Connacht Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread - Part II

ouncer · 16-09-2014 03:45AM

its_phil wrote: »

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.

The sky is green. Debate!

its_phil · 16-09-2014 08:23AM

ouncer wrote: »

The sky is green. Debate!

Nothing to debate, a conspiracy theory with no substance.

Robbo · 16-09-2014 09:54AM

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

Aaaaaaaaaand the traditional injury crisis is confirmed.

Poolman doubtful pending a concussion assessment and Henry out with a supected wanged ACL.

Still, Healy should be back and Roux isn't precluded from playing.

leeroybrown · 16-09-2014 10:04AM

ouncer wrote: »

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

The issue is that he didn't take the timeout. From what I hear his shoulder muscle was four weeks short of being fully strengthened when he played.

hermano · 16-09-2014 10:27AM

leeroybrown wrote: »

The issue is that he didn't take the timeout. From what I hear his shoulder muscle was four weeks short of being fully strengthened when he played.

What are the medical team at? No wonder there's so many injuries

BrokenMan · 16-09-2014 10:30AM

leeroybrown wrote: »

The issue is that he didn't take the timeout. From what I hear his shoulder muscle was four weeks short of being fully strengthened when he played.

If thats true then serious questions need to be asked of the person who cleared him to play.
It's just after messing up his rehab this time but potentially causing a young player long term problems. You cant just keep rebuilding a shoulder.

leeroybrown · 16-09-2014 10:35AM

hermano wrote: »

What are the medical team at? No wonder there's so many injuries

Just to be clear when I say "fully strengthened" I mean in peak condition, not just physically good for contact. It may be the case that for his recovery programme he was far enough advanced to be taking full contact. I'd still question whether the risk should have been taken.

connachta · 16-09-2014 10:52AM

Hope is still within reach
Leinster are likely to be without injured trio Sean O'Brien, Fergus McFadden and Zane Kirchner for the derby.

S12b · 16-09-2014 11:24AM

Squad update out: Heenan gone for 5 months, may not see Henry again this season. Danie Poolman will play if he passes the return to play concussion protocols. They're saying JHW is about 2-3 weeks away, they really need to avoid the urge to rush him back.....last thing we want is another shoulder gone!

Quinn Roux can play this weekend but John Cooney can't, Leinster put it in the loan contract that he can't play against them.

http://www.connachtrugby.ie/squad-update-ahead-of-leinster-game-3/#ConnachtNews

jacothelad · 16-09-2014 11:39AM

liam12989 wrote: »

why did connacht not tie down o'hagan?

Maybe he's not in to bondage..........:D

connachta · 16-09-2014 12:00PM

For the moment We've Faloon, I'm not worried yet; Someone in backrow like Diack had been playing 16 games in a season, so we can hope Willie can hold until February...
Hooker is the main prob, I felt it last week, before Edinburgh; At least 2 matches without JHW, if Heff gets injured, it's a disaster

WallyGUFC · 16-09-2014 12:17PM

Heenan is a big loss. If that's true about him not being at his peak, that's borderline negligent. Such an important player too.

RobbieRuns · 16-09-2014 12:19PM

leeroybrown wrote: »

The issue is that he didn't take the timeout. From what I hear his shoulder muscle was four weeks short of being fully strengthened when he played.

Not sure how anyone would know that, but if that is the case then that is truly a scandal

CailinGaillimh · 16-09-2014 01:01PM

Shame Heenan is out, again agree with all the above he's a huge loss to the squad. But fitness above everything else, hopefully when he returns he'll be back on form a la last season!!

Anyone know how long O'Halloran will be out for?

S12b · 16-09-2014 01:25PM

With regard to the claims about Heenan coming back too early, this is the source:

https://soundcloud.com/knockon-ie/craggy-island-rugby-ep-2?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=twitter

About 25 minutes in Dave Finn (I think) is talking about a brief interview he did with Heenan before the Dragons game.

wp_rathead · 16-09-2014 06:01PM

^^
Yes was listening to that podcast - to say I'm pretty fecking frustrated is an understatement. Hopefully Finn misunderstood Jake when he said that, I mean it is not like we didn't have Faloon available so no need to rush Heenan back if shoulder not ready.. we could have targeting this Leinster game for his comeback. Instead he is on the sideline for next 5 months... Absolutely raging for the lad

S12b · 16-09-2014 06:19PM

wprathead wrote: »

^^
Yes was listening to that podcast - to say I'm pretty fecking frustrated is an understatement. Hopefully Finn misunderstood Jake when he said that, I mean it is not like we didn't have Faloon available so no need to rush Heenan back if shoulder not ready.. we could have targeting this Leinster game for his comeback. Instead he is on the sideline for next 5 months... Absolutely raging for the lad

Ya the only thing I'd say is we have no idea what standard S&C/physio practice is with these injuries. He said he felt he was 4 weeks away from having 100% strength but does that mean he is 4 weeks away from being 100% ready for full contact or is the shoulder ready for full contact before full strength comes back????

As I say, I certainly can't answer that so I'm going to give the medical staff the benefit of the doubt and say surely they wouldn't be stupid enough to risk such an important player for 2 or 3 league games right at the start of the season, especially when you consider Faloon is actually one of our best second choice players.

leeroybrown · 16-09-2014 06:29PM

What I posted was based on talking to Dave who's featured in the podcast. He wasn't too sure what to make of the comment afterwards and didn't put much weight on it at the time until the injury happened. I didn't realise it had been publicly discussed in the latest podcast at the time so I didn't link it.

In the case of Heenan's comment, I'm guessing it was based on his personal recovery schedule and gym programme with him expecting to be fully back on a normal programme in a month's time. We all know that players play at below 100% condition all the time. I'd just have liked if the branch had taken less risk with Heenan if more muscular conditioning would have protected the shoulder better.

ouncer · 16-09-2014 08:31PM

It has always been the case in the professional game that players are under pressure to hold their place in the team (not the case with Heenan). As such they rush their recovery. Its been seen time and again. Coupled with this is the youngster mentality of simply wanting to be playing and bored on the sideline. Its a natural human instinct. That's why the decision should not be in the players hands. I would think it unlikely that Heenan would have played if he hadn't said that he felt fit to play. However s/c should have made that decision and not the player. Too often the player is pushing to get back and tries to convince management that they are fit and ready. As said its natural and anyone who has ever played team sports knows this to be true.

former legend · 16-09-2014 08:56PM

Ok I'm going to post this and hope no one takes offence.

Craig Clarke arrived over to Connacht last year and I think it's fair to say that a few eyebrows were raised at Connacht signing a Super Rugby -winning captain. A major coup but a few months later, he was forced to retire. Did his repeated concussion only begin here?

Heenan was a very bright prospect and again, Connacht would not have seemed the most obvious destination. Now he's looking at his second major spell on the sidelines since his arrival on a single injury.

Now Mils Muliaina is here, a player of undoubted class but questionable fitness.

Is it possible that this is a policy at Connacht, to go hunting for quality players who maybe wouldn't normally consider Connacht but whose options are limited by injury problems?

I don't mean to be condescending but this injury to Heenan is a huge setback and it got me thinking.

ouncer · 16-09-2014 09:12PM

former legend wrote: »

Ok I'm going to post this and hope no one takes offence.

Craig Clarke arrived over to Connacht last year and I think it's fair to say that a few eyebrows were raised at Connacht signing a Super Rugby -winning captain. A major coup but a few months later, he was forced to retire. Did his repeated concussion only begin here?

Heenan was a very bright prospect and again, Connacht would not have seemed the most obvious destination. Now he's looking at his second major spell on the sidelines since his arrival on a single injury.

Now Mils Muliaina is here, a player of undoubted class but questionable fitness.

Is it possible that this is a policy at Connacht, to go hunting for quality players who maybe wouldn't normally consider Connacht but whose options are limited by injury problems?

I don't mean to be condescending but this injury to Heenan is a huge setback and it got me thinking.

To my knowledge Jake had no injuries of note prior to joining. As I understand it the reason he joined Connacht was because of huge competition for places at home so he decided to launch his career elsewhere where he would get gametime

Hagz · 16-09-2014 09:20PM

former legend wrote: »

Is it possible that this is a policy at Connacht, to go hunting for quality players who maybe wouldn't normally consider Connacht but whose options are limited by injury problems?

I don't think it's a policy. I think it's a major reason for Clarke and Muliaina going to Connacht, but I don't think it's a Connacht policy no.

Redo91 · 16-09-2014 09:26PM

Hagz wrote: »

I don't think it's a policy. I think it's a major reason for Clarke and Muliaina going to Connacht, but I don't think it's a Connacht policy no.

Not sure what the situation was with Clarke but Leinster and Munster were both in for Muliaina by all accounts (as they were for Aki). A large reason for Muliaina joining us was his relationship with Pat as well as the money on offer.

former legend · 16-09-2014 09:31PM

Redo91 wrote: »

Not sure what the situation was with Clarke but Leinster and Munster were both in for Muliaina by all accounts (as they were for Aki). A large reason for Muliaina joining us was his relationship with Pat as well as the money on offer.

Whatever about Aki, it's hard to believe that Leinster were after Muliaina given they have full backs out the door already.

Tox56 · 16-09-2014 09:40PM

former legend wrote: »

Whatever about Aki, it's hard to believe that Leinster were after Muliaina given they have full backs out the door already.

There isn't a chance Leinster were after him and to be honest id be surprised if Munster were either, they've a load of back 3 players, and even though they don't have that many options at fullback I think if they were looking for one a 34 year old with injury problems wouldn't have been the one.

Redo91 · 16-09-2014 09:42PM

former legend wrote: »

Whatever about Aki, it's hard to believe that Leinster were after Muliaina given they have full backs out the door already.

Apparently the three provinces were biding for the pair of them. I didn't think it made much sense either but that's what I heard anyhow.

ouncer · 16-09-2014 09:54PM

Redo91 wrote: »

Apparently the three provinces were biding for the pair of them. I didn't think it made much sense either but that's what I heard anyhow.

To take the original point aki to date is injury free and the best player signing of the year. Muliaiana is at worst is an inspirational addition to a young back line. So, bottom line, we are not signing injured players. Craig Clarke was an exception and in his time playing was exceptional. So you certainly can't blame recruiting policy. Our recruitment has been fantastic bar a number 10. Oh for ian humphries after watching him last weekend

Zzippy · 16-09-2014 09:58PM

former legend wrote: »

Ok I'm going to post this and hope no one takes offence.

Craig Clarke arrived over to Connacht last year and I think it's fair to say that a few eyebrows were raised at Connacht signing a Super Rugby -winning captain. A major coup but a few months later, he was forced to retire. Did his repeated concussion only begin here?

Heenan was a very bright prospect and again, Connacht would not have seemed the most obvious destination. Now he's looking at his second major spell on the sidelines since his arrival on a single injury.

Now Mils Muliaina is here, a player of undoubted class but questionable fitness.

Is it possible that this is a policy at Connacht, to go hunting for quality players who maybe wouldn't normally consider Connacht but whose options are limited by injury problems?

I don't mean to be condescending but this injury to Heenan is a huge setback and it got me thinking.

Very much doubt that is the case. We were unlucky with Clarke, he was playing fine until he just got one concussion too many, perhaps he was less than honest or due diligence wasn't done prior to signing him but no way would it be policy.
Heenan was having a superb season last year, AFAIK had no previous injury problems with the shoulder. Just bad luck. Or a bad decision to play him so soon...
Muliaina is the only one we know has injury problems, so the only one we're taking a gamble on. Hopefully his contract contains a clause where pay is related to appearances.
We've signed Aki and McCartney who have been playing all season in NZ and appear to have no injury problems. Munster and Leinster were both trying to sign Aki. This would suggest that it's more a case of bad luck, and possibly bad decisions by S&C/coaches re Heenan, than any policy.

AngeGal · 16-09-2014 10:18PM

Yeah to be fair, I don't think Heenan had any problems with his shoulder before his arrival.

It does seem like the diligence on Clarke could have been a bit better but hopefully Connacht have learned from that. With Muliaina there's a lot of additional factors to the signing, whether it's from a commercial standpoint to raise the profile of Connacht Rugby and hopefully get additional numbers in the Sportsground/retain season ticket holders with the absence of Heineken Cup rugby for the first time in three years or from a development perspective, his experience will be hugely helpful to the younger members of the squad. It's well known he is a bit of a risk on the injury front but if he can be a success in other areas and put in even fifteen good performances on the field, he'll have been a very worthwhile signing.

former legend · 16-09-2014 10:28PM

ouncer wrote: »

To take the original point aki to date is injury free and the best player signing of the year.

Eh, steady on, the guy hasn't arrived yet.

Connacht Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread - Part II

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