Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Thank you for your kind answer. Now Gilbert's final match finished. Otago 28 v Canterbury 36. he didn't stand out in atacking. Under strong wind his catching was stable and tackling was not weak (but not very strong). It's good that he seemed finishing the game without any injury.

Well we've certainly sealed up that leaky defense. Glad they have a few weeks off to recover from that battle.

Illo continues to impress, his call up for the Ireland A fixture is fully warranted. Paul Boyle continues his heroic run, Josh Murphy was a man possessed, and I'd like to see Barrett take more ball in hand. Concerned about the total absence of a threat on the deck.

We got very little distance on our kicks from the hand and can't afford to leave every conversion on the table. Sorry to see Ralston go off like that, looked rough. Would like to see Jennings given another chance in the back three.

Crazy situation to lose because there is no-one who can slot very straight forward conversions. A couple of those misses today were crimial.

Forde, Naughton, West should pursue long-time practice in this Nov especially kicking (both place and from the hands). I think that Connacht won't need Ioane. And I have a bit doubt about kicking ability of Gibert. He was 2nd choice kicker at Otago, so got llittle kicking chance. On the other hand, I know his kicking career as the main kicker in Hilanders.

I wonder why B.Murphy has kicked so many short -distance box kicking because almost time of them were catched by Munster players. At the end of day, Connacht couldn't done good line-break, so had no choice to depend on readable (simple) kickngs. Maybe it's because he thought that they lost wingers of both side due to injuries. But it's too much. Congratulation to Harry West who perform well (full-time). I know he has been suffered by many injuries so long time since U20 time.

The defense is looking much improved this season however our attack is blunt and lacks creativity in the backs and we dont have the power game either.

That’s a tough loss to take, although I am not sure we looked like truly winning the game in that second half either.

I think there’s lots of positives after four games. Lancaster has used the majority of the squad as he said he would. Some pretty inexperienced selections were largely competitive. So that’s good. There are probably 5-10 younger players who will be all the better for it and of those, a handful will likely feed into regular match day squads.

I think the game 2 postponement really hurt us in terms of momentum and working through early season rustiness. Really hurt us.

We’ve also managed to pick up bonus points in every game and have kept games to a single score.

Sadly however, results matter and we are on a three game losing streak. So that’s not acceptable.

The lack of power up front, coupled with a poor enough kicking game is hurting us. Who was the last decent kicker we had can anyone remember?!

I also agree with others that our attack game looks very blunt.

Anyway, we need to hit the ground running when play resumes or we will be left behind.

Craig Ronaldson was pretty solid kicking from no.12 too I think. Freed up Jack to play some great rugby at the time too before he had his accident.

Watching Leinster towards the end of last season when the kicker wasn't doing well, was really disappointing. I've come to take excellent kicking for granted. The points really add up in a game and connacht would be dead right to target a good kicker or develop a good kicker form the players they have.

I remember Forde kicking well a couple of seasons ago. I really wanted him to get his kick on Saturday so he could be an obvious option. The convention of 10s kicking for goal is fine as long as they're actually the best kicker in the team. None of Connacht's kickers are very good. Makes sense to look to develop other options.

We need more than Gilbert to place kick though. He wont play every game so either development of someone in the squad or we will have to go looking again. What is the contract situation with Ioane? I like him as our 10 so I would hope he is re-signed but he cant be our kicker.

It's a bit early to write Naughton off yet surely. Forde also previously showed good signs as a goal kicker but admittedly missed a couple i expected he would get at the weekend.

Joey Carbery is out of Contract at the end of this year and recently said he'd be open to coming back to Ireland and obviously has a prexisting relationship with Lancaster

I say we could have Gilbert, Naughton, Carty and possibly West as kickers… Cathal isn't great, not bad but we can do better…

Ioane is a pretty bad kicker from penalties in the hand and on the ground.. He doesn't have a huge boot and in our wind it can get dragged all over the place..

Naughton hasn't started a game as the number one choice kicker.

Personally I would love to see him at 10 and kicker with Devine as SH… Even if they tried for a half and see how it goes…