Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Really think if a player looks at Connacht (or any other team in Ireland). main issues are:

Cost (how much to live in the place compared where I am now.. This is an issue for academy contract guy)

Coaching set-up (got a big yes there)

Opportunity to progress (Connacht areas of need are in the Forwards, Out Half…. Areas to avoid Connacht is Scrum Half, Centres )

Back three is pretty neutral but there will be a glut of back three coming from the sevens team this year..

Baird????

I just mentioned him, I didn't say anyone in particular would come.

If you are stuck on the bench a lot or being messed around in different positions you might want an opportunity to start consistently in your right position.

I mentioned Baird because that's what's going on with him. Like he was behind Ryan and McCarthy and then they brought in Snyman so he's only getting games in the back row at the minute when there's injuries.

That doesn't mean he wants to leave Leinster but it's possible if he thinks that playing as a lock gives him a better chance at challenging for a spot in the Ireland 15 or maintaing his spot in the 23 is enhanced by a move.

Same thing applies with John McKee, Tom Clarkson, Deegan,Penny and maybe Harry Byrne or Frawley.

I'm not mentioning anybody at scrum-half or back three because I don't see us needing anybody in those positions. I'm not sure we need anybody in the back row either.

All those lads were at the start of their careers or came into the squad when Lancaster was in charge. It's highly likely they'd be attracted to a side coached by him.

Jackman said " it hasn't been announced yet, but there are a good batch of young players from Leinster, going down there to join their academy"

Academy lads, not the Bairds of this world.

To be fair, these didn't happen since Lancaster joined they will have been in the planning for a while. Jackmans point was that Lancaster is ideal to bring them on and he referenced Tracey as coming through this year.

He had one great game in the under 20s six nations and was poor in the other two he started. He was on the bench for the last two games.

I don’t see any new first team players joining at this late stage but if we could poach a few top end academy players then that would be a massive statement of intent. It’s potentially a win win for the club and players who are likely blocked already in their own province. Having Lancaster on board absolutely legitimizes the move from a player perspective as does the recent success Connacht has with players being called up for Irish squads and now the Lions too.

Hopefully these rumours are true.

I think regardless of who does or doesn't sign Lancaster will need time to review the current setup and see what's to be done. I expect improvements because it's almost inconceivable that we could get worse but I'm realistic that he will need time to have a look at what's there and bring in what's needed.

Last season in particular was a wasted season in our development but even if this season is one of transition (to some extent) at least the train is back on the tracks.

I wonder will we see more academy players get opportunities?

Lancaster was a long time at Leinster and has plenty of experience bringing academy players up and giving them the right amount of time in games to develop them further.

I don't think anything needs to be done to our academy except to maybe get more players in.

Wasn't impressed with him at all for the 20's but that was only over a couple of games so very small sample size.

I think Gerry Thornbury said it. Connacht fans have the lowest expectations compared to potential in the league…

We would have been generally happy with a top 8 finish and bit of a better performance against Racing.. That is two wins over the season, in a season where gifted games away…

Maybe this is why Galway isn't really a sports mad city… Connacht fans are more of a social animal and love the camaraderie of getting together with a bunch of friends and cheering on the green. It is the best value in town, I say it to loads of people, you get 12 chances during the 9 months to have a night out and catch up with friends..

I know some here will critise what I have said and that we more die in the wool. I can agree my view is very generalist but we have a very large portion of that type of supporter, they are what pays for it all..

I think most of it is just historic expectations. We've made the top 8 once in the four seasons it's been a 16 team league and even that was lucky. Going back pre URC we made the play offs once under Friend and 2016 of course. Before that we never really threatened anything and go back 15 or so years ago we were bottom every year.

That's not to say our expectations shouldn't be higher they should but it gives context. Even when Munster or Ulster are rubbish their support base has certain baseline expectations based on history.

Going to Connacht games especially during the winter is not glamorous by any means. The new stand might make it a bit more comfortable but for the core supporter the majority are actually interested in what is happening on the field as against going to Ireland games in the Aviva where a sizeable percentage of the crowd have little interest in what's going on in the match itself.

I go to Connacht games to see the match and to hope to see us get a result / put in a good performance. The other social stuff is of no interest to me. People going in and out all game for pints in a plastic cup boggles my mind but there you go everyone is different and it's unfair to categorise everyone in the same box.

In terms of us being dyed in the wool or not I think it's the same with all Irish rugby teams. Pre-2008 or so supporting Leinster wasn't really a thing, Munster have a strong core support but a massive floating base that comes and goes depending on the occasion. Really pre clan stand our attendances were poor but it wasn't practical to go to a Connacht match at that time with our lack of facilities.

I'm one of those that wants a win every week and fully believe we have a squad that can compete with anybody. I was always that way playing sport as well.

I firmly believe that who wants it more gets it. People can talk about the great players on other teams but if everybody wants it you can beat the best all the time.

We have a really good squad which has been mismanaged for quite a while now.

I'm honestly expecting top four now that we have a proper coach in place.

That's not a change of style. Thats just making better decisions.

Wanting A win every week and having a realistic view is quite different. Connacht aren't realistically going to be able to compete/be near winning every week. Connacht and a top 4 position isn't realistic imo with way league is now set up. And I don't see a problem with that tbh

McCarthy looks promising…

BTW, he is two inches shorter and 2kg heavier than Gavin Coombes…

Sean Jansen is two inches shorter and 7kg heavier than Gavin Coombes…

Sean is probably the heaviest No.8 playing in Irish professional setup…