Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Yeah, I remember a few years ago Leinster played there, and a couple of players (John McKee was definitely one of them) had to come off in the first 15 mins just feeling so physically unwell. The provinces have probably gotten a bit better the last couple of years at developing a plan to cope with it to some extent, but as you said, it's probably next to impossible in the space of a week.

I say as a minimum is you have to empty the tank at that altitude using strength and movement. You have to get to know your body and its limits or you can go red like the Leinster lads did there. Over do it and be wiped in 10 min.

Then you are trying to set up a defence without know which ones are suffering more than others. It is clear now that Cian can go all day at altitude while Hurley Langton and Jansen can't be as effective. They could be with more prep time..

Some of the younger players looked like they thought they were in a car crash..

I think you are probably better to play both Highveld teams together… That way you could send out some players a week before giveing them two weeks to adjust for the first game there… These teams are no world beaters at sea level, players aclimatise…

AI :

Acclimatization and Performance Guidelines (1700m):

• Initial Days (Days 1–5): Athletes will likely feel lethargic, experience increased breathing rates, and faster fluid loss. The first 24–48 hours are generally considered better for competition than 3–5 days later, as the immediate adrenaline response helps, whereas 4 days later the body is heavily fatigued by the adaptation process

Optimal Acclimatization (7–14 days):

 Research on football (soccer) players suggests that at least 2 weeks is necessary to restore near sea-level competitive performance and avoid significant drops in high-intensity running.

Key Adaptation Processes:

 During the first 7–10 days, the body increases EPO production, leading to higher red blood cell counts, which enables better oxygen transport to muscles.

Alternative Strategy:

 If a 10–14 day stay is not possible, some athletes choose to arrive less than 24 hours before competing to avoid the initial, most intense phase of fatigue, relying on sea-level fitness.

So what is our strategy?

Spot on on Prendergast. Having a wonderful season and should now be Ireland's starting No 6. Real pity but I can't see us making top 8 now, even with two wins and 8 or 9 pts. Munster are the worst team in the current top 8 but because of Ulster having to throw the game last week they now probably have enough points. We've been very unlucky that Cardiff have snuck low scoring wins against Scarlets and Ospreys and Ulster will surely win one of their remaining two games against either off-form Glasgow or Stormers who are poor away. Bulls and Lions have enough points. It is tough, but there's been great progress this season.

It's been such an amazing season no matter what happens. We have seen the likes of Harry West just being incredible at outside centre and on the wing, we have seen Billy Bohan and Sam Illo become our first choice locks. we have seen Darragh Murray really develop, we have seen Shane Jennings take balls out of the sky that he had no right to, we have seen Cian Prendergast, SHL and Sean Jansen become a back row to be feared, we have seen Sean Naughton take a grip of the Nr10 starting spot as many wanted at the start of the season.

The only negative from this season is to lose who is now our confirmed first choice scrum half. It's such a pity that he couldn't wait a bit to see how the season would pan out. It's such a shame to see him go.

Just to add to this we have seen our defense, which was absent last year, suddenly being one of the best in the URC. And our attack is really clicking these days. And Bundee is feeling the joy as he is playing great rugby. What is not to like being a Connacht supporter these days. And that is only on Year 1 of Stuart Lancaster.

I did use advice given and ask median ages for Leinster and Munster for last weekend which was 28 and 29. So 24 for Connacht is promising for our future

Duinn Maguire, Irish 20s and UCD hooker, is Connacht bound according to Gerry Thornley. Any word on who else is in line to join the academy?

This data isn't quite accurate. Like a lot of things from AI, you need to double check it to make sure it's getting it right.

For Connacht, on the weekend, the median age of the starting XV was 26.6, the median age for the full 23 was 26.0, and the median age for the finishing XV was 25.3.

For Leinster, the median age of the starting XV was 28.4, the full 23 was 27.0 and the finishing 23 was 25.7.

For Munster, the median age of the starting XV was 29.3, the full 23 was 27.7 and the finishing 23 was 26.2.

For Ulster, the median age of the starting XV was 24.6, the full 23 was 24.6 and the finishing 23 was 24.6.

It was a young Connacht side finishing the game, undoubtedly, but older than the Ulster side that started and finished, and broadly of similar age to the Leinster side that finished the game too.

The post I was responding to was proposing to use the median age (though it was incorrect). Generally speaking, the median is more accurate for things like this than using the average, as it removes some of the outliers.

Using averages, instead of medians doesn't massively change the picture:

• Connacht - average age of starting XV: 27.1, average age of full 23: 25.9, average age of finishing XV: 25.1
• Leinster: average age of starting XV: 29.2, average age of full 23: 27.6, average age of finishing XV: 25.9
• Munster: average age of starting XV: 29.6, average age of full 23: 28.2, average age of finishing XV: 26.9
• Ulster: average age of starting XV: 25.0, average age of full 23: 25.5, average age of finishing XV: 25.6

Another way of looking at it, would be the quantity of younger players in the respective squads.

Connacht:

• 3 players under 25yo in the starting XV, 5 in the full 23.
• 12 players under 30yo in the starting XV, 20 in the full 23

Leinster:

• 2 players under 25yo in the starting XV, 6 in the full 23
• 10 players under 30yo in the starting XV, 18 in the full 23

Munster:

• 0 players under 25yo in the starting XV, 4 in the full 23
• 9 players under 30yo in the starting XV, 16 in the full 23

Ulster:

• 9 players under 25yo in the starting XV, 13 in the full 23
• 14 players under 30yo in the starting XV, 20 in the full 23

I just recently refreshed this data actually:

Connacht leading the way this year. Data split as follows:

Connacht:

• 2,025 total mins to Academy players, 49 games, 16 starts
• 7 different players utilised
• Concentration: Sean Naughton (45%), Billy Bohan (26%), Fiachna Barrett (13%), Matthew Victory (10%), Daniel Ryan (3%), Sean Walsh (2%), Albert Lindner (1%)

Munster:

• 796 total mins to Academy players, 17 games, 9 starts
• 5 different players utilised
• Concentration: Ben O'Connor (54%), Sean Edogbo (32%), Ronan Foxe (8%), Tom Wood (4%), Jake O'Riordan (2%)

Ulster:

• 1,170 total mins to Academy players, 24 games, 13 starts
• 6 different players utilised
• Concentration: Bryn Ward (66%), Tom McAlliser (12%), Jonny Scott (7%), Aitzol King (7%), James McKillop (5%), Tom Brigg (4%)

Leinster:

• 1,559 total mins to Academy players, 37 games, 20 starts
• 9 different players utilised
• Concentration: Joshua Kenny (54%), Ruben Moloney (11%), Conor O'Tighearnaigh (10%), Andrew Sparrow (9%), Hugo McLaughlin (8%), Ciaran Mangan (5%), Alan Spicer (2%), Caspar Gabriel (0.5%), Josh Ericson (0.5%)

Concentration above represents the % of minutes that player represents. In all of the teams, a handful of players are representing the lion's share of the minutes.

Sean Naughton could end up playing over 1,000 mins this year, thought that might be a first but Scott Penny played 1,005 back in 20/21.

Doing that doesn't materially change the picture either:

Connacht:

• First XV (removing Jack Carty, Joe Joyce, John Devine, Hugh Gavin): 26.9
• Full 23 (removing Jack Carty, Joe Joyce, Billy Bohan, Sean Naughton): 25.7

Leinster:

• First XV (removing Jamison Gibson Park, Jack Conan, Conor O'Tighearnaigh, Jamie Osborne): 28.8
• Full 23: (removing Jamison Gibson Park, Jack Conan, Gus McCarthy, Fintan Gunne): 27.4

Munster:

• First XV: (removing Tadhg Beirne, JJ Hanrahan, Andrew Smith, Tom Ahern): 29.5
• Full 23: (removing Tadhg Beirne, Michael Ala'alatoa, Ben O'Donovan, Brian Gleeson): 28.2

Ulster:

• First XV: (removing Eric O'Sullivan, Michael Lowry, Tom Brigg, James McKillop): 24.9
• Full 23: (removing John Andrew, Dave Shanahan, Jonny Scott, Tom McAllister): 25.2

It has been a great season , no matter what… There is a lot of ifs and buts. i.e. If we had a kicker at the start of the season…

Saying that, we need at least one 120kg+ (19st+) lock OR someone that can push like one to play No. 4.

We have done wonders this season against bigger packs but Montpellier shows us where the next level is… Joe Joyce is our heaviest lock at 119kg, that makes Darragh Murray next biggest at 115Kg.

That makes him the same weight as Leinster's lightest Lock, James Ryan (Baird is backrow).

Munster have two locks 120kg+ but Ahern is 177kg as well.

Ulster much like Leinster have there lightest at 115kg.. One over 120kg.

Just having one can help against the South African teams who normally have 3 players, 120kg+.

Joe Joyce was our No. 4 when we knew it was coming, get one to replace Joyce and we could be good. Two to be comfortable.

David Walsh seems to have the frame to carry decent size, I hope we see some of him next season.

Mahon Ronan is apparently getting cut by Leinster, he might be worth a look. Similar sort of frame to Joe Joyce. I thought Conor O'Tighernaigh would be a very logical signing a few months ago, but circumstances have evolved in his favour at Leinster..

We can't be finished at prop either. 6 won't cut it for next year. I would expect to see at least one of Lasisi, Buckley or dooley to resign and hopefully add a few to the academy.