Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

KBurke85 · 08-05-2026 01:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124451957#Comment_124451957

Our th's will be Finlay, Illo, Barrett and the lad they announced during the week Connolly. No way there is going to be 5 Th's signed

ShineyShiney · 08-05-2026 02:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124453033#Comment_124453033

Finlay hasn't been extended / announced yet.

ElisaAtWar · 08-05-2026 02:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124452388#Comment_124452388

Well I think that's pretty obvious.

Bulls will win their last two games and finish 5th

Connacht will win their last two games with bonus points and finish 6th

Cardiff will get whipped in their last two games with no lbps and will finsh7th

Munster will get whipped in their last two matches so no lbps.

Ulster will get whipped in their last two games so no lbps.

If Ulster win Challenge Cup then they finish 8th otherwise Munster finish 8th.

And that's just the harsh reality laid out in full

typhoony · 08-05-2026 02:45PM

If we go into this match thinking we have the upper hand then we will be beaten seen it so many times against Munster. We need to bring the fight to them go hard from the off and not play it loosely as we tend to do.

MarinersBlues · 08-05-2026 02:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124453126#Comment_124453126

I am getting a bit worried about that one.

It is very odd that nothing has been said, unless the current contract is longer than people understood it to be.

I fully expect Gilbert to be gone. He has been a fantastic addition this year, my assumption is based on Frawley coming in, but nothing has been said there either.

However when you look at the 23 above and then start to think of the players we are missing and what is coming in, we have an unbelievable squad for next year.

realhorrorshow · 08-05-2026 03:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124453273#Comment_124453273

The wording on his last contract announcement was quite clear that it was a two year extension:

"Connacht Rugby are delighted to announce that Finlay Bealham has signed a two-year contract extension with the club.

The Irish international tighthead will now remain at The Sportsground until at least the end of the 2025/26 season."

I'd be very surprised if Gilbert wasn't signed on a two year deal.

HanShotFirst · 08-05-2026 03:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124453323#Comment_124453323

Bealham is going nowhere…….

Unless he’s an offer from the south of France for a couple of years!!

sydthebeat · 08-05-2026 03:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124453273#Comment_124453273

Frawley is coming in to replace Jack carty.

The last thing frawley wants to be doing at this stage is being a utility back for connacht.

While there was no duration announced on Gilbert's contact, if be astonished if there isn't a plus one year clause, of the initial duration was only one year

RonnieL · 08-05-2026 03:20PM

Sam being picked to start ahead of Finlay was the first thing I noticed when the team was announced, but I'm happy enough with that - Sam is up and coming, and he brings a bit of niggle which is even more important for interpros I feel (provided it doesn't result in penalties/cards). Very excited for tomorrow night now.

MarinersBlues · 08-05-2026 03:25PM

Crawley has plenty to prove at 10, no guarantee he will be ahead of Naughton at 10 next Christmas.

I don't think he will be starting at 12 either, he could well end up at 15.

There seems to be a bit of niggle in negotiations with the IRFU aat the moment, Lowe hasn't renewed yet. They may be playing hardball with lads late in their career, or lads that have injury concerns.

typhoony · 08-05-2026 03:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124453333#Comment_124453333

He's a poor 10 end of in my opinion and i dont really get the idea thst he's been moved around in positions so has not given a proper chance at 10. I just think he'll be behind Ione and Naughton eventually so will inevitably become a utility player at Connacht as well. It will be a shame if Naughtons progress at 10 is hindered by Frawley coming in

ElisaAtWar · 08-05-2026 03:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124453426#Comment_124453426

Naughtons progress will only be hindered by Naughton. If he proves to be a better 10 than Frawley he will naturally be ahead of Frawley. It may take some games at the start of next season to sort that out but it will naturally sort itself out

KBurke85 · 08-05-2026 04:19PM

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/news/connacht-rugby-confirm-departing-players/bp3727/

Utopia Parkway · 08-05-2026 04:21PM

Connacht announce all the players leaving. Most are the expected names. Still surprised Mullins is being let go. Thought he was doing alright and got a fair bit of game time. Hawkshaw usually decent when called upon as well but probably a logjam ahead of him now in his favoured positions.

typhoony · 08-05-2026 04:21PM

Cant really complain to much about the list of leavers apart from Devine

realhorrorshow · 08-05-2026 04:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124453508#Comment_124453508

Thought Mullins might get a deal, but if they're high on Daniel Ryan it probably makes sense to move him on.

A lean 38/9 man (Bohan's status not yet confirmed but assume he'll be on a senior contract) senior squad next season, down from 41. Dowling going leaves us extremely short of locks, and back five forwards in general. We must be planning to lean on the academy a lot more in those positions.

MarinersBlues · 08-05-2026 04:47PM

I liked Mullins but I would say his defence was a deciding factor here - you couldn't fault his attack game.

Looks Like Bealham and Gilbert are sticking around so, definitely happy about that.

ShineyShiney · 08-05-2026 04:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124453502#Comment_124453502

Thanks to all of the departing players and best of luck in the future.

Some good players in that list.

FtD v2 · 08-05-2026 04:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124453192#Comment_124453192

This prediction (and this poster's track record) is probably the best development for Munster's chances I've seen all week.

ShineyShiney · 08-05-2026 04:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124453534#Comment_124453534

Far too light at lock imo. 11 senior players across the back 5 of the pack is very low.

realhorrorshow · 08-05-2026 05:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124453598#Comment_124453598

10, no?

Murray, Murray, Murphy, O'Connor, Prendergast, Hurley-Langton, Jansen, Boyle, Connors, O'Brien.

Am I forgetting someone?

ShineyShiney · 08-05-2026 05:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124453605#Comment_124453605

No, you're right! That's pretty light, id expect a lock to join and lean into the academy for back row.

testtech05 · 08-05-2026 05:20PM

I thought Oisin McCormack had been signed on for next season already so was surprised to see him on the list but probably mis remembered. He has been plagues by injuries never really got a chance to show what he can do. Aside from that Mullins is probably the only surprise

FtD v2 · 08-05-2026 05:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124453638#Comment_124453638

McCormack is 25, and sitting on 88 mins for Connacht in his career. Past time to move on.

ElisaAtWar · 08-05-2026 06:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124453638#Comment_124453638

I'm not really surprised with the Mullins call. Always rated Finn Treacy very much more. Out of interest what does a 38/9 man team mean. So we lose 11 players this year. How many have we taken in/progressed from academy

sydthebeat · 08-05-2026 06:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124453426#Comment_124453426

Ioane will be gone after next season, in my opinion.

Frawley is not going to connacht to play 12/15/ utility. If he was happy to do that he'd have stayed at leinster. Hes clearly going there to play outhalf.

Regardless of my opinion on him as a 10 (and i wouldnt be a million mile away from your opinion) the idea that Frawley will hinder Naughtons progress by offering him competition for the shirt is simply bonkers. Either Frawley is a connacht player or hes not. If hes a connacht player and hes the best opinion at 10 then it shoudlnt matter a jot to connacht fans who the back up is. Similarly if naughton proves himself to be a better selection than Frawley then the addition of Frawley will be a boon to his progress not a hinderance. Your argument is a pretty nuts one to be fair, its the same as arguing that Jack Carty has been a hinderance to naughtons career so far, because hes providing competition for the shirt.

ElisaAtWar · 08-05-2026 06:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124453583#Comment_124453583

I do remember that boards rules were to criticize the post and not the poster. So clearly you have no issue with my post but are just critizing the poster

Strand1970 · 08-05-2026 07:13PM

My understanding Frawley signed with connacht with the understanding its to play 10. I personally cant wait to see him play. It would be great if naughton develops and puts pressure on for a starting position at 10. That's something we haven't had for 10 years.

MarinersBlues · 08-05-2026 09:40PM

In the bag, never a doubt.

Just need Zebre to show up tomorrow.

cson · 08-05-2026 09:42PM

Huge result in Ravenhill for us, would've expected the Stormers to go on an win after the early red though.

Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

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