Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

It is hard to say about Dan…. If we got Dan and Jarrad, it at least looks like a professional set up….

At the moment we have the worst Scrum and one of the worst defences in the league, we need help in that…

I would also be worried about this :

CONNACHT RUGBY – 2024/25 DEPARTING PLAYERS:

https://all.rugby/transfers/connacht

Santiago Cordero
JJ Hanrahan
Adam McBurney
Piers O’Conor
Conor Oliver
John Porch
Andrew Smith

Who have we coming in…

Sam Gibert

Finn TREACY we would expect get a contract…

We are tight

Back row - We have 5 players named as back rows. Sean F only played 178 min last season. Josh has been playing more as a lock than a 6…

Centers - We have 4 centers with senior contracts which includes Bundee… Byron RALSTON only plays Center 23% of the time…

Out halves - Two but there could be a case made for Seán NAUGHTON coming through

Back Three - 7, seems reasonable ish… Probably might look for one more. Like the look of Aitzol KING who Leinster have released or go fishing in the 7s team again..

Seem OK for Locks (even with none in Academy), Hookers and props numberwise.

The Gilbert signing, and the fact that there hasn't been a signal that recruitment has ended, looks promising to me. It's like the Aussie signings that happened before Friend arrived.

It us unlikely that he was signed without some connection tapping him up. That could be Payne, or some other Kiwi.

Better than bottom of the table

I'd be happy with Dan. Look at Ulster now. They're worse off.

Dan and Payne sound good to me

Devine and Hawkshaw are year 3 so a decision will have to be made on them. I'd like to see Devine given a shot, he's a very talented footballer although I'd have doubts about his athleticism at the top level. Can't see Hawkshaw getting a senior deal.

Of the others you've mentioned, I think Treacy is the only candidate for early promotion. I don't see any reason to promote Barrett or Naughton early unless they have offers from elsewhere.

The other year 3s are Harry West and Shane Mallon. I'm not sure Mallon has much chance after being surpassed by Treacy, but I'm wondering if West might be looked at given we're short on natural fullbacks.

I thought the same. If he'd left a year earlier he'd be remembered much more fondly.

Very frustrating to see two of our former 13s, Sean O'Brien and Tom Farrellm, both now with Munster. Strangely there are still Connacht fans who defend both decisions.

As regards hooker and LH succession, I see a lot of potential in Lasisi who is a strong and confident carrier. Buckley's job next season should in part be about preparing him technically to take over a good part of his minutes, but Denis is 34 so still has some rugby to play.

At 2, don't know, haven't seen Victory play. for me it was a mistake to let McElroy go. They have been slow to trust De Buitlear, but that shouldn't be held against him given that conservative selections has been a hallmark of this coaching ticket. Based on the last couple of A games they are looking at Mikey Yarr, good chance of him being offered an Academy place.

Very fair comment… It is a balance between bringing in guys who will take minutes from younger coming throught. How much trust can you place on the kids? It is a balance…

IF King goes to Ulster. Well done, there is space for him up there..

The big thing: Connacht could field a full back line of home developed talent right now..

Devine, Carty, Forde, Gaving, Treacy, Mullins, Jennings

Treacy came to us out of school I believe…

Mullins was a 7s player who hadn't a minute of pro 15 Rugby when we got him…

And we still have J Devine, Naughton & Co coming through, this very encouraging.. We don't have the same in the forwards but lets be a bit positive for now..

Rob Russell deserves a look… had two high min seasons and then put in the fridge….

Did Conor Oliver ask to leave? I don't get him going, he runs up serious min and I don't think he is going into the friddge in new coaching set up.. He is a constant preformer, normally very high minutes..

Oliver was interviewed after the game on Saturday and said he was let go to enable the younger guys below break through.

I'd imagine the budget is being cut as seems to be the case with all the provinces bar Leinster and with him not being a regular starter he was one who had to ago. Not something I agree with but as he said himself thats professional rugby it can be very cut throat.

About Naughton…

He was generally at the same level as Jack Murphy at U20, very little difference…

I would be looking to get some sort of friendly tournement in the autumn international window (even if we had to buddy up with a Munster and both pick our future team, but get them as musch exposure time as possible).

URC games are becoming increasingly more important and less experimentation is done. last 2 years year in Connacht senior players were dumped in the fridge and they found it impossible to get out…

Tom Farrell was fit for the last 5 months while in Connacht. We benched him, playing him for only 2 games in URC from November to April. Then played for three game R14,R15,R16 then dropped his contract… If he wasn't good enough, why are you playing him…

Conor Oliver this time.. Hasn't started a URC game since November and now is played the last 3 games… Even in the fridge he racked up 600 min, which is more than Oisin Dowling and only a 100min away from Jansen… Before Wilkins, Conor was 1200min season guy… I know hurley Langton is putting pressure on but Oliver would still be 900+min season guy for us…

Swaps dont happen.

Transfers dont happen.

Players sign contracts, and generally complete them, and sign extensions, or sign elsewhere, or get released

Let me know if you need me to put any of that in bold for you

Yes, and all the players have a say.

This was discussed a few years ago. Could we force some players to move from Leinster to the other squads.

The answer is no.

Ben Murphy has a contract with the IRFU to play for Connacht. No one can tell him that he now needs to move to Belfast and play for Ulster. They could offer him the opportunity, but that's it

Agreed. I would say that Ben who is from Leinster would listen to offers…

If Sam Gunne was in among the swaps )with others), he can see that his playing time would be cut drastically and he is better in Connacht..

A lot of this is common sense and understand it might not always be common in Leinster players who are getting 2 games as a sub a season.

Let's stop talking about swaps, it's not going to make them happen.

I know you like this idea Ted, there are lots of ideas that I like but I am also aware that they are not going to happen. I'm able to differentiate between the two. Swaps don't happen in Irish rugby and they won't ever.

Short term contracts, loans, injury jokers these are the mechanisms that are used to deal with unusual player demands as they arise.

The reason it's done this way is because of contracts. Lets say I work for a factory in Galway and the owners come in on Monday and say hey Shineyshiney you're doing great, we have decided to send you to our bigger factory in Dublin to work from now on, pack your bags. Can you see the legal and human issues with that? Can you imagine the conversation?

It's not happening. If Leinster want Murphy or anyone else for that matter they will offer them a contract.