Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Once again though - you're massaging things a bit in how you present them - i.e. talking about Bealham missing time for international duty but not giving the same benefit to Clarkson / Furlong.

You're not wrong entirely that Aungier moving on definitely creates a gap there, and maybe they'll try to persuade Bishti. It would be quite the coup if they could do so.

Don't need to be convinced on Munster's abject record in this area too - it's genuinely disgraceful. Ronan Foxe - a THP who started an U20 RWC final (and who is 23 now - same as Fiachna Barrett) has played for Munster 6 times cumulatively in his career, 0 starts, for 78 mins. George Hadden - a LHP in the same squad, also 23 now, has never got a minute or a bench appearance even for Munster after 3 full seasons in their Academy.

This is a team (and their fans) who are consistently complaining about their scrum and yet have done nothing to develop two good young prop prospects. Even this year, when they had a bit of a crisis on the THP side, they went out and signed Michael Ala'alatoa as a medical joker, and he's played in virtually every game since then, racking up 15 games, 11 starts and 754 mins (for a guy who signed in November).

That sort of stuff has to be a factor when they approach young players from outside the province to try and convince them to join their Academy.

While I agree I also feel that it has to turn at some point.

Osborne is just coming off a Six Nations where he started every game at fullback, scored 4 trys and looked comfortable switching between 15 and centre in game. Where exactly are you getting you nonsense from?

Should Ulster win the Challenge Cup, and as such qualify for the Champions Cup does it mean URC teams 1-9 qualify for Champions Cup on the basis Ulster finish within the T8

No. Eight spots for the URC teams in total.

I know that the people coming this thread, it seems almost indifferent to women's rugby,. But Ireland U21 women team accomplished historical victory against England yesterday. In this team, there were seven Connacht women （ELLa Burns,　Roisin Maher=ex Creggs, Ailish Quinn, Jemima Adams Verling, Emily Foley (above all starters) and Poppy Garvey and Siofra Hession (both off the bench). Maher, Adams Verling and Quinn were try-scorers. They were all impressive at the match. I dream that Connacht men's players may realize to Ireland squads as same as these female members. Anyway Congratulations for all and fight one more match(v Wales) at this momentum please.

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That is good news for Connacht if true. Dooley is decent but it has not really worked out for him with injuries etc. I'd imagine Bohan will be first choice with Van Wyck as no 2. Chair will definitely get gametime.

Shame for Leinster after taking the chance on him, but I don't think there's space in the depth chart for him in the medium term, as evidenced by the 1 year offer.

I wonder is this the final signing that Billy Millard eluded to.

Denis will be leaving at the end of the season. His statement says he's still exploring opportunities so I guess he's not retiring just yet

I don't think he could go straight from professional to junior rugby.

We should keep Lasisi as a tighthead if Aungier leaves.

I have not been easy on Denis lately. But when all is said and done Denis was impossible to get rid of when he jackalled. He was like a dog with a bone. And yes it was unfair that he never got capped at international leve