Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

CowboyTed · 09-01-2026 12:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124132089#Comment_124132089

I think there is a great example between Henry MCERLEAN and Harry WEST….

Henry (Year 22/23)was clearly more favoured at U20 for Ireland getting 707min while Harry got 55min over two seasons (Year 21/22 & 22/23)(might have been an injury)…

Patrick CAMPBELL was number 1 the year before(Year 21/22) Henry with 697min…

How did they fair:

Henry(Leinster) started really strong got two full games 23/24 season (his first pro) and ranked 197 min… But 80 min was on SA tour where they send the kids… Last season he got only 81min(24/25)… This year he has yet to play….

Harry (Connacht) didn't get a minute of Rugby for 22/23 and 23/24.. Pete gave him nothing. Stu has this season given him a break and in fairness to him, he has grabbed it… He has 175 min already. He played well in very difficult game in Dublin and kept his reputation.

Patrick Campbell (Munster) played 401 min for Munster in 22/23.. Then saw no game time for 23/24 & 24/25.. Moved to Ealing Trailfinders this summer and has played 7 out of 13 games with 502 min….

What does this tell us:

As a young player Munster doesn't look good… Patrick seemed to be ignored for two years when moved showed he is a rugby player who was looking for a chance. Ealing are a Premier side in waiting.

Henry was given a chance early but he seems to be forgotten when they have the depth… Jamie Osborne, Jimmy O'Brien and Frawley are fighting out for minutes while he gets little opportunity… Hard for underage guy to get the trust that a international would have.

Connacht have showed real change with Stu… Harry is now a fast growing player. He should be aiming at 400+min season… With Naughton, Walsh, Ryan this season, Gavin and Treacy from last season… There is opportunity for you to get a break, you have the chance to prove yourself…

realhorrorshow · 09-01-2026 12:57PM

Montpellier v Connacht
13:00 Irish time, Sunday 11th January 2026 @ Septeo Stadium

15. Sam Gilbert (6)
14. Shane Jennings (24)
13. Harry West (4)
12. Cathal Forde (60)
11. Finn Treacy (13)
10. Josh Ioane (21)
9. Ben Murphy (24)
1. Billy Bohan (2)
2. Dylan Tierney-Martin (64)
3. Sam Illo (37)
4. Darragh Murray (48)
5. Josh Murphy (48)
6. Cian Prendergast (93) (C)
7. Paul Boyle (123)
8. Sean Jansen (35)

16. Matthew Victory *
17. Peter Dooley (56)
18. Fiachna Barrett (6)
19. Niall Murray (88)
20. Sean O'Brien (21)
21. Albert Lindner *
22. Sean Walsh (1)
23. John Devine *

Tommybojangles · 09-01-2026 01:10PM

The minutes conversation for young players is an interesting one, but it shouldn't be forgotten (and it often is) that the player has to do something with those minutes to earn more. there's a balance to be struck and nobody expects a fully formed Brian O driscoll to show up in his first URC game but each player is unique and if 2 19 year olds are dropped into a team and one is man of the match and one looks overwhelmed they can't be treated the same for the next game.

KBurke85 · 09-01-2026 01:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124132391#Comment_124132391

West has struggled a lot with injuries in the past 2-3 seasons which is largely why he got no minutes. He was always highly thought of by Connacht coaches but couldn't get fit

realhorrorshow · 09-01-2026 01:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124132466#Comment_124132466

Interested to see him at 13 this weekend, not sure he's ever played there before but he seems like a really tidy footballer.

FtD v2 · 09-01-2026 01:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124132350#Comment_124132350

You've pulled your 50 players and 31 players out our your arse here.

70 players from Leinster have played for the Irish U20s going back to the 2020/21 season. Of those, 34 progressed to the Leinster Academy. The oldest players in this cohort are 24 (Jamie Osborne, Alex Soroka etc) and the youngest guys are 19/20 (last year's intake).

For the full intake, the average minutes for Leinster is 518 mins. If you exclude the most recent intake (guys who are 20 or younger), that average goes up to 731 mins. Of that sample set (24 players)- only 8 players have played less than 100 minutes - Temi Lasisi and Aitzol King, both have whom have moved elsewhere, Liam Molony, who has been chronically injured and looks unlikely to progress with Leinster, and then a few guys who are still just 20 years old like Alan Spicer, Alex Usanov & Oliver Coffey. The only player in the sample set who hasn't played a single minute for Leinster is Billy Corrigan, a guy who is just 20 years old.

An interesting contrast from the same sample set is the Leinster players who played Ireland U20s but went to other Academies. 16 players in total fall into this grouping - and if exclude again guys from the most recent intake who are still only 20 years old (Mikey Yarr, David Walsh) for consistency- the average minutes played in this group is just 292, and that's with Jack Murphy in there who has racked up 1,545 mins for Ulster. Four players out of 14 have played over 100 mins (Sam Illo, Finn Treacy, Jack Murphy and Sean Naughton), 6 players haven't played a single minute.

CowboyTed · 09-01-2026 01:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124132404#Comment_124132404

Three debut, two players who are 19 and Billy turned 20 last month… Great to see Dooley back, god knows we need him.

realhorrorshow · 09-01-2026 02:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124132559#Comment_124132559

Yeah, will be a tough outing. Montpellier have named a pretty strong team. Not too worried about the result, just want to see us give it a lash. A bonus point would be a great outcome, think our best bet is for an open game where we can nick four tries.

FtD v2 · 09-01-2026 02:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124132391#Comment_124132391

Henry McErlean has been injured the entire year so far, I think he's just back training since New Years. He hasn't featured at AIL level or anything. He's not representative of anything in terms of opportunities for younger players, but it is telling that even with that (having missed virtually the whole season so far this year) he has still about 100 minutes more of senior game time than West.

CowboyTed · 09-01-2026 02:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124132451#Comment_124132451

Totally agree…

Cian Prendergast and Sean Naughton took there opportunities very well. It is risk, some need more time… Out half is position that need around 1000 mins of investment to see them operate at their level…

Jack Crowley only beat the Dragons in his first year of professional rugby, Munster invested a lot there.

Really hope John Devine grabs his opportunity. He has been playing good stuff to get to here and really earned his chance. Massive opportunity for Harry West, might be out of position.

As I said before, I love seeing talent coming through… I know we have shipped a few bad losses but we are developing a team from our own academy… I see a future of fighting for the top schools talent and getting them into your academy is going to to be far more competitive.

Leinster sub academy system has been revelation but Elwood has marketing a very viable choice of going west, Stu is doubling down on that. I don't think Richie Murphy is going to let that go, he has to get Queen's as an attraction for these players too…

CowboyTed · 09-01-2026 02:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124132594#Comment_124132594

Yea, totally with you on that… Go out there and give us what you got, we got big games in the Spring and couple of bolters would be great right now..

eagle eye · 09-01-2026 03:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124132549#Comment_124132549

So that just proves that you comparing Leinster to Connacht is ludicrous. We aren't dropping any of our under 20s, we want to hold onto them and continue to develop them.

You are dumping loads of them, it's not comparable as I told you already.

Also I didn't pull any numbers out of my ass. I guesstimated how many you have coming through from the Ireland under 20s over a four year period and used that number against your 19.

Are you trying to tell me you don't have an average of 12.5 players in every Ireland under 20 panel? That's the average I'm suggesting which imo is pretty conservative.

FtD v2 · 09-01-2026 04:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124132985#Comment_124132985

Once again - I'm not the one who made the original comparison between Leinster and Connacht.

Leinster aren't dumping loads of them - it's a simple fact lots of players get capped at that level who aren't good enough to progress to senior rugby, all four provinces pass up on offering these guys contracts. Connacht do have some year 3 Academy players though who played U20s for Ireland who haven't played a minute for Connacht (James Nicholson, John Devine), and some other guys who came and went through the Academy without playing for Connacht (Josh O'Connor, Oisin Michel etc).

I can't think of a single player in the last decade who fully went through the Leinster Academy without playing for Leinster.

You're literally pulling numbers out of thin air - or "guesstimating" - you've done zero actual analysis of this.

realhorrorshow · 09-01-2026 04:24PM

Tomás Farthing is on the bench for Corinthians tomorrow, so it seems Lindner has leapfrogged him. Max Flynn also named, he seems to have had a bad couple of years through injury so hoping he can come through unscathed and potentially make his debut next week.

MangleBadger · 09-01-2026 04:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124132985#Comment_124132985

Being from Leinster and in the u20 panel does not make them a Leinster player. Not if they have not received an academy contract. If you are selected for the Leinster academy you will get game time.

eagle eye · 09-01-2026 05:40PM

15. Sam Gilbert (6)
14. Shane Jennings (24)
13. Harry West (4)
12. Cathal Forde (60)
11. Finn Treacy (13)
10. Josh Ioane (21)
9. Ben Murphy (24)
1. Billy Bohan (2)
2. Dylan Tierney-Martin (64)
3. Sam Illo (37)
4. Darragh Murray (48)
5. Josh Murphy (48)
6. Cian Prendergast (93) (C)
7. Paul Boyle (123)
8. Sean Jansen (35)

16. Matthew Victory *
17. Peter Dooley (56)
18. Fiachna Barrett (6)
19. Niall Murray (88)
20. Sean O'Brien (21)
21. Albert Lindner *
22. Sean Walsh (1)
23. John Devine *

eagle eye · 09-01-2026 05:46PM

Mod Edit

Warning issued.

ShineyShiney · 10-01-2026 04:40PM

I've been thinking about some of the Leinster players that have been loosely associated with moves away from Leinster and more specifically our squad needs.

We are lacking a turnover threat, lots of our guys can make an occasional turnover but none are ground hogs. SHL appears to be the closest but I'd be worried about keeping him, with the financial changes being NIQ won't help and where there's an Irish option that's of interest to the IRFU that can't secure a contract at Leinster then it will put out of contract NIQ's in a precarious position imo.

Specifically if either penny or kendellan (not saying they are) are in jeopardy at their provinces I think the IRFU would like to see them at Connacht or Ulster in place of SHL or Augustus.

I see this as far more likely than eg say Penny joining us instead of McCormack. The difference in contract value would be too high. I suppose what I'm saying is if people think we are getting to keep our good guys as well as some of the Leinster guys than I doubt that will happen. We won't have any more money next year than this year and our squad will again be made up of a mixture of top end, middle and bottom end pros.

I think there will be much less change than people think. More like 5 out and 5 in would be my expectation.

Hooker is a given, no coach could take us forward without addressing this issue.

Big power lock, like everyone else in this hemisphere we are in competition with less money and our only hope imo is returning overseas players or stocking the academy for the future. Maloney, Roux, Madigan etc.

13. With every minute Ralston is out his value goes up. Hope West goes well because it would really help us out having another option. Gavin maybe the future but he's miles away from the now imo.

Lastly and probably most contentiously Loosehead Prop. Bohan looks really decent so far and is a very welcome development but let's not get carried away, we will still have to have 3 competent 1's. It probably won't be an NIQ so who's on the move? I don't expect Boyle to move but it is possible and if he does we are in the market. He would be 1st choice here. Probably in place of Buckley. That would sort us but Bell is only short term so Ulster would also be Interested and he'd also be first choice there which could mean 2 of Reid, OSullivan and O'Connor on the move. Alternatively Boyle could go through Munster which would likely see Loughman or Wycherly on the move.

All that means that the potential options at 1 other than a few overseas Irish guys would be from this list.

Boyle, Reid, OSullivan, OConnor, Loughman, Wycherly.

My summation is that our current guys would only be swapped for Boyle or Loughman otherwise it's likely to be as we are.

Excuse the rambling post.

Zeugnis · 10-01-2026 04:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124135551#Comment_124135551

SHL will be Irish qualified from some point in the summer of 2027. There aren't a ton of options at open side, so it's not far fetched to think he would be in with a shout of making a RWC squad. For this reason, the IRFU will not have an issue greenlighting his contract extension.

10-01-2026 07:30PM

I think this is going to be a really transformative summer window. We are likely going to lose some players we really don’t want to. Aungier, Devine already whispered. But there are a handful of others. Also are the IRFU really pushing transfers as aggressively as rumoured? That will impact all round. Eg could have a Penny in and a SHL out.

The budget available. The release of a chunk of the playing squad will all factor strongly in releasing cash. If Aki is out of contract, it will be interesting what happens there. Must be a big chunk of cash. There’s a lot of dead weight to release too.

I think along with Frawley, we will get one more high enough profile signing. A forward.

Billy Milliard should be playing a big role with Lancaster. He should have good contacts too.

The most important thing is we just have to be far better equipped for next season. The need is significant but loads to juggle. Might be too much to do in one go.

kita99 · 11-01-2026 01:59AM

Is it really truth that Devine will be released? I'm very dissapointed to see your above post it because I think he is potential world-class SH. So I must giive up the future of this team. But if it's the hope of Connacht funs, I must accept it.

eagle eye · 11-01-2026 10:28AM

Nobody wants Devine to leave. Most of us want him to get a few starts to further his development.

typhoony · 11-01-2026 12:56PM

Connacht are +14.5 in the handicap, seems about right although i dont see us being beaten by more than 15 points

AccidentallyOnside · 11-01-2026 01:27PM

Depends what Montpellier wants to do. If they want to put 60 on us they probably could in our current state. Id imagine they'll get the bonus point in the first 15-20 mins and let up from there, probably run out 20-25 points winners.

Think there's a good future for this team, but the present isn't so bright unfortunately.

realhorrorshow · 11-01-2026 02:10PM

Montpellier blatantly off their feet and also playing the nine for that turnover. Unfortunate start but at least we've come with a plan to keep ball in play and move Montpellier around.

realhorrorshow · 11-01-2026 02:12PM

Whoever on here was suggesting Josh Ioane as a 13 might have been on to something, what a try.

11-01-2026 02:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124137014#Comment_124137014

Just media driven rumour that Ulster maybe looking to sign him.

11-01-2026 02:25PM

He has some step.

testtech05 · 11-01-2026 02:26PM

Nice response again and a good maul try....

Scrums on our own ball have been pretty solid so far too. Illo getting through a lot of work in the loose too.

realhorrorshow · 11-01-2026 02:30PM

Need to not get a yellow defending these mauls, even if it means conceding.

Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

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