Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Jaysus Jim,

You are shopping in Aldi again, then giving the look that it is all Marks and Sparks…

We supplied you a full backline almost and you looking for more… We have a few coaches we could give you, you can have them with the vouchers you got for getting the others….

And to show perception over reality…

We have the second worst Scrum in URC ahead of Ulster.…

No. 1 is Benetton with Dewald Senekal as an assistant coach (forwards but not Scrum Coach)…

Wilkins was defence coach in 22/23. Fardy has been a flop unfortunately, I was quite hopeful based on all the chat about how good he was around the squad while at Leinster.

Think it confirms what our eyes also tell us. The biggest problems have been our terrible defence and woeful kicking game. I love Ioane with ball in hand but he can't kick snow off a rope.

An added problem this season is our scrum has gone backwards. Used to be very solid and reliable. Now we leak pens at the scrum.

I'd love for Carolan or someone like Felix Jones to get a shot.

Ruane seems to think because Pat Lam and Friendy worked out to a reasonable degree that a foreign coach is a panacea to all ills, conveniently forgetting Keane and Wilkins. Not that being foreign or domestic should matter, as you said we should interview a range of candidates and may the best one win the job.

Think that's a fair assessment. Pete was put into a position that he simply didn't have the experience to succeed at. We see this in all occupations. And this becomes taxing. Because the position is very much in the public eye makes it even harder. You can read just this from what Wilkins said.

'the longer I have spent in the role, the further away I have found myself from the aspects of coaching not only that I most enjoy, but also that allow me to contribute most effectively to the team.'

Now while one poster suggests there is more to life than rugby and money the reality for Pete is he has a wife and young family to support. He is looking at a situation where his capabilities are being publicly questioned and wondering what his future holds.

As such he talks about simply going back to a level he is more comfortable with managing. His worry is will potential employers be happy to overlook his most recent work experience.

I do remember a time when I went skiing for the first time. So I got the grip of the green slopes. Then took the lift to the blue slopes but they were closed so continued to the red slopes. They were terrifying. So I walked back down and went back to the green slopes. But I had at this point totally lost my initial confidence so it was like starting at square one all over again. But worse than that I now had a strong doubt in my mind.

So I understand that concept of mental capacity being damaged and employers do also. Like everyone I wish Pete well. He is a genuine person that just traveled too close to the sun. I hope he can recover and find his mojo again

root and branch clearout required TBH is my feelings and start over

and find touch and a #10

Is it strange but I am looking forward to next season now….

What ever happens we are going to have a big shake up to our coaching structure and while some parts are good our defence would be hard to be worse.

What we need is:

1. Head Coach
2. Defence Coach
3. Out Half (at least one as JJ is gone and Jack looks likely(No Announcement))
   1. Personally I would ask Jack to stay 6 months to see if the new coach wants him
4. Full Back

This is the bare minimum really…

Options for Out Half could be Calum Sheedy if Cardiff need the money (wage bill reduction)…

At least we have options now… The last few months have seemed a bit hopeless watching a fine team massively under perform and no action done to correct it…

Naughton will likely step up to the senior roster as 1 of 3 no. 10's

Ioane, Naughton and Carty or perhaps we will repurpose Hawkshaw to 10. Should Carty retire or move on I would hope that we would replace but I'd prefer not to block Naughton and spend the funds saved from Cordero and Porch on a kicking 15.

That way we can look at an NIQ 15 as Ioane has the 10 NIQ spot taken.

I totally agree but I think it's unlikely we will be able to buy more size than our competitors in the current market.

I kind of think we are on the right track in terms of fast accurate attack, quality lineout and a solid scrum. If we could add some security at the back and a kicker we would win an extra 2-4 games a season.

That's all we need for regular top 8 and the exposure in the CC we require to attract better players down the line.

A successful season next year imo is 8th or better.

With Ioane on the books it would be an iq 10 we would need to sign. Byrne or Frawley would be excellent but they will get loads of gametime with Prendergast away on irish duty. Burns looks like he is on the way out of Munster but he is not the level needed. Healy has re-signed with Edinburgh. Sheedy would be a great addition if it is possible. Hopefully Seib can attract a fullback from one of the Australian teams.

Jack Carty should be thanked for his service to Connacht and wished well in his retirement. We have to move on. Leinster aren't going to give Frawley any minutes therefore if he has any ambition at 10 he has to move to us or to Ulster. If we don't get Frawley then let's look at someone like Sheedy.

CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY SQUAD VS STORMERS 

15:00 Irish time, Saturday 19th April 2025 @ DHL Stadium  

Number/Name/Caps 

15. Piers O'Conor (15)
14. Chay Mullins (7)
13. David Hawkshaw (40)
12. Cathal Forde (48)
11. Shane Jennings (21)
10. Jack Carty (218) 
9. Ben Murphy (13)
1. Peter Dooley (50)
2. Dylan Tierney-Martin (54)
3. Finlay Bealham (216)
4. Oisin Dowling (74)
5. Darragh Murray (36)
6. Cian Prendergast (83) Captain
7. Conor Oliver (93)
8. Paul Boyle (112) 

16. Dave Heffernan (216)
17. Jordan Duggan (59)
18. Jack Aungier (84)
19. Josh Murphy (35)
20. Joe Joyce (34)
21. Matthew Devine (16)
22. Santiago Cordero (18)
23. Sean Jansen (22)

We have Lasisi at LH, we should develop him. Has been a powerful carrier.

Otherwise, we've watched Connacht being outmuscled up front, can that be mitigated through better coaching or tactics, or do we just have to recruit? If the latter, I agree with Facecuttr that we should be looking for a hooker, DTM hasn't especially impressed me over the last two years, and a monster second row.

But priority has to be a reliable kicker. I don't think JJ's departure is a tragedy, but it reduces our options further. What a mess.