Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

ionadnapóca · 18-05-2026 12:20PM

Can the IRFU & Connacht extend Lancasters contract already please?

“We spent way too much time defending, so for us it’s about accuracy at the breakdown and clarity. We have a brilliant group of players and confidence in our group is building.”

“I think the foundations from last season were strong, but we moved the dial in terms of mindset in defence and attack, and it has paid off. The backrow was awesome,”

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/2026/05/15/connacht-reach-urc-playoffs-with-bonus-point-win-at-edinburgh/

To go into a must win game, hang in there for the opening 20mins and then score a try off a scrum from their own 5m line says everything about the "mindset" & "confidence" of the group.

And doing it with a starting team of:

2.de Buitléar getting a rare start.(A kid Mikey Yarr backing him up for his debut.)

Another kid Bohan beside him. Who played another blinder.

and 13.Harry West, 14.Jennings and 23.Seán Naughton.

Is West done for the season? Looked like he picked up a hamstring injury again.

cson · 18-05-2026 01:37PM

I doubt he's going anywhere! I think Stuart is in a role that he seems to excel in, that of a developmental coach without the huge weight of expectation to win things. I imagine he feels very comfortable in Galway.

Someone closer to the numbers can tell me but I assume Champions Cup is significantly more lucrative for us than Challenge Cup? From a competitive standpoint I wouldn't hate us being in the Challenge Cup as I think its a competition we would make a real run at (similar to Ulster this year and what we should have done in 2025 with the #1 seed), whereas we really have slim to no chance of doing similar in the Champions Cup.

salmson · 18-05-2026 02:54PM

Oisin Dowling just announced his retirement due to injury. Rough break for the lad, good player and still young for a lock.

lavrenti · 18-05-2026 02:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124479233#Comment_124479233

Sad to hear of Oisin's retirement. He never let us down and would really have benefitted from the new coaching set up this season if he had remained fit. Good luck to him.

ShineyShiney · 18-05-2026 03:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124479233#Comment_124479233

I am not surprised to hear this as it seemed unlikely that we would let him go if he was fit considering we are very short at lock.. Tough break for the lad, he never gave less than 100% best of luck to him in the real world.

eagle eye · 18-05-2026 10:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124478985#Comment_124478985

I gotta disagree with your assertion that we have little chance in the Champions cup. The way we are playing right now is very impressive and we will be better next year.

Theres not many positions we don't stand up in now. Our starting front row and back row are excellent. Our back three and centres are too. We'll have Mack back next year and we'll have Frawley too.

ElisaAtWar · 18-05-2026 11:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124480721#Comment_124480721

With the Harry West hamstring do we have any chance of seeing Mack this year?

eagle eye · 19-05-2026 01:13AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124480743#Comment_124480743

I believe he's out for a good while yet. It's better to make sure he heals properly this time.

realhorrorshow · 19-05-2026 11:56AM

Hugh Gavin's younger brother Rory - a second row - has signed for Aurillac in ProD2.

b.gud · 19-05-2026 11:58AM

CONNACHT RUGBY FIXTURES 2026/27

Friday 25th September, 19:45

Connacht v Stormers @ Dexcom Stadium

Friday 2nd October, 19:45

Benetton v Connacht @ Stadio Monigo

Friday 9th October, 19:45

Glasgow Warriors v Connacht @ Scotstoun Stadium

16th-18th October

EPCR Pool Stages

Friday 23rd October, 19:45

Connacht v Zebre @ Dexcom Stadium

Friday 30th October, 19:45

Connacht v Leinster @ Dexcom Stadium

Saturday 5th December, 17:15

Scarlets v Connacht @ Parc y Scarlets

11th-13th December

EPCR Pool Stages

Saturday 19th December, 19:45

Connacht v Edinburgh @ Dexcom Stadium

Sunday 27th December, 17:30

Ulster v Connacht @ Affidea Stadium

Saturday 2nd January, 17:15

Connacht v Munster @ Dexcom Stadium

8th-10th January

EPCR Pool Stages

15th-17th January

EPCR Pool Stages

Saturday 23rd January, 19:45

Munster v Connacht @ Thomond Park

Saturday 30th January, 19:45

Connacht v Ulster @ Dexcom Stadium

Saturday 27th February, 17:30

Ospreys v Connacht @ St. Helen's

Friday 19th March, 19:45

Connacht v Cardiff @ Dexcom Stadium

Saturday 27th March, 14:15

Connacht v Lions @ Dexcom Stadium

2nd-4th April

EPCR Round of 16

2nd-4th April

EPCR Quarter-Finals

Saturday 17th April, 17:45

Leinster v Connacht @ Laya Arena

Saturday 24th April, 19:45

Connacht v Dragons @ Dexcom Stadium

30th April-2nd May

EPCR Semi-Finals

Saturday 8th May, 12:30

Hollywoodbets Sharks v Connacht @ Kings Park

Saturday 15th May, 12:30

Vodacom Bulls v Connacht @ Loftus Versfeld

21st-23rd May

EPCR Finals

28th-30th May

URC Quarter-Finals

4th-6th June

URC Semi-Finals

Saturday 19th June

URC Finals

Utopia Parkway · 19-05-2026 12:13PM

Trip to South Africa right at the end of the season. Final two games.

Playing Munster twice in January.

Zeugnis · 19-05-2026 02:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124481618#Comment_124481618

Ronan Loughnane who played u20s with Forde/Jennings etc is down there. Temi Lasisi posted some pics of a recent visit there.

Any idea how big Rory Gavin is?

salmson · 19-05-2026 02:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124482132#Comment_124482132

What may be more pertinent is that Eoghan Masterson, once of this parish, is down there too.

Rory Gavin is a couple of inches taller than his brother, who is 6'3" or 6'4" depending on which website you're looking at.

FtD v2 · 19-05-2026 02:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124482132#Comment_124482132

Think Eoghan Masterson was there too this season?

connachta · 19-05-2026 04:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124482183#Comment_124482183

yes

eagle eye · 19-05-2026 10:18PM

Would 22 points by Christmas be too much to expect?

Citizenpain · 20-05-2026 01:37AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124483565#Comment_124483565

23 😀

connachta · 20-05-2026 09:05AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124483809#Comment_124483809

Big point is we need 9 points-advantage

going to S-Af (1 BP is the best to expect)

2 rounds before end, above 9th-placed club

b.gud · 20-05-2026 11:23AM

There was an interesting tweet from one of the rugby analysts at opta about how the URC would have looked if games ended at 70 minutes.

Connacht would have finished 11th with 40 points 7 wins, 2 draws and 9 losses compared to our actual finish of 8th with 54 points 10 wins and 8 losses. This was the biggest hypothetical vs actual points difference of any team in the league. It's a great stat which shows just how much our fitness has improved and is helping us

https://x.com/i/status/2056776847489204334

Paddy_Mag · 20-05-2026 11:49AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124484449#Comment_124484449

Lancaster is doing to connacht what he did at leinster.

Tommybojangles · 20-05-2026 12:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124483565#Comment_124483565

I looked at this post, thought God he's being awful negative. Went to the start of the season and predicted outcomes for each game, got to Christmas, 22 points 😅

ShineyShiney · 20-05-2026 12:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124484693#Comment_124484693

Tough league, I got to 23 just about

flazio · 20-05-2026 03:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124484449#Comment_124484449

I know Dexcom can get breezy at times but can you imagine out sourcing some matches to Pearse stadium, you'd probably be unable to convert anything playing into the Connemara side.

salmson · 20-05-2026 04:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124484449#Comment_124484449

Pretty sure the turnaround was slightly bigger than that: W7 D1 L10 to W10 L8, and 39 points to 54.

So literally the last 10 minutes of each game was the difference between this season and last.

I make it…

Round 1 Treviso (h) added tbp +1

R4 Bulls (h) added tbp +1 (total +2)

R6 Sharks (h) added tbp +1 (+3)

R7 Dragons (a) added tbp +1 (+4)

R8 Ulster (h) loss to lbp +1 (+5)

R10 Leinster (h) lost lbp -1 (+4)

R11 Zebre (a) added tbp +1 (+5)

R12 Glasgow (h) lbp to win +3 (+8)

R14 Ospreys (h) draw to win +2 (+10)

R15 Stormers (a) lbp to tbp win +4 (+14)

R17 Munster (h) added tbp +1 (15)

ElisaAtWar · 22-05-2026 12:17AM

It's hard to believe that Cardiff won, that Munster won with Lions getting a losing bonus point. For Ulster to win the Challenge Cup would be a cruel blow. It's such 'a series of unfortunate events' so far. But whatever happens tomorrow I believe will only make us stronger. Connacht abu

Strand1970 · 22-05-2026 05:42AM

I cant see Ulster winning with key players missing. Good luck to Ulster if they win, mixed feelings but good for an Irish team to win. If we win the URC they we still qualify for heineken Cup.

connachta · 22-05-2026 07:46AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124488973#Comment_124488973

No mixed feeling.

You want Toulouse or Bordeaux in the revamped sportsground yes or no?

Strand1970 · 22-05-2026 08:17AM

100% want Connacht in CC next year but at the same time will find it hard to support Montpellier against an Irish team.

shinana abu · 22-05-2026 08:55AM

Well said...

ionadnapóca · 22-05-2026 10:40AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124478985#Comment_124478985

He's going to be a wanted man anyway.

I'd give them a great chance of beating Glasgow next week & who knows what could happen then.

IRFU should be holding talks with Lancaster over the summer to keep him in Connacht until 2029.

Firmly believe he's also the best man to be the next HC of Ireland.

Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

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