Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

He's a good player, when fit. A little hard to see the need for him alright but if you think that Prendergast could be gone a lot with Ireland this year we might need a senior player.

Also Josh Murphy must have played 500 minutes in the back row last year and probably wont this year.

Lancaster mentioned "emotional scarring" within the squad in a recent interview with The42. The Connors deal was likely done last November/December, my theory is that he was concerned about the mentality within the squad at the time, and looked to Connors as a trusted lieutenant type. The sort of guy that will drive standards in training, in review sessions, etc. By all accounts he's a great guy to have around the camp.

That's my read too. If we can get 6/700 minutes out of him that will be a bonus.

Initially I thought he might do a bit of work as a de facto contact skills coach following Tucker's departure, but Lancaster mentioned in an interview that Woodman would be taking over that element of the role. Mind you, he also said recently that Muldoon works on tackle tech, so it seems like the breakdown of duties is somewhat fluid.

I think it's partly a delayed reaction to the reduction in regular season games and partly a cost cutting exercise.

As far as I know the IRFU fund the same amount of academy contracts (20) as previous.

Was just looking at the academy yesterday. That was 14 players. Does this mean we have 6 slots available that have not been filled by the academy management and if that is the case then why is it the case?

Bohan, Illo, Prendergast, Murray, Jansen, and Aki are all included in the summer touring squad. Surprised to see no Bealham in the squad

If only we could see hierarchy questioned across all provincial teams. But shock horror we have central contracts. That kills that idea.

Bealham wasn't in our list of departures so absolutely isn't in Lowe territory, will be here next year.

The chances of Furlong being fit for 4 games in a row are sadly near zero, so he may yet go on tour too.

From OptaJonny on Twitter

1.5 - Billy Bohan ranks 1st for dominant tackles (1.5) and 2nd for tackles made (15.9) per 80 minutes among props in the 2025/26 #URC (min.400 minutes played).

He's also committed 2+ tacklers on 84% of his carries, the best rate of any front-row forward (min.20 carries).

I was thinking about that question on young props lately.

In recent times, I struggle to think of one younger than Andrew Porter (21 yrs, 5 months) making his debut against the USA in June 2017.

Other exceptionally young props were a bit older:

• Cian Healy - 22 yrs 1 month
• Tadhg Furlong - 22 yrs 9 months
• Paddy McCarthy - 22 yrs 5 months
• Tom O'Toole - 22 yrs 9 months
• Marcus Horan - 22 yrs 9 months

I can't see any younger than this in the professional era (or the 90s for that matter), and Bohan is quite a bit younger (doesn't turn 21 until November).

McDonald was 21 years, 1 month & 26 days making his debut per that, younger than Andrew Porter who was 21 years 4 months and 25 days.

FWIW - I think Gus McCarthy might be the youngest hooker to have ever played for Ireland; he was 21 years and 123 days when he made his debut.

He was 20 and 2 months. Born Nov. 26 and debut was Jan 47!

According to the Old Belvedere website he played uncapped internationals at 19.

Hi Kita99 san,

I see this game is taking place in Australia. Are there any games taking place in Japan this summer?