Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Not endorsing it as a realistic or anything but trades happen just like that in the American sports all time, one phone call and its up sticks for the player.

Fun to speculate on any way, Ben Murphy for Scott Penny, who says no?

Thank goodness we are not like American sports.

next years team! 15 Gilbert 14 Jennings 13. Gavin 12. Forde 10. 11. Treacy 10. Naughton. 9 Devine 8.Jansen 7.Boyle 6.Prendergast 5.Darragh Murray 4.Josh Murphy 3.Augnier 2. Tierney Martin 1. Illo, should be looking to build with this team for the future!

No great to hear Hansen call out leaks in the Conn organisation on the Koko podcast. There were a few comments in the pier's O'Connor move (moving to a strong squad, looking forward to settling into a "real rugby city") and whilst we know a lot of that is the sort of bumf you put out there for the fans of the new team it seems to be a pretty unhappy camp at the moment.

What did Hansen say?

"I’m really excited to get started. Joining a club like Edinburgh is a big opportunity: it’s a new environment and a strong squad. It’s a great challenge and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in, meeting the group, and doing my bit to help the team push on and win some silverware.

It’s a fresh start and a move I’m looking forward to. Moving to a new city brings new opportunities, on and off the pitch. I can’t wait to get up there, get settled and get to work. Edinburgh’s a proper rugby city with a strong identity and I’m keen to make it home.

Edinburgh are tough to play against, always physical, always competitive, and that’s something I want to be part of.

The group’s been playing some really good rugby, and I’m looking forward to adding to that. I’m excited to join up in the summer and push for a strong, successful season with the team.”

The above is completely standard new signing fluff, nothing unusual whatsoever.

Would be curious to hear what Hansen said but I find that brand of Aussie "banter" utterly insufferable so I don't think I'll be able to sit through it.

"I don't know because I got into the media team here as well, I just woke up and it was all these things saying I'm out for five weeks and my tour hopes are gone, Lions and Ireland.

So I've no idea, but there's a weird thing around Connacht at the moment where news seems to get out to this one fella and his twitter account is normally right, so I don't know who's feeding him all this stuff, but I'd say he's the one that's leaked it in fairness to him.

He knows who he is, and a lot of people know who he is as well"

Stuff like this really pisses players off as it's personal information being leaked to the press, but it also effects people's perception of a player ("Hansen is always injured", "he's got a dodgy ankle", etc) and rugby punditry in Ireland is so lazy, particularly when it comes to Ireland, that this stuff gets repeated on podcasts and commentary.

Mack is 100% correct on the lazy punditry, and the fact that dodgy narratives/takes get repeated ad nauseum.

Tom Farrell sticking the knife in as well in the Examiner.

"I enjoy it, yeah. When I was at Connacht, on the outside looking in at Munster, I was probably a bit envious of it, the big days. I've had some big days here already, like La Rochelle, Croke Park, the All Blacks, they were cool days that I look back on.

"I do enjoy it. That bit of pressure I think brings the best out of players and I'd like to think it brings the best out of us as a team."

I understand he enjoys the big days, no need to run down Connacht at the same time. Hopefully the new stand will drive a better atmosphere at any knockout matches or interpros.

Hansen must be referring to Joe Naughton's twitter I guess? In fairness he's one of the few prominent Connacht-adjacent accounts that actually calls out the issues while also being reasonably well-informed.

There is no hiding that our coaching ticket was a mess this season and probably last season wasn't great either… Call a spade a spade…

Players were frustrated by selection and there seems there was a lack of communication. I think that is because our coach was stressed to eyballs and trying to do at least two jobs at once…

The players themselves seem to be a good group that do come together…

That my opinion, could be wrong.

Jack Carty already won it 😄

https://x.com/connachtrugby/status/1920046266647453909?t=aJz16KL7q-XK2LIUm4MyYg&s=19

Scott Fardy confirmed as leaving further update on next seasons coaching team to come in the "coming weeks"

https://x.com/connachtrugby/status/1922958077915001251?t=quPXO8sxuq7q1ZFPaSN8Qw&s=19

Puff piece really…

If we had any defence coaching the last day we could have beaten them pretty convincingly… That isn't that good of a team…

He is just talking up the move, I say h is moving because we had an upset camp… I say Hansen is justifiably upset when he feels the group he works with are slighted. Mac is loyal to the Connacht team and that is why he is loved so much…

I wouldn't think Tom would be disrespectful towards Connacht… He might have been treated badly at the end but I met him before leaving and genuinely loved Galway and team he played for…

He is right Munster are a bigger brand in rugby than Connacht and are at a level where you expect to get to Champions Cup Quarters every year…

I say he must be thinking that Chris Farrell got 11 international caps for Ireland and he has none. Yet Tom is a far better player than Chris and beat him every head to head… Chris played for Munster and he played for Connacht. (And I know tom got injured at the wrong times)

I really think Tom holds his years with Connacht with pride.