Connacht Rugby Thread - Part III - The Violence of the Lams

b.gud

wp_rathead wrote: »

Retallick - Dillane partnership confirmed

I now need to go home on lunch to change my trousers

connachta

Yeah_Right wrote: »

Well it isn't Tuipolotu. He just re-signed to NZ till 2019. And Ainley is a bit old. It could be one already in Europe like Thrush or Hoeata.


And all kiwis love seafood. It's compulsory

Sadly same for Thrush in Gloucester. It will be some guy straight from N-Z I hope...

connachta

porterbelly wrote: »

Romano is rumoured to be off to Toulon, doubt we'll compete with them

No more

TRANSFERT - Le deuxième ligne néo-zélandais, Luke Romano (30 ans ; 22 sélections), ne devrait pas rejoindre Toulon la saison prochaine, comme le mentionne La Provence.

In English : Toulon is no more interested according to a local newspaper 2 days ago (too many locks). Very possible now!!!

Cosmo Kramer

Yeah_Right wrote: »

Well it isn't Tuipolotu. He just re-signed to NZ till 2019. And Ainley is a bit old. It could be one already in Europe like Thrush or Hoeata.


And all kiwis love seafood. It's compulsory

Scott Barrett maybe? Probably wishful thinking on the basis that he has lived in Ireland before but he'd be a hell of a signing to replace Muldowney. He's probably close to an ABs call up though so might not want to switch.

FACECUTTR

porterbelly wrote: »

Don't think it will be Ryan now

Kiwi second row to replace Muldowney

Is a Craig Clarke kinda profile or somebody off the radar ? Could we still be getting Bent ? I think he would be a very good deal too.

connachta

We are in Champion Cup FFS, we have to strengthen the squad, Academy boys are no more enough to face Toulon, Leicester etc, in case of injuries

Bent (White + Loughney ageing) + the N-Z lock (for Muldowney) + Dom Ryan (for Naoupu) + 1 utility back (for Carr/Api) are just what we need.

thomond2006

Bent re-signed with Leinster: http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/news/14649.php#.VxeQu0wrLs0

connachta

**** where did this rumour come from then? now Dom Ryan to West please

sydthebeat

Yeah_Right wrote: »

Well it isn't Tuipolotu. He just re-signed to NZ till 2019. And Ainley is a bit old. It could be one already in Europe like Thrush or Hoeata.


And all kiwis love seafood. It's compulsory

keep yer hands off our locks!!

Bazzo

sydthebeat wrote: »

jeep yer hands off our locks!!

Yeah_Right is a kiwi so it's grand.

Keep the names coming there by the way, I swear I'm not compiling a list to send on to Pat.

sydthebeat

Bazzo wrote: »

Yeah_Right is a kiwi so it's grand.

Keep the names coming there by the way, I swear I'm not compiling a list to send on to Pat.

im getting onto him cos he's named 3 highlanders locks already as suggestions for connacht

wp_rathead

I'd imagine you are safe sydethebeat, all Lam's NZ signings have been from Northern Island afaik (Tom, Heenan and Fox from Auckland, Clarke and Bundee from Chiefs)

cosalofa

Dominic Ryan is still under contract at Leinster for next year. Maybe there is a possiblity of getting him on loan like we did for Cooney.

porterbelly

We won't be getting Dom Ryan

irishbucsfan

Connacht don't need Dom Ryan

Dom Ryan is needed up at our development province, Ulster

Mr Tickle

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Connacht don't need Dom Ryan

Dom Ryan is needed up at our development province, Ulster

Munster could even use him more than connacht. the whole first choice back row are likely to be away on international duty at the same time.

connachta

Yeah_Right wrote: »

Romano is off contract this year I think.

I've made my fan homework, if he is really an All-black-capped lock, when I eliminated those who re-signed in N-Z or Europe, remains 3 possibilities in addition to Romano

Anthony BORIC, playing in Japan after severe injury, but still "only" 32
Isaac Beattie Ross, same, Japan, 32
and last but not least Tom Donnelly, off contract from Montpellier, 35 but could have one last year to finish his career on a high!

thomond2006

Mr Tickle wrote: »

Munster could even use him more than connacht. the whole first choice back row are likely to be away on international duty at the same time.

I think it's unlikely all POM, TOD and Stander would be in an Irish 23. In any case Munster have DOC and JOC as backups.

Mr Tickle

thomond2006 wrote: »

I think it's unlikely all POM, TOD and Stander would be in an Irish 23. In any case Munster have DOC and JOC as backups.

agreed but any two of them would be in most irish 23's.

he'd probably end up in a similar position to where he is with leinster though.

Connacht are more in need of 8's than more flankers. Ideally a nice big one.

Stan27

Mr Tickle wrote: »

agreed but any two of them would be in most irish 23's.

he'd probably end up in a similar position to where he is with leinster though.

Connacht are more in need of 8's than more flankers. Ideally a nice big one.

Do we really need any more 8's. I would prefer to give more game time to the 2 eoins. Muldoon can slot in also until Masterson is ready

Bazzo

Yeah I still don't get the calls for a back rower, I know some of ye are set on it but it doesn't make sense to me. Who does this no 8 displace? Masterson or McKeon? They would have to be a very very good buy in to displace either of them IMO, and the same goes for 6 and 7 so it just doesn't make sense to me.

If we want to get a ball carrier into the pack then we should recruit a second row who's got that ability, it's far from unheard of.

ClanofLams

No injury update this week? Is it only match weeks they do them?

swiwi_

Yeah_Right wrote: »

Going by Lam getting young(ish) no-names from NZ like Heenan, Clarke, Ah You and Aki, it may be the same with the lock. There's a few floating around. Reddish, Barrett, Wheeler.

Barrett's not going anywhere. He's got future AB fairly written on him with his form this year.

Reddish & Wheeler maybe...

With the new contracts I expect NZ players to be less likely to leave unless larger contracts on offer. Or a chance to be pseudo-Irish and play international rugby I suppose.

wp_rathead

ClanofLams wrote: »

No injury update this week? Is it only match weeks they do them?

Lads have time off for few days - Meaning gonna be a lengthy injury list come next week involving bouncy castles and see-saws

FACECUTTR

Bazzo wrote: »

Yeah I still don't get the calls for a back rower, I know some of ye are set on it but it doesn't make sense to me. Who does this no 8 displace? Masterson or McKeon? They would have to be a very very good buy in to displace either of them IMO, and the same goes for 6 and 7 so it just doesn't make sense to me.

If we want to get a ball carrier into the pack then we should recruit a second row who's got that ability, it's far from unheard of.

I think we do need a specialist 8 as Muldoon is fine short term but is a 6. Masterson won't be back until December. McKeon is not playing there every game either. SOB could do a job there if given the chance but he would be learning on the job and we need to be on the ball in every game next season as every team will be waiting for us to fall.

connemara man

wp_rathead wrote: »

Lads have time off for few days - Meaning gonna be a lengthy injury list come next week involving bouncy castles and see-saws

tiddlyinks is the real worry I hear

swiwi_

wp_rathead wrote: »

Retallick - Dillane partnership confirmed

John Retallick. Brodie's younger brother. The shorter fatter one. Bit of a squint, slight limp after childhood polio. But he's always willing to give it a go.

Bazzo

FACECUTTR wrote: »

I think we do need a specialist 8 as Muldoon is fine short term but is a 6. Masterson won't be back until December. McKeon is not playing there every game either. SOB could do a job there if given the chance but he would be learning on the job and we need to be on the ball in every game next season as every team will be waiting for us to fall.

What's the point in signing a player to cover 8 for a few months though? McKeon might not be playing there every week but that's not because he's not able, he's a specialist 8 who covers 7 more than anything else and the current set up is Pat getting the best balance/players available on the field. Once Heenan OR Nepia or both are back it'll be 6. Muldoon 7. Heenan/Fox-Matamua 8. McKeon until Masterson is back. On the off-chance McKeon gets injured in the few months of playing time there is until Masterson is due back there's always Muldoon to cover there or as you said SOB in a stretch.

Zzippy

swiwi_ wrote: »

Barrett's not going anywhere. He's got future AB fairly written on him with his form this year.

Reddish & Wheeler maybe...

With the new contracts I expect NZ players to be less likely to leave unless larger contracts on offer. Or a chance to be pseudo-Irish and play international rugby I suppose.

Ah we're just paying ye back. Your lot started it all with Dave Gallaher...

Yeah_Right

sydthebeat wrote: »

im getting onto him cos he's named 3 highlanders locks already as suggestions for connacht

Rather Highlanders than Blues

To be honest, I think it'll be Bekhuis. Or some youngster with a couple of Super caps.

FACECUTTR

Yeah_Right wrote: »

Rather Highlanders than Blues

To be honest, I think it'll be Bekhuis. Or some youngster with a couple of Super caps.

I think Bekhuis signed for Lyon

swiwi_

Yeah_Right wrote: »

Rather Highlanders than Blues

To be honest, I think it'll be Bekhuis. Or some youngster with a couple of Super caps.

Bekhuis has already signed for Lyon.

connachta

and your opinion about this Donnelly?

Yeah_Right

Donnelly. He was alway a good solid journeyman. Never flashy or spectacular, just did all the core duties of a lock. I believe his call up to the ABs was due to a couple of injuries and he did the job. If he's fit and healthy, then he would be a good buy.

ClanofLams

Can't remember too many signings by Lam of that age. More likely to be a 22 year old most of us have never heard of.

connachta

ClanofLams wrote: »

Can't remember too many signings by Lam of that age. More likely to be a 22 year old most of us have never heard of.

Dillane is already 23. Roux and Marshall have very little experience of big games. Kind of journeyman like Donnelly is worthwhile for ChampionsCup. Once again, it's not because our academy/young guns are great that you must rely entirely on them

ClanofLams

connachta wrote: »

Dillane is already 23. Roux and Marshall have very little experience of big games. Kind of journeyman like Donnelly is worthwhile for ChampionsCup. Once again, it's not because our academy/young guns are great that you must rely entirely on them

There's a fair few lads who already have experience. White, Buckley, Muldoon, Heenan, McKeon, Marmion, etc.

I'm not saying it will be someone that young but it won't be a 34 year old I would think based on Lams record.

connachta

ClanofLams wrote: »

There's a fair few lads who already have experience. White, Buckley, Muldoon, Heenan, McKeon, Marmion, etc.

I'm not saying it will be someone that young but it won't be a 34 year old I would think based on Lams record.

Marmion is not experienced for a SH, neither is Buckley for a prop. Heenan barely played. White won't start because of Bealham. McKeon hasn't prooved to be a leader. Don't get me wrong they are all great, just not what Donnelly could bring (except Muldoon, but he'll be in competition with SOB and Heenan, whereas Donnelly or any other lock may be right in the starting XV with Ultan)

ClanofLams

connachta wrote: »

Marmion is not experienced for a SH, neither is Buckley for a prop. Heenan barely played. White won't start because of Bealham. McKeon hasn't prooved to be a leader. Don't get me wrong they are all great, just not what Donnelly could bring (except Muldoon, but he'll be in competition with SOB and Heenan, whereas Donnelly or any other lock may be right in the starting XV with Ultan)

Most of them guys played in the win afainst Toulouse. Marmion has loads of experience for his age, two seasons of Heineken Cup rugby.

Muldoon will be starting. He's playing better than ever.

Montpelier weren't even in the champions cup this season. A 28 year old who has had a few seasons of super rugby is a far better fit than a guy who is 35 in October.

The likes of McCartney and Aki have loads of experience too.

b.gud

connachta wrote: »

Marmion is not experienced for a SH, neither is Buckley for a prop. Heenan barely played. White won't start because of Bealham. McKeon hasn't prooved to be a leader. Don't get me wrong they are all great, just not what Donnelly could bring (except Muldoon, but he'll be in competition with SOB and Heenan, whereas Donnelly or any other lock may be right in the starting XV with Ultan)

Marmion has nearly 90 caps for Connacht and was playing in the Heineken cup 4 years ago so I don't think it's fair to say that he's inexperienced. He'd have the same cup experience as Henshaw I doubt any Leinster fans are going to be worrying about his experience

connachta

ClanofLams wrote: »

Most of them guys played in the win afainst Toulouse. Marmion has loads of experience for his age, two seasons of Heineken Cup rugby.

Muldoon will be starting. He's playing better than ever.

Montpelier weren't even in the champions cup this season. A 28 year old who has had a few seasons of super rugby is a far better fit than a guy who is 35 in October.

The likes of McCartney and Aki have loads of experience too.

28 would bae great. But ClanofLams talked about an unknonw Kiwi of 22. All I 'm saying is Connacht would benefit more from Donnelly than a 22 y.o. In Toulouse, I was there, and players like Carr Wilkinson Clarke gave a crucial hand to young guns. We haven't Muldowney anymore, desperately need that kind of guy ; we can't afford to have someone young, even talented, with a day off in the engine room. Toulon and Sarries would make us pay horribly

ClanofLams

connachta wrote: »

28 would bae great. But ClanofLams talked about an unknonw Kiwi of 22. All I 'm saying is Connacht would benefit more from Donnelly than a 22 y.o. In Toulouse, I was there, and players like Carr Wilkinson Clarke gave a crucial hand to young guns. We haven't Muldowney, desperately need that kind of guy we can't afford to have someone young with a day off in the engine room. Toulon and Sarries would make us pay horribly

It depends on the player not the age. I just said it was more likely to be a 22 year old than a 34 year old. I don't think it will be either but the former is more likely than the latter.

If I was to guess I would say it will be someone around 28, an unheralded player like McCartney but one Lam thinks can make a real impact. There's plenty of experienced heads around with McCartney Muldoon Marmion Boshoff Aki anyway despite the young side.

connachta

ClanofLams wrote: »

It depends on the player not the age. I just said it was more likely to be a 22 year old than a 34 year old. I don't think it will be either but the former is more likely than the latter.

If I was to guess I would say it will be someone around 28, an unheralded player like McCartney but one Lam thinks can make a real impact. There's plenty of experienced heads around with McCartney Muldoon Marmion Boshoff Aki anyway despite the young side.

Not enough in the pack to gain meters ball in hands and tighten the defence close to the rucks when needed. That's how a 2nd row can be a game-changer

ClanofLams

connachta wrote: »

Not enough in the pack to gain meters ball in hands and tighten the defence close to the rucks when needed. That's how a 2nd row can be a game-changer

Grand all I'm saying is I highly doubt Connacht are going to be signing a 34 year old. There's also nothing to suggest Lam isn't aware of a young kiwi capable of making an immediate impact. Experience is valuable but it doesn't generally make you that much better a ball carrier.

Realistically our focus next season isn't the Champions Cup. Of course with a good seeding and a favourable draw we might have a shot at making the quarter finals but it's an uphill challenge.

Lam will be focused on developing the team further and trying to challenge for the league again. I doubt a guy who probably only has a year left in the legs is in his thoughts.

connachta

ClanofLams wrote: »

Grand all I'm saying is I highly doubt Connacht are going to be signing a 34 year old. There's also nothing to suggest Lam isn't aware of a young kiwi capable of making an immediate impact. Experience is valuable but it doesn't generally make you that much better a ball carrier.

Realistically our focus next season isn't the Champions Cup. Of course with a good seeding and a favourable draw we might have a shot at making the quarter finals but it's an uphill challenge.

Lam will be focused on developing the team further and trying to challenge for the league again. I doubt a guy who probably only has a year left in the legs is in his thoughts.

I disagree. Heenan committing for 2 years is preparing the future.

But we also have to go as much as we can afford for Champions Cup : Cardiff Edinburgh Ospreys were better and better this season, and I do think we have to capitalize on what we have done now. Including with one or two journeymen signed just for next season

Bazzo

I don't think Pat is going to worry about age too much unless they're too far the wrong side of 30. He puts a lot of trust in young guys, I'd say he's more interested in recruiting someone with the right skillset than worrying about their age profile.

Billysays no

ClanofLams wrote: »

Grand all I'm saying is I highly doubt Connacht are going to be signing a 34 year old. There's also nothing to suggest Lam isn't aware of a young kiwi capable of making an immediate impact. Experience is valuable but it doesn't generally make you that much better a ball carrier.

Realistically our focus next season isn't the Champions Cup. Of course with a good seeding and a favourable draw we might have a shot at making the quarter finals but it's an uphill challenge.

Lam will be focused on developing the team further and trying to challenge for the league again. I doubt a guy who probably only has a year left in the legs is in his thoughts.

last 34 year old was muliaina. never again

connachta

Billysays no wrote: »

last 34 year old was muliaina. never again

34 for a FB is not the same than 34 for a lock. Do you think POC last season with Munster was such a disaster?

Cosmo Kramer

Anyone know what the story is regarding the four lads that haven't had their contracts renewed but haven't been confirmed as leaving?

Shane O'Leary I think has done enough to earn a new contract, especially given that he covers 10 and centre. With all our other out half options likely to feature in a first choice 23 next season we need someone like Shane to offer cover. He might even be worth a two year deal imo.

With both Muldowney and Naoupu leaving, even if a Kiwi second row is signed, there's room in the squad for Danny Qualter. He's shown enough in his few appearances to suggest that there's potential there if he can get some more game time next season.

It's harder to know with JP Cooney and Conor Finn because we have seen little enough of them due to injury. The fact that they weren't named in the list of departures suggests they'll get another 1 year contract each but then again maybe there's some doubt as nothing has been announced yet.

This two week break would seem a good time to get all the existing players contracted for next year.

mjp

Any update on Aki injury or will we hear from them again until next week?