Connacht Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread - Part II

RobbieRuns · 15-09-2014 09:48AM

Stan27 wrote: »

100% agree couldn't have said it better my self. There should be a loan system in place. But I even see irish players in England etc that clue be home. Like eamon Sheridan (prob spent wrong) in London irish. A great 12 would it not be better to have say him in Munster rather than a lad from oz etc.
copeland came back which is great but a lot more could come. . But in fareness some took chances and went and fair play to them.
Obviously a lot to think about to move back say settled with family but sure just a thought.

All of this movement between provinces is something that I thought that Nucifora was brought in for? It will start to happen in the not too distant future I am sure.

We need to be careful with the thinking that we can send our reject players over to other countries and clubs to then think that we can have them back when they improve? We have seen lots of young players go to England and France and do well, for us just to ask them back when it suits us is a bit rich. Sheridan as an example was given a chance out of nothing by LI and has done well. Tough on them if we just demand that the player return home after they sort out the injury problems and give him an opportunity.

Personally I would like to see a proper structure in the AIL and holding on to good young players in this country below the provinces.

connachta · 15-09-2014 11:05AM

RobbieRuns wrote: »

Marsh maybe, not so sure about Lydon

Yeah they are all "maybe" players, JJ, Marsh, Lydon plays 15 in championship.
So I think they're a cruel lack of talents at european level in Ireland
Nothing compared to the O'Gara/Sexton/D.Humphreys/Keatley when he was promising

Robbo · 15-09-2014 11:21AM

I know that aside from Buckley, no one really stood out against Edinburgh but what's the feeling on how Quin Roux is going?

S12b · 15-09-2014 12:29PM

Robbo wrote: »

I know that aside from Buckley, no one really stood out against Edinburgh but what's the feeling on how Quin Roux is going?

I think he's done well, two solid showings.....nothing spectacular but he's thrown himself about well. He's a huge man and surely all that extra weight has to help the front row out at scrum time as well!!

Larbre34 · 15-09-2014 01:03PM

Any word on extent of Sean Henry's leg/knee injury? Looked nasty but he hobbled off.

the perfect ten · 15-09-2014 02:27PM

connachta wrote: »

Yeah they are all "maybe" players, JJ, Marsh, Lydon plays 15 in championship.
So I think they're a cruel lack of talents at european level in Ireland
Nothing compared to the O'Gara/Sexton/D.Humphreys/Keatley when he was promising

Maybe too early to be definitive about any of them.

For example what was the general opinion on Sexton when he was a 22-year old?

connachta · 15-09-2014 03:40PM

the perfect ten wrote: »

Maybe too early to be definitive about any of them.

For example what was the general opinion on Sexton when he was a 22-year old?

What i'm saying is right now, this season the 10 spot is an Irish problem, which can't be solved by interprovincial loans. but as I said, some players have potential, but not euro-level for now

freyners · 15-09-2014 04:04PM

Larbre34 wrote: »

Any word on extent of Sean Henry's leg/knee injury? Looked nasty but he hobbled off.

there was talk of a dislocation but him able to walk off seems to disprove that. I would say hes out for the Leinster game at the very least. Generally Connacht give a squad update tomorrow morn

connachta · 15-09-2014 04:08PM

freyners wrote: »

there was talk of a dislocation but him able to walk off seems to disprove that. I would say hes out for the Leinster game at the very least. Generally Connacht give a squad update tomorrow morn

News of Heenan are waited for anxiously too

its_phil · 15-09-2014 05:07PM

connachta wrote: »

What i'm saying is right now, this season the 10 spot is an Irish problem, which can't be solved by interprovincial loans. but as I said, some players have potential, but not euro-level for now

Sexton, Jackson, Madigan and Keatley have all proved to have European bottle. Hanrahan too actually if you remember Perpignan last Christmas.

We have much worse problems than 10 and I'm only worried about it if Sexton gets injured because he is a world class player. The depth overall has never been better

connachta · 15-09-2014 05:11PM

its_phil wrote: »

Sexton, Jackson, Madigan and Keatley have all proved to have European bottle. Hanrahan too actually if you remember Perpignan last Christmas.

We have much worse problems than 10 and I'm only worried about it if Sexton gets injured because he is a world class player. The depth overall has never been better

Apparently you don't give importance to kicking abilities, Keatley isn't very reliable..

S12b · 15-09-2014 05:31PM

connachta wrote: »

Apparently you don't give importance to kicking abilities, Keatley isn't very reliable..

One match doesn't mean he is a poor kicker.......

connachta · 15-09-2014 05:34PM

S12b wrote: »

One match doesn't mean he is a poor kicker.......

Didn't say "poor", just not European standard, once more

thomond2006 · 15-09-2014 05:36PM

Off topic I know but Keatley's performance in Marseille last season proved he can play at that level.

S12b · 15-09-2014 05:47PM

connachta wrote: »

Didn't say "poor", just not European standard, once more

Can't say I agree. He's clearly capable of playing at H Cup level as he demonstrated last season.....you can't compare every Irish 10 to Sexton.

AngeGal · 15-09-2014 05:55PM

Let's try to get back on topic.

Here's Eoin Reddan talking about Friday's match.

http://thescore.thejournal.ie/eoin-reddan-leinster-underdogs-connacht-1672184-Sep2014/

its_phil · 15-09-2014 05:55PM

connachta wrote: »

Apparently you don't give importance to kicking abilities, Keatley isn't very reliable..

Apparently you don't give importance to Heineken Cup or Amlin Cup (4 from 5 against Toulon) semi-finals in terms of "European Class".

Stan27 · 15-09-2014 05:58PM

What are people expecting against leinster. For us to win we need to get rid of these simple mistakes big time. We need carry is he starts to play an blinder and the backs to gel. But most important we need to get the kicks at least 80%

connachta · 15-09-2014 06:12PM

thomond2006 wrote: »

Off topic I know but Keatley's performance in Marseille last season proved he can play at that level.

You point out Toulon succes, I point out Edinb disaster
But anyway Keatley wasn't the problem. The initial subject was who could have been loaned to Connacht (or exile IQ brought back) to do surely better then Carty, and I answered no one, which shows a lack of depth for 10...

S12b · 15-09-2014 06:23PM

connachta wrote: »

You point out Toulon succes, I point out Edinb disaster
But anyway Keatley wasn't the problem. The initial subject was who could have been loaned to Connacht (or exile IQ brought back) to do surely better then Carty, and I answered no one, which shows a lack of depth for 10...

That really doesn't show a lack of depth, top quality 10's don't grow on trees. Outside of Sexton, we currently have Jackson, Madigan, JJ and Keatley, all quality 10's. Now maybe if 3 of those guys were at the one club it would make sense for one of them to move but right now they're all getting consistent top level game time. Jackson and Keatley are first choice so they're not going to move and Madigan and JJ are knocking on the door so provided they are happy where they are, they have no reason to move either.

Cathal Marsh is the only guy who might consider a move at present. Next season things may change with Sexton's return. We have plenty 10's but they're nicely distributed across the 3 provinces meaning the potential for a loan move just isn't there, depth is not the problem.

connachta · 15-09-2014 06:31PM

S12b wrote: »

Cathal Marsh is the only guy who might consider a move at present. Next season things may change with Sexton's return. We have plenty 10's but they're nicely distributed across the 3 provinces meaning the potential for a loan move just isn't there, depth is not the problem.

That's what I call depth, 3 players of quality in one province, if they're only two, they will never be lent to Connacht. Redundancy happened for backrow (Conan was remoured to have had talk with Westies), not for fly-half. Sad as Connacht could miss the 6th spot just because indecent kicking rate

S12b · 15-09-2014 07:10PM

connachta wrote: »

That's what I call depth, 3 players of quality in one province, if they're only two, they will never be lent to Connacht. Redundancy happened for backrow (Conan was remoured to have had talk with Westies), not for fly-half. Sad as Connacht could miss the 6th spot just because indecent kicking rate

Ah but 3 quality home produced 10's from one province is hardly realistic.....anyway let's agree we have an issue at 10 and move on to Leinster on Friday.

I expect something along the lines of:

15: Kearney (no Zane, probably no option)
14: McFadden
13: Macken
12: Madigan
11: Fanning
10: Gopperth
9: any one of Reddan/Boss/McGrath

1: McGrath
2: Byrne (would Cronin start 3 in a row?)
3: Furlong
4: some combo of Toner/McCarthy/Denton/Marshall
5:
6: Ryan (think Ruddock is still unavailable)
7: SOB (Jennings took a bang at weekend)
8: Heaslip (assuming he's not rested, Conan could get a run)

16: Cronin/Byrne
17: Healy
18: Ross
19: any of 4 above
20: McLaughlin maybe, who knows really
21: any of 3
22: Crosbie
23: Mick McGrath

connachta · 15-09-2014 07:27PM

S12b wrote: »

Ah but 3 quality home produced 10's from one province is hardly realistic.....anyway let's agree we have an issue at 10 and move on to Leinster on Friday.

I expect something along the lines of:

15: Kearney (no Zane, probably no option)
14: McFadden
13: Macken
12: Madigan
11: Fanning
10: Gopperth
9: any one of Reddan/Boss/McGrath

1: McGrath
2: Byrne (would Cronin start 3 in a row?)
3: Furlong
4: some combo of Toner/McCarthy/Denton/Marshall
5:
6: Ryan (think Ruddock is still unavailable)
7: SOB (Jennings took a bang at weekend)
8: Heaslip (assuming he's not rested, Conan could get a run)

16: Cronin/Byrne
17: Healy
18: Ross
19: any of 4 above
20: McLaughlin maybe, who knows really
21: any of 3
22: Crosbie
23: Mick McGrath

Yeah logical, and beatable team!

connachta · 15-09-2014 08:07PM

Don't know how to put the tables side by side, but this projection shows how closee the head-to-head should be

Connacht

15. Darragh Leader
14. Niyi Adeolokun
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Dave McSharry
11. Danie Poolman
10. Jack Carty/ Craig Ronaldson
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Denis Buckley
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Rodney Ah You
4. some combo of Mick Kearney, Quinn Roux Aly Muldowney
5
6. J Muldoon (think Browne still unavailable)
7. Willie Faloon (No news of Heenan)
8. Eoin McKeon (assuming he's not rested, Naoupu could get a run)

16. Dineen/Delahunt
17. Bealham/Loughney
18. Nathan White
19. Any of the 3 above
20. George Naoupu (or McKeon)
21. Ian Porter/J. Cooney
22. Any of 2
23. Fionn Carr/M.Healy if back/Layden

Leinster
15: Kearney (no Zane, probably no option)
14: McFadden
13: Macken
12: Madigan
11: Fanning
10: Gopperth
9: any one of Reddan/Boss/McGrath

1: McGrath
2: Cronin
3: Furlong
4: some combo of Toner/McCarthy/Denton/Marshall
5:
6: Ryan (think Ruddock is still unavailable)
7: SOB (Jennings took a bang at weekend)
8: Heaslip (assuming he's not rested, Conan could get a run)

16: Byrne
17: Healy
18: Ross
19: any of 4 above
20: McLaughlin maybe, who knows really
21: any of 3
22: Crosbie
23: Mick McGrath

AngeGal · 15-09-2014 08:15PM

Why do you think Rodney will start ahead of White Connachta?

connachta · 15-09-2014 08:21PM

AngeGal wrote: »

Why do you think Rodney will start ahead of White Connachta?

1) White had two matches in a row, time to rest a little bit a man who will celebrate his 33th birthday this Thursday
2) Ah You was very good when he came agaist Edimburgh, took the ball on the wing and dragged along 3 players on his back without being pushed in touch

ouncer · 15-09-2014 11:58PM

I do think pat has undermined jack's position by using darragh (who is clearly an ordinary penalty kicker) and in the process destroyed jack's self confidence. On the brighter side faloon did a great job in heenans place. I was very disappointed that the back line didn't click but that can happen with guidance. We usually have a dirty loss, last Friday we had a dirty win. I do think Leinster will expose our weaknesses and Edinburgh didn't have the back line to do that once our pack contained them. Leinster is a different proposition. I would rather dani at 14 and tiernan/mat at 11 if either are available. Since jack and kieran have virtually no experience of playing together, and boy did they show it, I would suggest miah first (Craig next) as starters for the leinster game. Otherwise I think we will feel the full brunt of the leinster back line

CatFromHue · 16-09-2014 02:27AM

Heenan is out for 4 to 5 months as he has to have surgery on his shoulder so that's mid Jan to mid Feb before he's back. From mid Feb there's still a good 8 Pro12 games left to play.

Openside flanker Jake Heenan, who injured his shoulder against the Dragons, will be out for up to five months.

Heenan only returned to action two weeks ago having recovered from surgery on the same shoulder following the Saracens’ fixture last January.

“Jake is scheduled for surgery on Wednesday week and recovery time is four to five months. It is a big loss for us."

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pro12/connacht-struggling-with-injuries-ahead-of-leinster-clash-1.1930029

its_phil · 16-09-2014 02:46AM

ouncer wrote: »

I do think pat has undermined jack's position by using darragh (who is clearly an ordinary penalty kicker) and in the process destroyed jack's self confidence. On the brighter side faloon did a great job in heenans place. I was very disappointed that the back line didn't click but that can happen with guidance. We usually have a dirty loss, last Friday we had a dirty win. I do think Leinster will expose our weaknesses and Edinburgh didn't have the back line to do that once our pack contained them. Leinster is a different proposition. I would rather dani at 14 and tiernan/mat at 11 if either are available. Since jack and kieran have virtually no experience of playing together, and boy did they show it, I would suggest miah first (Craig next) as starters for the leinster game. Otherwise I think we will feel the full brunt of the leinster back line

No he hasn't. Darragh's brother Tadhg and Darragh himself have always been ahead of Jack in the kicking depth charts even at underage so that's a load of cods wallop.

ouncer · 16-09-2014 03:43AM

CatFromHue wrote: »

Heenan is out for 4 to 5 months as he has to have surgery on his shoulder so that's mid Jan to mid Feb before he's back. From mid Feb there's still a good 8 Pro12 games left to play.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pro12/connacht-struggling-with-injuries-ahead-of-leinster-clash-1.1930029

What most of us thought. First, I feel for Heenan, after the timeout he took to get his body in gear only to get this other setback. The team will live on but its very hard for a young kid to find himself ruled out so often. Was a sad loss with Clark, another with Heenan. Hard to replace such talent but fitness first. It ain't soccer these guys play

Connacht Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread - Part II

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