Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

There's a difference between a teams greatest servant, a teams greatest player, and the most influential player for a team.

In my opinion, I greatest player to ever play for Connacht is Bundee.

People talk of the impact of other players in 2016, and there were some incredible players that year. Bundee was the best of them all. He was the Pro12 player of the season that year.

Anyway, my original point was that he's under appreciated by some Connacht fans. This thread has just emphasized that

Not only is Noel Mannion Connacht's greatest player, he is also scorer of Ireland's greatest try.

South Roscommon specifically.

This is how I learned how to pronounce Murray.

Ulster are in good shape, we are behind them in the rebuild process and beset by injuries. Our defence is transformed so I'd be confident we won't fold. We lost narrowly to them at Xmas and have made progress since then, so I see it as a free shot with tempered expectations.

Our early season lapses make top 8 a huge challenge - we still have to go to SA to face the Stormers and the Lions - so if we can get something here it would be an important contribution.

On the Craggy podcast Lancaster said that he's expecting Gavin, Bolton, West and Blade back around the time of the mini tour to SA. If that materialises we're going to have a strong squad there.

Savage news

Jimmy Duffy leaving Ulster to be closer to his family in Galway. Could he be Tuckers replacement?

Central contracts are my pet hate. And this news sums up everything I hate about these contracts. It's just confirms more of the same when if we are to achieve the last thing we need is more of the same.

Indeed I think to the Jordi Barrett signing at Leinster as an example of how the IRFU policy will never work. In this case you sign a quality NIQ centre who clearly will block IQ development in this area. And then to add insult to injury you don't allow players impacted to move outside Ireland to develop their game unless they give up the right to selection on the Irish team

RTE news : 'That's the dream' - Jansen targets full Irish cap

http://www.rte.ie/sport/united-rugby-championship/2026/0317/1563876-thats-the-dream-jansen-targets-full-irish-cap/

Well that's a positive update on his thinking.

won’t be tied down after playing for Ireland XV?

For me the worry would be that he'd go to France, not back to NZ, so being captured wouldn't really be that relevant. Hopefully he's in Andy Farrell's plans. I'd be surprised if he wasn't, although playing 8 only might count against him.