Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

ElisaAtWar · 31-05-2026 12:52AM

It only shows some folks enjoy my diatribe. It can be hurtful but only if you take it personally. Otherwise it's just a bit of banter which is how it is intended

b.gud · 31-05-2026 08:55AM

I know that pretty much everyone who mentioned Gilbert having a bad game was just remarking on it and not suggesting he be dropped next season but I still think it's worth pointing out that he came to us after Super rugby and the NPC so his season has been over a year long so he's bound to be absolutely exhausted

Yeah_Right · 31-05-2026 10:24AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124511863#Comment_124511863

A front row coming back on for an injured frontrower has meant the team lose a player unless it's for blood or an HIA. It's been that way for years. I don't know the specific law and I don't care enough to look it up.

From what I remember, it was brought in because the French and South Africans were taking the piss (aka cheating) by subbing off their starting props in the first half or early second half, giving them a rest and bringing them back on for the last 10 or 15 minutes because their replacements were "injured".

ShineyShiney · 31-05-2026 10:36AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124513703#Comment_124513703

Yeah he's been a super signing. Its hard to remember just how poor we were at 15 prior to his arrival. Looking forward to seeing how he goes after a down period.

I'm still hopeful we sign a lock. With cc qualification and high season ticket sales i assume we have a few bob left in the kitty. The question is where do we get someone who can make a significant difference at this stage of the season and is IQ.

Shelflife · 31-05-2026 12:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124511863#Comment_124511863

Heres my logic on the issue.

Finlay is injured and cant continue. We have no subs so we go down to 14.

A scrum is awarded and Connacht dont have suitably trained players on the pitch. Technically we should drop to 13 here as we now have an uncontested scrum scenario.

A front row player must play in the front row if available, Sam replaces SHL and now the uncontested scrums scenario disappears so we dont have to drop to 13.

We end up playing with 14 because we ran out of subs.

3.33a gives direction on when a tactically replaced player can return in certain circumstances, but it doesnt award the team an extra substitution.

ElisaAtWar · 31-05-2026 04:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124513148#Comment_124513148

Unlikely 😂

ElisaAtWar · 31-05-2026 05:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124510942#Comment_124510942

Its a weird situation. Bottom line is you have 7 substitutions allowed. So just to be simplistic Illo is replaced by Bealham, Bealham is replaced by Illo etc etc until all substitutions are used up. In this case you have six unused subs sitting on the bench. And now let's say Bealham gets injured. But you have used all your 7 substitutions. And note is there is a huge difference between substitutions versus substitutes. In this case you have lots of substitutes but no substitutions available.

So in this case the injured player must leave the field as he cannot continue. This player cannot be replaced because you have used all your replacement opportunities. So you are down to 14.

And this is where it gets a bit foggy for me. So you have used all your replacements but you are still allowed to use a replacement. But to use that replacement you must go down to 13?

sydthebeat · 31-05-2026 06:30PM

Erh...

You have 8 substitutes. Therefore you can make 8 substitutions 'naturally'.

You can technically make 11 substitutions as it's possible to replace each front rower twice (the starter coming back on) in the cases outlined in the laws.

salmson · 31-05-2026 07:03PM

Just wondering if I'm understanding the argument for why the ref was correct?

We made 8 permanent replacements: Everyone on the bench except Gavin, and then Murphy, who became a permanent replacement on 72 minutes when the HIA period elapsed and Ioane couldn't return.

Therefore we had to lose a man to get a suitable front row replacement on for a scrum.

Seems reasonable enough, but by that logic, if you've used all your subs and someone goes off for a HIA, if they can't return after 10 minutes the temporary HIA replacement (or a proxy where it's a front row) has to leave the field again? I'm not sure I've ever seen that.

Yeah_Right · 31-05-2026 08:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124514746#Comment_124514746

What are you on about? That post makes zero sense.

ElisaAtWar · 31-05-2026 09:15PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124515037#Comment_124515037

I'm trying to get to the bottom of the difference between a replacement and a substitution..A replacement is an enforced substitution and as such is not considered a substitution. Now there was mention that can have up to 11 substitutions which is news to me as then you could rest players and put them back out on the field again. And that doesn't make sense. But if you have used (as correctly pointed out) all your 8 substitutions and then that player should be replaced by another player and this is perfectly valid even if all substitutions have been used. So as such must we have one player less.

Im just pointing out the difference between replacements and substitutions. As such the ref got it totally wrong and Connacht suffered for this. Finlays injury was a replacement situation. For the referee to say Connacht had no substitutions left was correct but in Finlays case it was a replacement. A small difference but poor understanding by the referee

Yeah_Right · 31-05-2026 09:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124515135#Comment_124515135

You are not reading the posts people have put here explaining what happened, you are completely wrong with your assumptions, you are making a big deal about the meaning of substitution and replacement when they are interchangeable,.

Bottom line, the ref was right

Jump_In_Jack · 31-05-2026 10:53PM

isn’t it the case, even after 8 subs used, that a front row can be brought on for another player to prevent the situation of uncontested scrums arising?

I mean, if three front rows have been replaced, and all 8 subs have been used, isn’t there a case where if a front row replacement gets injured, the player that came off can go back on but another player must go off?

Is that what happened to Connacht?

Otherwise uncontested scrums arise and the team causing uncontested scrums lose two players (the injured player and one other player).

I always thought it was a bad penalty, it should only count during the play from a scrum until the next stop in play. Once a scrum isn’t required the other player should be allowed play again. Although I could see how difficult that would be for the officials to keep track of.

ElisaAtWar · 01-06-2026 01:12AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124515328#Comment_124515328

I'm just going with the very simplified viewpoint that an injury causes a replacement but this replacement does not constitute a substitution.

So let's say you have 8 substitutes and 9 of your players were unable to continue. Now I understand how you go down to 14. But when you go down to a player less because that player is unable to continue and you have replacements on the bench for that player but you can't use them because all substitutions are made. Well that clearly suggests the referee does not know the difference between substitutions and replacement's

ElisaAtWar · 01-06-2026 01:37AM

The referee clearly said Connacht had no substitutions left. So Finlay was clearly injured in which case substitutions did not come into this. He needed to be replaced which is a totally different matter

Jump_In_Jack · 01-06-2026 07:52AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124515497#Comment_124515497

I don’t think that’s correct.

In the scenario where all 8 substitutions have been made, I think you can bring back on a front row for another injured front row to avoid uncontested scrums but have to remove another player to do so. So in effect you lose a player due to further injury after making all 8 substitutions.

It’s only possible with front rows, and only if the player to come back on (that came off) previously) was not injured, i.e. was a tactical substitution.

https://passport.world.rugby/laws-of-the-game/laws-by-number/3-team/

Read up on it in Law 3 for clarification.

kita99 · 01-06-2026 08:33AM

Is there no new signing LO players into Connacht? Even Academy level? Does Ruane think it's no needs of another LOs?

realhorrorshow · 01-06-2026 08:43AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124515620#Comment_124515620

I think we could see up to three locks join the academy. As for the senior squad, who knows.

Firstsub · 01-06-2026 12:21PM

I have been really impressed with Connacht's recent form but haven't seen too many matches this season.

Apart from Prendergast, Aki, Hansen, Frawley and Bealham, what other Connacht players might make the 2027 World Cup squad?

What Connacht players might make the Ireland squad from 2028 onwards?

realhorrorshow · 01-06-2026 01:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124516080#Comment_124516080

In my opinion, for the 2027 world cup:

Billy Bohan - could get capped this summer with the injuries to Boyle and McCarthy. I think he'll quickly leapfrog Loughman and Milne and then it just comes down to fitness and which side of the scrum Tom O'Toole is playing.

Sam Illo - based purely on the age of the incumbents, unlikely at this point.

Darragh Murray - had a good season and took his chance in the 6N, will be there or thereabouts if there are a few injuries.

Sean Jansen - lack of versatility might count against him, if he doesn't make the summer squad he probably won't make the RWC.

Ben Murphy - probably high enough on the depth chart to get involved if there are some injuries.

Shayne Bolton - might come into the reckoning if Lowe moves on and we want a power winger, and, big if, he can stay fit.

Post 2028 it's very hard to say but all of the below have at least one attribute that gives them a chance of playing international rugby:

Fiachna Barrett, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Diarmaid O'Connell, Cathal Forde, Hugh Gavin, Seán Walsh, Sean Naughton, Finn Treacy, Harry West, Daniel Ryan

eagle eye · 01-06-2026 03:44PM

SHL will be available next year and I think he'll go straight in as the starter at 7 for Ireland.

I think Bohan and Murray will be there and Ben Murphy is a serious contender. Jansen is a clone of Conan. When Conan goes he'll be in.

ElisaAtWar · 01-06-2026 03:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124510992#Comment_124510992

I don't think this matter has been concluded correctly. What realhorrorshow states is the rules and the rules state that if a front row player is injured and there is a front row player available on the bench and even though you have used up all 8 substitutions you should be allowed to replace the injured player. Now I can see how this can be taken advantage of but is the rules. It reminds me of blood gate

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/articles/cqjd1p98l4jo

realhorrorshow · 01-06-2026 03:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124513703#Comment_124513703

He also played more minutes than anyone else in the squad despite missing the first 4 games of the season.

kita99 · 01-06-2026 10:34PM

I watched the replay video of the match Glasgow (H) v Leinster in March this season. Glasgow won in the point difference 38-17. At that game, Connors was starter as 7. He played about 54 min. His defense seemed decent and seemed a bit slower at attacking scenes than 3rd-row players of Connacht. His impressive character has seemed the low (aiming under knees) tackles. It looked effective sometimes. And Frawley appeared off the bench (only 15~20min) at maybe 12 or 13(not 10). He was excellent including one powerful try like Jansen. I think that if he appeared at the starter on the behalf Sam Prendergast at 10, maybe Leinster performed better game. He can all things that FHs is required. And Cahir played some short time because of Usanov's absence caused HIA. My surprise is that the ref of this match was Adam Jones. His refereeing wasn't good as same as Glasgow v Connacht match. In such a case, Can Glasgow(home team) select their favorite referee? I think it's not a coincidence (maybe only my thought).

(

eagle eye · 01-06-2026 11:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124516479#Comment_124516479

Not only that but he had a month off between the Super Rugby season and the beginning of the NPC in July last year.

He's been playing rugby since July last year until now.

ElisaAtWar · 02-06-2026 12:17AM

If I remember correctly we had 39 points for our season and this year we had 54. That's not shabby for Lancaster's first season. Next season we have a lot of players to integrate. So let's just see what next season brings