Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Probably just David Walsh realistically. Connacht posted interviews with most academy players on YouTube and a good few mentioned Walsh as one to watch. Obviously you can't read too much into that, but I do remember Fiachna Barrett picked out Billy Bohan before his debut, and before he was on anyone's radar.

I think the quality of what we have is under rated.

Darragh Murray is very quickly becoming one of the first names on our team sheet each week and his performances while lacking anything too flashy are consistently high quality and he is well able for 80 minutes. Think we will be seeing him remain in and around Ireland squads for the next few years. 1300 + minutes and only 24.

Josh Murphy is very likely to see most of his minutes at lock next season, beefing up a bit and he provides that hard edge and is also more than able for 80 mins week on week. I expect to see this partnership a lot next year. 1200+ minutes and 23 appearances. Durable and teak tough.

David O Connor has had a very good season with us, while his original signing wasn't greeted too warmly he has quietly gone about his business and proven his value to the squad as a tight head side lock. Lots of power and grunt, not the most athletic but a solid option. Lots of away day camoes next season and injury cover for the two above. 600 minutes,expect to see this increase with Joyces departure.

Niall Murray is a super defensive lineout operator and highly athletic and gets around the pitch well. Has lacked a little bulk in the past but appears to be getting there. I personally think his very best days are ahead of him and that we will see him play much closer to 1000 minutes than this year's 500.

We need another body but I don't think the need for a big lump is as great as it was. We don't want anyone blocking Darragh Murray's development as he looks to have a very high ceiling. There is a super opportunity imo for a young lock to get first team action and pick up maybe 2-300 minutes.

How about an approach to Leinster for a loan move for Conor o Tierneighnighghghghgh

Probably wouldn't be of interest to them but no harm in asking. The current situation where the other 3 provinces are shopping in the Leinster development pools must be really annoying for Leinster so might be worth trying something new.

I agree COT is not a good example.

Broken leg for Gavin :(

Pity for the lad as he came on and carried very hard. AI says 6-12 months recovery, hopefully less as he's so young

There are rumours going around that Leinster will be cutting Mahon and possibly Corrigan loose (along with a few other Academy players this summer), and I don't think they're going to offer a contract to Donncha McGuire from what I've heard.

Nobody knows what to expect with Spicer right now.

Dylan McNeice will be in the Leinster academy this intake for a virtual certainty.

Doubt we are getting an NIQ

Ioane, Gilbert, SHL, Van Wyk is probably our lot.

Saw that. Any idea how big he is? He talks about liking to cook ;)

Jansen looks a bit hard done by - 10 tries in the URC this season (though Evan Roos got the spot ahead of him, and he scored 12 tries in the URC I suppose).

I heard about 10 years ago that kids in the big Leinster rugby schools were on nutrition plans from their early teens, I think it's definitely a big focus.

At senior level, I guess you'll always have some variance between players in terms of their diligence depending on personality, work rate etc. Cian Prendergast in particular strikes me as a consummate pro. Both of his parents were high ranking members of the military, you'd expect that he grew up with a big focus on discipline. On the other hand, there's someone like Mack Hansen, who I've seen in McDonalds at midnight during the 6 nations.

Andy Friend tells a story about getting references for Mack ahead of signing hin and one said he was "a bit loose".

"Good loose or bad loose?"

Would you even want to live 😁