Connacht Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread - Part II

evil_seed

I wouldn't quite class it as do or die, but I get your point. It's a chance for Connacht to really go and prove themselves. Hopefully there'll be 1 more key addition - a defense coach

CatFromHue

thomond2006 wrote: »

Is it too sensationalist to say that next season is do or die for Connacht? They have signed a few high profile players to complement what already is a good squad. While they have lost their European spot the Challenge Cup offers a chance to progress to the knockout stages. They are one of the few sides in the Pro12 who will have a better squad next season so at the very least a ERCC playoff spot will be expected.

If Connacht can deliver on both fronts next season and get into Europe's top tier for 2015/16 then they'll be taken a lot more seriously by all parties.

They're still 15-20 points off 6th and Lanelli and Cardiff are signing a good few players too.

thomond2006

evil_seed wrote: »

I wouldn't quite class it as do or die, but I get your point. It's a chance for Connacht to really go and prove themselves. Hopefully there'll be 1 more key addition - a defense coach

Maybe Pat Lam should try to convince Kurt McQuilkin to come back to Ireland! That would be the biggest signing of all.

Zzippy

former legend wrote: »

I would wholeheartedly endorse that proposal, yes.



You're contradicting yourself a bit there; the GAA pumped money into Dublin underage hurling so that the benefits would accrue after a few years and that's how it panned out. Putting money into the Connacht pro team, as you advocate, won't really bear fruit unless there are more young players coming through which requires grass-roots investment.

But let's talk about the pro teams so.

As CIARAN_BOYLE points out above, most of the money that comes from central funds comes in the form of player salaries; Connacht just haven't produced the quality of players necessary to get that cash coming in.

Don't get me wrong here, I'm delighted that Connacht are getting this money to attract bigger names. The likes of Henshaw and Marmion need better players around them to reach their full potential; the current Connacht players aren't good enough so they can achieve it either by leaving or by getting better players around them at Connacht, and that requires imports, so I'm all for it.

Agreed, it was funding for underage and coaching that is now paying dividends, but it's about as relevant as your other GAA example.

Your point about quality of players and salaries would be valid IF that was the only difference in funding i.e. all provinces get equal funding and those producing internationals get the added benefit of central contracts. But Connacht get 60% of the budget given the other three, which becomes an even bigger deficit when central contracts are taken into account. I've no problem with central contracts, if you produce players good enough you reap the benefits of having them off your wage bill and paid centrally, but at least start from a level playing field...

Buer

thomond2006 wrote: »

Is it too sensationalist to say that next season is do or die for Connacht? They have signed a few high profile players to complement what already is a good squad. While they have lost their European spot the Challenge Cup offers a chance to progress to the knockout stages. They are one of the few sides in the Pro12 who will have a better squad next season so at the very least a ERCC playoff spot will be expected.

If Connacht can deliver on both fronts next season and get into Europe's top tier for 2015/16 then they'll be taken a lot more seriously by all parties.

Next season is a massive one for Connacht. Given how they've strengthened again and other sides have lost players, they should really be aiming for the top 6 and I would like to think they'll be disappointed if they don't make it.

Lam has been great for attracting talent but, unless they win in Swansea this weekend, they're set to finish on their lowest points total since the expansion of the league. They need to develop some consistency and stop losing games that others look upon as potential BP wins.

This isn't about injuries or budget; the Connacht team last weekend was more than good enough to beat Cardiff who were without Copeland, Warburton, Halfpenny and Patchell.

I would say the aim for next season should be top 6 and Challenge Cup semi finals. May as well aim to the level you're capable of.

Utopia Parkway

thomond2006 wrote: »

Is it too sensationalist to say that next season is do or die for Connacht? They have signed a few high profile players to complement what already is a good squad. While they have lost their European spot the Challenge Cup offers a chance to progress to the knockout stages. They are one of the few sides in the Pro12 who will have a better squad next season so at the very least a ERCC playoff spot will be expected.

If Connacht can deliver on both fronts next season and get into Europe's top tier for 2015/16 then they'll be taken a lot more seriously by all parties.

Connacht still need a defence coach and I think they need a couple of beefy forwards as well to really compete. Unless they get those I think they will be short of qualifying for the RCC or whatever it's called.

The backs cannot make up for all the bad tries being conceded at the other end or when the forwards getting bullied.

Diom

Connacht need a ball carrier, who can take slow ball a couple of steps past the gainline. Without that we will never have the space to allow the backs to really show their quality.

More than a 10 we need an 8/6 with carrying ability. More than either we need a defence coach.

freyners

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Connacht still need a defence coach and I think they need a couple of beefy forwards as well to really compete. Unless they get those I think they will be short of qualifying for the RCC or whatever it's called.

The backs cannot make up for all the bad tries being conceded at the other end or when the forwards getting bullied.

In set pieces we aren't that bad actually. Our lineout is a weapon and our scrum is quite solid normally.

former legend

Diom wrote: »

Connacht need a ball carrier, who can take slow ball a couple of steps past the gainline. Without that we will never have the space to allow the backs to really show their quality.

More than a 10 we need an 8/6 with carrying ability. More than either we need a defence coach.

I can't claim to be an expert on Connacht but I would think a 10 should have been top of the shopping list; they're essentially gambling that Carty or Ronaldson will make a significant step up from what we've seen so far. They may well do so but it's a risk.

CIARAN_BOYLE

former legend wrote: »

I can't claim to be an expert on Connacht but I would think a 10 should have been top of the shopping list; they're essentially gambling that Carty or Ronaldson will make a significant step up from what we've seen so far. They may well do so but it's a risk.

Carty and Ronaldson have shown ability at 10 but neither is an 80% kicker or even much more than a 60% kicker really (at a guess). If Connacht had a quality kicker in the backline I would be confident about either Carty or Ronaldson.

connachta

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Carty and Ronaldson have shown ability at 10 but neither is an 80% kicker or even much more than a 60% kicker really (at a guess). If Connacht had a quality kicker in the backline I would be confident about either Carty or Ronaldson.

They've Leader and Porter

freyners

connachta wrote: »

They've Leader and Porter

Leader is more of a long range specialist than a regular kicker imo. Porter could be a solution but then your leaving out Marmion which, based on current form, aint gonna happen

CIARAN_BOYLE

connachta wrote: »

They've Leader and Porter

How good is Porter with the boot? How good is Leader? How good is O'Leary. Will any of the three start? If they don't start on right is their kicking ability enough of a reason to make them start?

ssaye2

http://www.thescore.ie/wille-ruane-ceo-connacht-1454709-May2014/

Bazzo

There was also an open ad up for applications for a backs coach:

http://www.connachtrugby.ie/job-vacancy-epdo-backs-specialist-at-connacht/#ConnachtNews

Make of that what you will.

CatFromHue

ssaye2 wrote: »

http://www.thescore.ie/wille-ruane-ceo-connacht-1454709-May2014/

Ha who was saying the reported debt is getting bigger? It's up to 900K now :pac::pac:

CatFromHue

Bazzo wrote: »

There was also an open ad up for applications for a backs coach:

http://www.connachtrugby.ie/job-vacancy-epdo-backs-specialist-at-connacht/#ConnachtNews

Make of that what you will.

Fairly short advertising window with the closing date being next Wednesday

Diom

former legend wrote: »

I can't claim to be an expert on Connacht but I would think a 10 should have been top of the shopping list; they're essentially gambling that Carty or Ronaldson will make a significant step up from what we've seen so far. They may well do so but it's a risk.

I would be fairly confident that Carty and Ronaldson will both step up to the plate. Both kick very well at AIL and they are well able for it. As has been suggested also we have Leader who can blast it but I would also give him at chance at shorter range kicks.
Nikora is IMO the most likely candidate for the job next season anyway. He has the ability to run the back line and he is a decent kicker. With Porter a kicking option as well we have plenty of people to give a go to.

What we do not have is someone to get decent yards in an arm-wrestle of a match. Too many times this season this has led to use being forced to use "creative" plays to make progress and subsequently turning the ball over. George is not offering the consistent yards that he used to and that is what we need off the base of the scrum and at first position from our attacking rucks.

Diom

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

How good is Porter with the boot? How good is Leader? How good is O'Leary. Will any of the three start? If they don't start on right is their kicking ability enough of a reason to make them start?

Leader is a likely starter but probably not at outhalf. I'm betting Nikora to start with and Carty/Ronaldson to fight for their chance to impress.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Diom wrote: »

Leader is a likely starter but probably not at outhalf. I'm betting Nikora to start with and Carty/Ronaldson to fight for their chance to impress.

I'm confident of Nikora/Carty/Ronaldson as a OH but I'm not confident about any of them as a kicker which is why I was asking about how good a kicker Leader is.

Anyway I don't see him starting. He is a FB and Mils has to be ahead of him.

ouncer

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

I'm confident of Nikora/Carty/Ronaldson as a OH but I'm not confident about any of them as a kicker which is why I was asking about how good a kicker Leader is.

Anyway I don't see him starting. He is a FB and Mils has to be ahead of him.

I have a difficulty with this viewpoint. Miah has neither the range for goal kicking or touch kicking. I have said in the past that you know what you get with miah. The basis for that comment is because he is very one dimensional and as such predictable and in my view very limited. Now I don't want to be unfair to Craig but he really had a nightmare at 10 this year. His penalty kicking was very poor and it must have knocked the stuffing out of him. Penalty kicking aside he didn't exactly raise the bar in open play. So I rest my belief in carty for no other reason than he hasn't been given the time to prove himself at 10. At buccs he has shown huge ability but it is a big step to replicate that on a professional level. He is a type marmion player with plays that simply are good to watch and for this reason is my first choice.

That said if you read my analysis there is no huge confidence in the 'puppet-master' for next year

wp_rathead

#connachtrugby XV v Ospreys: DL; DP, EG, DMcS, MH; MN, KM; DB, DH, RL; AM, MK; AB, CG, JM: Subs: JD, FB, RAY, MS, EMcK, CB, DP, RH

evil_seed

I wouldn't be play Gilsenan for the simple face that it's our last game of the season, he's only on loan and he's off to LI. I'd have Mul at 7 and play George. But that's just me. Wouldn't change anything else

Diom

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

I'm confident of Nikora/Carty/Ronaldson as a OH but I'm not confident about any of them as a kicker which is why I was asking about how good a kicker Leader is.

Anyway I don't see him starting. He is a FB and Mils has to be ahead of him.

Leader can play on the wing. I'd have him ahead of Healy on current form. Besides I'd imagine that Mils will not be starting every game, Lam has said as much in one of the recent interviews.

Miah hasn't got huge range I agree but I think that he is an intelligent enough outhalf, and certainly brings the line up faster than Parks. To be honest I still don't know enough about Ronaldson's abilities to be able to given a definite opinion on him.

freyners

Diom wrote: »

Leader can play on the wing. I'd have him ahead of Healy on current form. Besides I'd imagine that Mils will not be starting every game, Lam has said as much in one of the recent interviews.

Miah hasn't got huge range I agree but I think that he is an intelligent enough outhalf, and certainly brings the line up faster than Parks. To be honest I still don't know enough about Ronaldson's abilities to be able to given a definite opinion on him.

Healy has been playing well since his return imo, plus he is our best finisher

freyners

wprathead wrote: »

#connachtrugby XV v Ospreys: DL; DP, EG, DMcS, MH; MN, KM; DB, DH, RL; AM, MK; AB, CG, JM: Subs: JD, FB, RAY, MS, EMcK, CB, DP, RH

Blade on the bench, niiiiiiiiiice

Larbre34

freyners wrote: »

Blade on the bench, niiiiiiiiiice

Bit of an extreme tactic for hobbling the Ospreys!

Digifriendly

Ospreys vs Connacht is on BBC2W tomorrow night.

ouncer

Go miah 3-0 connacht

tt GalIrl

Any streams?

its_phil

Defense is just awful

ouncer

Poor defense by Griffen matched by poor defense for ospreys for leader try. Poolman did well. Connacht 8, ospreys 7.

its_phil

Don't know how the ref didn't see obstruction there?!

ouncer

Very poor defense Healy. Ospreys 14, Connacht 8

ouncer

Half time 24-15 to ospreys. Good try by Buckley.

Shelflife

Refs ruck interpretation is unique, has penalised Os twice for hands in the ruck when no ruck had formed.
Os are constantly running interference or crossing without penalty which led to one try and another try was a clear knock on.
That said our defence is brutal.

Strange game.

ouncer

Shelflife wrote: »

Refs ruck interpretation is unique, has penalised Os twice for hands in the ruck when no ruck had formed.
Os are constantly running interference or crossing without penalty which led to one try and another try was a clear knock on.
That said our defence is brutal.

Strange game.

Would suggest game is strange due to poor defense by both teams. Its hard to analyse a game when both teams are playing so poorly

Utopia Parkway

3 tries leaked again in the first half already. And this Ospreys team are having a poor enough season by their own standards.

At least Connacht are scoring tries but they won't progress until they get some sort of defensive structure and solidity in place. It doesn't matter what players they sign until they do that.

ouncer

Bonus point try for ospreys. Mcsharry and griffin invisible. So basic it was brutal. Ospreys 31 to Connacht 15. Mother of the divine. Henshaw in for mcsharry

its_phil

Leader has been excellent

ouncer

its_phil wrote: »

Leader has been excellent

Agreed, of all the backs he is the only one who has performed tonight

ouncer

ouncer wrote: »

Agreed, of all the backs he is the only one who has performed tonight

Thing is itis really strange that the whole back line in totality have been invisible. Miah, marmion, Healy, poolman, mcsharry, griffin and to a lesser extent darragh. Says a lot for the pack would you say

its_phil

Go get another try and finish with a TBP.

ouncer

its_phil wrote: »

Go get another try and finish with a TBP.

Watching this stuff is worse than the paint drying watching experience. Great to have aki and muliana but if the pack is going to be this poor no back line could help. It was simply shockingly bad. Could pick out members of the pack but that would be unfair. As a group they were terrible and the team suffered as a consequence.

connachta

ouncer wrote: »

Watching this stuff is worse than the paint drying watching experience. Great to have aki and muliana but if the pack is going to be this poor no back line could help. It was simply shockingly bad. Could pick out members of the pack but that would be unfair. As a group they were terrible and the team suffered as a consequence.

Unfair that is toward Heffernan, who was very good.

ouncer

connachta wrote: »

Unfair that is toward Heffernan, who was very good.

Strangely I had originally identified heffernan as being very much the weakest link. I always watch new kids coming through with hope, but he threw poorly and seemed to be more off his feet than on his feet. That said he wasn't totally to blame. You need to teach a cohesive unit and the pack were simply clueless

hermano

ouncer wrote: »

Watching this stuff is worse than the paint drying watching experience. Great to have aki and muliana but if the pack is going to be this poor no back line could help. It was simply shockingly bad. Could pick out members of the pack but that would be unfair. As a group they were terrible and the team suffered as a consequence.

Normally its the other way around, the pack are solid and the backline butcher the chances

Hagz

connachta wrote: »

Unfair that is toward Heffernan, who was very good.

Huh? He looked like he was out of his depth for most of the game (understandably).

The difference Henshaw made was glaring. Can't wait to see him outside Aki next season.

connachta

Hagz wrote: »

Huh? He looked like he was out of his depth for most of the game (understandably).

The difference Henshaw made was glaring. Can't wait to see him outside Aki next season.

I saw him advancing every time he had ball in hand, but if everyone tells me the contrary, maybe I'm wrong

ouncer

Had been tempted prior to the game to post that while I have concerns about miahs ability he is an intelligent rugby player. After watching the game he hardly had ball in hand throughout. Tiz kind of logical. If you don't gain possession, you don't win game. It was by no means his fault. It was one of those games where he was least at fault. The gaps between griffin and mcsharry were let's just say big gaps to be nice about about it. Healy is great going forward but simply can't take his man. As its-phil said leader was the best of what was left. Simply put team was not interested. Marmion as scrum half was invisible. How can you be invisible at scrum half unless you simply are not interested