad are ultimately responsible to?

b.gud · 09-04-2025 04:45PM

If I remember correctly Wilkins was promoted to senior coach in Friend's last year when he moved to DOR. I wonder will there be a similar dynamic with Seib, ie senior coach for a year with a view to him replacing Wilkins at the end of his contract

2025Connacht · 09-04-2025 05:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123341466#Comment_123341466

Id imagine that may be the case but to some extent that was a clean enough situation as it was obvious Friend was off (of his own volition) and it gave Wilkins a clean run at it with Friend there to smooth the transition.

If Wilkins stays for the last year of his contract he will clearly be unhappy with the situation no matter how anyone gets to spin it. It's impossible to see how next season could be a success. It wouldn't be fair on Wilkins to be undermined to such an extent and it would make life very difficult for Seib to put his stamp on things when the former boss who knows he's out the door at the end of the season is there in the background and it would be utter confusion for the players.

Strand1970 · 09-04-2025 06:03PM

Didn't Realise Pearse stadium had a capacity of 26k. Would be interesting to see a game there.

CuriousCucumber · 09-04-2025 08:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123341689#Comment_123341689

Just have to win this weekend first

09-04-2025 08:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123341689#Comment_123341689

Approx 8k seated in the main stand and 18k standing in the three uncovered terraces. The Connacht Senior GAA Championship final is the same weekend. The location isn't announced yet but it must be McHale Park if we're considering a switch to Pearse Stadium.

If we beat Racing 92 and play Lyon we definitely need to move the game.

Hey_Ho_Lets_Go_3 · 10-04-2025 04:21PM

Connacht Eagles:

15. Cian Brady - u20

14. Josh O'Connor *

13. David Hawkshaw (C)

12. Evan Moynihan * - u20

11. Chay Mullins

10. Sean Naughton

9. Andrew Doyle * - u20

1. Temi Lasisi

2. Matthew Victory

3. Fiachna Barrett

4. David Walsh * - u20

5. Niall Murray

6. Charlie Keane - u19

7. Oisín McCormack

8. Max Flynn

16. Mikey Yarr * - u20

17. Billy Bohan - u20

18. Thomas Connolly *

19. Eanna McCarthy - u20

20. Will McDonald *

21. Chris O'Connor * - u20

22. Jayden Beckett *

23. John Devine''

ElisaAtWar · 10-04-2025 06:05PM

You would have to think that Racing and Connacht have to go full out in the Challenge Cup and their individual competitions as both are in a precarious place. The money from champions cup rugby insist they must both play their 'strongest' teams until season end

AccidentallyOnside · 10-04-2025 06:43PM

Don't racing have Perpignan the week after which is the proverbial relegation 6 pointer so I don't think they'll come in fully loaded but would expect a strong team.

Am I going crazy or was the team announced earlier? I'm sure I read it but can't find it anywhere

SqueakyKneecap · 10-04-2025 08:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123344712#Comment_123344712

You might be thinking of the Leinster team being announced

Wegians89 · 10-04-2025 10:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123344342#Comment_123344342

What match is this?

Zeugnis · 11-04-2025 07:26AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123345556#Comment_123345556

Eagles against Leinster A this afternoon in Donnybrook.

KBurke85 · 11-04-2025 09:25AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123341519#Comment_123341519

The players are professionals, once they're getting good quality coaching I don't think they will be to worried about which coach has what title.

Coaches move and change roles within clubs it's all part of the game and something the players are well used to.

I'm sure Wilkins is well aware of the appointments that were being made

2025Connacht · 11-04-2025 10:51AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123346198#Comment_123346198

Fair enough if you think this will work. For me it's a recipe for disaster. Sport is different to a normal workplace but the fundamental rules of needing some kind of hierarchy still apply.

I wouldn't be so sure Wilkins knew what was happening or if he did id imagine the decision makers were being light on detail as to what their plan was. I definitely don't think he's happy with how the situation has played out. If I was him I wouldn't be.

Coaches changing roles is natural but that's within a setup where at least there is the appearance of continuity.

I don't know how this can be dressed up as anything other than a phasing out operation for Wilkins. It's clear they recognise he isn't up to the main job and now they're trying to phase him out. Even the wording on some press releases about him being contracted to the IRFU until 2026 was in a thinly veiled way suggesting that they want rid but they don't have money and their hands were tied. That's not Wilkins fault he should never have been given the job let alone on a 3 year deal but if I was him I don't know how motivated I'd be going back in for pre season knowing id essentially been demoted (or at best undermined) and that there was no plans to keep me on past that season.

Players are professionals but like in every job there's different levels of professionalism and some will handle this chaos better than others. When everyone knows for an extended period of time that someone is on the way out the door cracks start to appear in my experience.

As well as that it's already clear that the level of coaching at Connacht at senior level is sub par and that only looks to be weakened further next year.

If I was a player considering my options I wouldn't touch Connacht at the moment until I saw some clear plan as to what's going on in there.

FACECUTTR · 11-04-2025 01:00PM

CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY SQUAD VS RACING 92

20:00, Saturday 12th April 2025 @ Dexcom Stadium

Number/Name/Caps

15. Mack Hansen (40)
14. Shane Jennings (20)
13. Hugh Gavin (7)
12. Bundee Aki (148)
11. Finn Treacy (5)
10. JJ Hanrahan (26)
9. Ben Murphy (12)
1. Denis Buckley (262)
2. Dave Heffernan (215)
3. Finlay Bealham (215)
4. Josh Murphy (34)
5. Joe Joyce (33)
6. Cian Prendergast (82) Captain
7. Shamus Hurley-Langton (54)
8. Sean Jansen (21)

16. Dylan Tierney-Martin (53)
17. Peter Dooley (49)
18. Jack Aungier (83)
19. Oisín Dowling (73)
20. Paul Boyle (111)
21. Matthew Devine (15)
22. Josh Ioane (13)
23. Cathal Forde (47)

MarinersBlues · 11-04-2025 01:07PM

Farrell on the bench?

MarinersBlues · 11-04-2025 01:09PM

Happy enough with the Connacht selection. The bench looks smart.

Don't know enough about Racing to have an opinion on their team

realhorrorshow · 11-04-2025 01:17PM

Brave selection, love the 9/21 combo. Would have been very easy to plump for Blade.

SqueakyKneecap · 11-04-2025 01:21PM

I know they said that we nearly have a clean bill of health during the week so a little surprised Bolton missed out but happy to see Jennings.

A win would be huge for this team.

Zeugnis · 11-04-2025 01:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123346880#Comment_123346880

I think that looks close to our best 23 right now. We could talk about what the depth chart is at second row, and argue the toss over Bolton/Jennings/Treacy on the wings, but I'm looking forward to seeing these guys in action tomorrow.

Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

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