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

connachta

connemara man wrote: »

But what are they bringing talent wise? What specific areas will they improve apart from depth. Are you saying they are Better than all our possible starting locks?

I Said yes depth matters when you play ChampionsCup
I'm convinced one of them is need because of injuries/Irish calls. We can't rely on luck. Lam's squad is all right except that area of weakness
I don't want an All-Black lock, we can afford him, just someone who will be more consistent than a U20. Muldowney/Naoupu played that part. One of Roux/Marshall may step up fast-tracking Aly, but we still need one other guy

connemara man

connachta wrote: »

I Said yes depth matters when you play ChampionsCup
I'm convinced one of them is need because of injuries/Irish calls. We can't rely on luck. Lam's squad is all right except that area of weakness
I don't want an All-Black lock, we can afford him, just someone who will be more consistent than a U20. Muldowney/Naoupu played that part. One of Roux/Marshall may step up fast-tracking Aly, but we still need one other guy

An NIQ spot can't be used on someone who isn't a guaranteed starter it'd be a waste of money. So the depth argument doesn't hold water.



Yeah all this is completely hypothetical

connachta

nothing sparkling but consistency : ITM cup final, 9 months ago, Matenga
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBaTkGC4lQM
(minutes of the video, not the gametime)
1:43 (carrying)
5:32 (carrying)
8:51 (skip-pass)
9:23 (picked dropped ball and run)
9:48 (offensive tackle)
13:15 (offensive tackle and player released)
22:50 (support)
24:39 (lineout catch)
27:18 (succesful contest)
46:00 (kick-off catch and offload)
52:09 (acting scrum-half)
53:45 (earning a pen with lineout contest)
54:30 (winning the lineout properly)
1:04:51 (ruck protection)
1:07:30 (lineout catch)
1:07:45 (pick and go)
1:10:52 (charged a clearence kick)
1:18:15 (good tackle)
1:19:11 (again)
1:29:38 (run and passing game)

Once more, nothing spectacular but clean game which would make him fight for a bench spot at the very least. Depth and quality. And not afraid coming in Europe on reasonable budget (Mont de Marsan Prod2 2011)

Utopia Parkway

I do think we are light at lock. When you consider that Dillane is going to miss a big chunk of the season between Autumn internationals and the 6 Nations and then look at what's left it's not pretty. Especially if you pick up and injury two which you definitely will in that position. We could be looking at a major drop off from having one of the best pair of locks combined in the league last season. Not ideal when you have Champions Cup rugby as well. Muldowney was so important last season I thought his replacement would be priority number one to be honest. But sure let's see what happens I guess.

D14Rugby

has a ground share with Galway United ever been considered? Id say you could easily get that up to 10k and it has an unreal pitch which would suit connachts style of rugby. They've just done up their changing rooms as well so they're all really good just put stands behind the goals and lengthen the pitch a bit and hey presto a really nice little ground in Galway.

The Lost Sheep

D14Rugby wrote: »

has a ground share with Galway United ever been considered? Id say you could easily get that up to 10k and it has an unreal pitch which would suit connachts style of rugby. They've just done up their changing rooms as well so they're all really good just put stands behind the goals and lengthen the pitch a bit and hey presto a really nice little ground in Galway.

Im sure it has but it isn't going to happen.
I really doubt you could virtually double the capacity of Eamon Deacy Park to 10000. If they were to ground share it would have to be a new pitch in new site

D14Rugby

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Im sure it has but it isn't going to happen.
I really doubt you could virtually double the capacity of Eamon Deacy Park to 10000. If they were to ground share it would have to be a new pitch in new site

I dont think it would be too hard to do extend the new stand the length of the pitch, put stands at each end and if thats not enough turn the old stand into a terrace it'd be a cracking little ground

oneofakind32

D14Rugby wrote: »

has a ground share with Galway United ever been considered? Id say you could easily get that up to 10k and it has an unreal pitch which would suit connachts style of rugby. They've just done up their changing rooms as well so they're all really good just put stands behind the goals and lengthen the pitch a bit and hey presto a really nice little ground in Galway.

I herd that they recently got a bar license up there which is big plus. Pitch would need to be lengthened a bit. Temporary stand could be added behind the goals as needed. It's owned by the Galway Branch of the FAI as far as I know. I'm sure they would have no problem renting the place out but changes like lengthening the pitch would require investment from the IRFU / Connacht Rugby. They might need to do something about Parking there as well if they are going to 5,000 on a regular basis.
The surface is immaculate up there also. I'm sure the grounds keeping staff wont be too happy about having scrums on in December, January, February.

The Lost Sheep

D14Rugby wrote: »

I dont think it would be too hard to do extend the new stand the length of the pitch, put stands at each end and if thats not enough turn the old stand into a terrace it'd be a cracking little ground

There isn't enough room to do it. There isn't parking or enough room for other facilities. Access to ground if you doubled capacity would be a nightmare with so much extra traffic on the dyke road

D14Rugby

oneofakind32 wrote: »

I herd that they recently got a bar license up there which is big plus. Pitch would need to be lengthened a bit. Temporary stand could be added behind the goals as needed. It's owned by the Galway Branch of the FAI as far as I know. I'm sure they would have no problem renting the place out but changes like lengthening the pitch would require investment from the IRFU / Connacht Rugby. They might need to do something about Parking there as well if they are going to 5,000 on a regular basis.
The surface is immaculate up there also. I'm sure the grounds keeping staff wont be too happy about having scrums on in December, January, February.

LOI is a summer league so they wouldn't be too bothered about the scrums. Looking on google earth theres a car park behind one end but if you lengthen the pitch in that direction and put a stand there then buy the field across the road and put the car park there it would be perfect.
Right where do i sign up to become a connacht rugby board member I've this all sorted

D14Rugby

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

There isn't enough room to do it. There isn't parking or enough room for other facilities. Access to ground if you doubled capacity would be a nightmare with so much extra traffic on the dyke road

Widen the road then and put an exit off the N6 for it (think thats the road). Its a stadium without a track around it with all the basics the other problems are just minor ones and with a bit of creative thinking could easily be worked around

The Lost Sheep

D14Rugby wrote: »

Widen the road then and put an exit off the N6 for it (think thats the road). Its a stadium without a track around it with all the basics the other problems are just minor ones and with a bit of creative thinking could easily be worked around

There is in no way enough room to widen the dyke road and put an exit onto it.
There isn't enough room on that site for what you are looking for.
The site is a bottleneck to get out of in its current state and a proposal to significantly expand it wouldn't get accepted

former total

D14Rugby wrote: »

Widen the road then and put an exit off the N6 for it (think thats the road). Its a stadium without a track around it with all the basics the other problems are just minor ones and with a bit of creative thinking could easily be worked around

:eek: Who's going to pay for all that?!

D14Rugby

former total wrote: »

:eek: Who's going to pay for all that?!

I'm sure between the IRFU/Connacht Rugby, Galway football, Galway council and the government they could come up with the money especially if this replaced the one they want to build on the docks or wherever the latest rumour for it to be is.

connemara man

D14Rugby wrote: »

I'm sure between the IRFU/Connacht Rugby, Galway football, Galway council and the government they could come up with the money especially if this replaced the one they want to build on the docks or wherever the latest rumour for it to be is.

that road would cost more than any stadium revamp. The dyke road is basically marshes to either side would need serious underpinning! let alone the houses that are on the roads edge just up from the stadium.

BrokenMan

I can see why you might think its feasible looking at a map but the road layout around there just doesnt allow it. The N6 at that point is a raised road with a very tight and low 'tunnel' under it heading up to the Pitch. THat and the fact that it can be one of the worst traffic blackspots in the evening just doesn't make it feasible.There's a ridiculously tight bridge just before the pitch as well. Further up the road is residential so there's no option to widen it.
As for the field across the road, Id hate to think what that would actually cost

Zzippy

Like others have said, the site is far too tight. To incorporate the in-goal areas alone would entail taking most of the car park, with no room for a stand/terrace. Even extending the stands along both sides wouldn't even bring it up to the current capacity of the Sportsground. The only feasible way to do it would be to CPO some of the field opposite in order to extend, knock the clubhouse, reroute the Dyke Road westwards, build a new bridge over the Terryland River, and not alone would this be prohibitively expensive, but you'd still have no parking, poor access roads, and no room for other facilities like gym, training pitch, admin offices, etc.

D14Rugby

BrokenMan wrote: »

I can see why you might think its feasible looking at a map but the road layout around there just doesnt allow it. The N6 at that point is a raised road with a very tight and low 'tunnel' under it heading up to the Pitch. THat and the fact that it can be one of the worst traffic blackspots in the evening just doesn't make it feasible.There's a ridiculously tight bridge just before the pitch as well. Further up the road is residential so there's no option to widen it.
As for the field across the road, Id hate to think what that would actually cost

True ive only ever been to the stadium once or twice and don't live in Galway so don't know the area so I just saw a stadium with the basis of a cracking little ground with no track around it and potential expansion either end. Is the access/ potential access (I notice there's an empty housing plot that would be a good entrance/exit) really that much worse than the showgrounds?

Zzippy

D14Rugby wrote: »

True ive only ever been to the stadium once or twice and don't live in Galway so don't know the area so I just saw a stadium with the basis of a cracking little ground with no track around it and potential expansion either end. Is the access/ potential access (I notice there's an empty housing plot that would be a good entrance/exit) really that much worse than the showgrounds?

Yes, far worse. Further from city centre, no bus route, no parking, narrow road with a one-car only bottleneck bridge and a low bridge to go under so larger vehicle access from one direction only. Also, I think the plot you're referring to is a green area in a private housing development.

Robbo

Gotta love today's missive to Season Ticket holders. Apparently we've access to a "no-holes-barred" training session on August 26th. Saucy.

irishbucsfan

Robbo wrote: »

Gotta love today's missive to Season Ticket holders. Apparently we've access to a "no-holes-barred" training session on August 26th. Saucy.

Did it actually say that?! :pac:

Zzippy

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Did it actually say that?! :pac:

Yep!

Season Ticket Holder's Event - Save The Date
We are delighted to advise you that as a Season Ticket Holder you are invited to an exclusive Season Ticket Holder's event at the Sportsground on Friday the 26th of August at 4pm. You will have exclusive access to watch the team in a no-holes-barred training session as they compete for a place in the opening game of the season against Glasgow Warriors the following week. You will be joined by the team and management after the game for a questions and answers session. An invitation confirming times and how to access the event will be emailed to you in the coming week.

former total

Zzippy

I think what they really meant was - "No matter how small the hole, Bundee's going through it!"

Adbrowne

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Did it actually say that?! :pac:

Is Vince McMahon writing the invites for connacht season ticket holders ?

Diabhal Beag

Strictly over-18's only

stephen_n

connachta wrote: »

if we can't have a 'marquee" one, a good 30 years old ITM will hold the house. Better than a U20 inside an already young engine room. sorry to downsize the input of the Academy guys, I just think they are in year 1 and need 2 or 3 years to be in a senior squad

You can have Triggs

connachta

stephen_n wrote: »

connachta wrote: »

if we can't have a 'marquee" one, a good 30 years old ITM will hold the house. Better than a U20 inside an already young engine room. sorry to downsize the input of the Academy guys, I just think they are in year 1 and need 2 or 3 years to be in a senior squad

You can have Triggs

no, thanks

Hagz

You have spent the last few pages essentially asking for Connacht to sign locks of a lower calibre/standard. But whatever.

connachta

Hagz wrote: »

You have spent the last few pages essentially asking for Connacht to sign locks of a lower calibre/standard. But whatever.

28-30 y.o decent lock yes. not a 34 and a half coming from a disappointing time in Dublin

wp_rathead

connachta, Hayden Triggs has played 64 Super Rugby games and over a 100 ITM games - he is exactly the kind of player you've been advocating we sign over the last few pages

connachta

No I asked for a current ITM Cup guy, on the fringe of super rugby maybe, like McCartney/Matamua were. Not very famous/expensive but who can provide some quality 80 min shifts, spread on the whole season or 2 (time needed for our Academy lads to step up bit by bit). Triggs was clearly on the decline this spring.

ClanofLams

I can't recall any signing being announced this late so would be surprised if it happens. There must be some confidence that the academy guys Romaine, Claffey or Gallagher can do a job if needed.

Have been very impressed with Gallagher every time I've seen him, future international I think, still very young for senior rugby though, especially in the 2nd or back row.

Possible that they think SOB 2.0 can perform in the row too, though think he's a 6 personally.

It's a pity we couldn't keep Naoupu really, he did well when called upon last season. Will be interesting to see how much game time Qualter gets this season too, didn't get a lot last season but impressed when he played.

connachta

ClanofLams wrote: »

Possible that they think SOB 2.0 can perform in the row too, though think he's a 6 personally.

It's a pity we couldn't keep Naoupu really, he did well when called upon last season. Will be interesting to see how much game time Qualter gets this season too, didn't get a lot last season but impressed when he played.

SOB is too small too thin for a lock
And I watched again this afternoon Qualter's game against Ospreys. Which is considered as a good one for him, but when you look closer, he's outsped as soon as the rythm is accelerated (2 costly missed tackles, 1 knock-on on the tryline)

And what I see is
Dillane will be absent for 9-10 weeks with Joe (at best, including rest time but no injuries)
Even if Roux isn't capped, you can reasonably expect one of Browne/Marshall/Quinn will be unavaible because of a knock/injury
Which means, except with unlikely luck, one of Qualter/SOB/U20 guy will have to play several games in 2nd row, on the bench in the best case
And I'm not happy with that. Opposition will make us pay one single weak area. Connacht won this year because they had none, not because they had exceptional players (except Bundee, right)

ClanofLams

According to stats online, SOB is 6'4 and 108kg. Mick Kearney is an inch taller and Hayden Triggs is the same weight. O'Brien may fill out a little more too considering he's 22 and has had some lengthy injury periods. Of course it would be better if he was an inch or two taller if playing him in the second row but I don't think it automatically disqualifies him at all.

I agree with you that a 2nd row would have been a welcome addition but considering it's so unlikely at this stage I am happy to trust the coaching ticket. They have earned it after all!

connachta

ClanofLams wrote: »

According to stats online, SOB is 6'4 and 108kg. Mick Kearney is an inch taller and Hayden Triggs is the same weight. O'Brien may fill out a little more too considering he's 22 and has had some lengthy injury periods. Of course it would be better if he was an inch or two taller if playing him in the second row but I don't think it automatically disqualifies him at all.

I agree with you that a 2nd row would have been a welcome addition but considering it's so unlikely at this stage I am happy to trust the coaching ticket. They have earned it after all!

You need to compare to Muldowney, Toner, Itoje (the latter is not that heavy/tall indeed) etc. And height can't be added except a wee bit with intensive swimming sessions maybe .
You're right to say it's not a pure catastrophe if nobody comes ; but even if Leader has another period post-surgery, I still question the signing of both Rowland and Kelleher instead of just one of them + a second row on the same money.

The explanation may be simple : there's none available. If you look on the previous page, 3 N-Z lock I quoted are already signed in France/Japan, maybe the few others are on the verge to be (re)-signed too...Add to the picture the IQ locks on the market having chosen England again (Sexton, Flannagan, Sheriff) or Munster/Leinster (Darren O'Shea, Ian Nagle).

That would explain why Lam didn't say recruitement was over. He may be just trying his best until the last deadline possible, with the little money he has.

Zzippy

SOB too thin! I've heard it all now...

blackhound

So what are people hoping for from this season? Personally I think top 4 position in the pro12 and getting out of the group stages of the Champions Cup would be a fantastic season.

MarinersBlues

I'd be satisfied with top 6 and being competitive in Europe. (I'd say about 60% chance)
Top 4 would be fantastic. (I'd say about 30% chance)
Knock outs in Europe would be just divine. (I'd say about 22% chance)

b.gud

blackhound wrote: »

So what are people hoping for from this season? Personally I think top 4 position in the pro12 and getting out of the group stages of the Champions Cup would be a fantastic season.

If we don't win the Pro12, Champions Cup, Super Rugby and the Olympic 7s the season will be a complete failure in my eyes!

connachta

b.gud wrote: »

blackhound wrote: »

So what are people hoping for from this season? Personally I think top 4 position in the pro12 and getting out of the group stages of the Champions Cup would be a fantastic season.

If we don't win the Pro12, Champions Cup, Super Rugby and the Olympic 7s the season will be a complete failure in my eyes!

Indeed 7's is Lam's target, as he prefered wingers to locks

connachta

For those still optimistic for ChampionsCup, LeRoux just signed for Wasps. More caps than the entire Connacht team.

ClanofLams

connachta wrote: »

For those still optimistic for ChampionsCup, LeRoux just signed for Wasps. More caps than the entire Connacht team.

So does Zane Kirchner.

Connacht showed last season that teams with more recognised names don't automatically win. Not even a pre season game played yet, bit early to be getting pessimistic!

b.gud

connachta wrote: »

Indeed 7's is Lam's target, as he prefered wingers to locks

I'm buying a car at the minute. What I want is a new 2.0 litre 300 bhp Golf type R what I'm most likely getting is a 2nd hand Lexus hybrid which is the best option available to me within my budget.

I'm sure Lam would love to recruit a lock but maybe he feels what is available to him isn't the right fit for us

former total

The le Roux signing is unlikely to affect Connacht as he's not arriving until after the Japanese season.

b.gud

former total wrote: »

The le Roux signing is unlikely to affect Connacht as he's not arriving until after the Japanese season.

Plus his form lately hasn't exactly been immense.

b.gud

Harris-Wright joins London Irish http://www.london-irish.com/news/london-irish-augments-squad-as-start-of-season-draws-near/bp975/

*Edit hadn't realised Lost Sheep posted this in the General Rugby thread, but it's probably good to show it here anyway as a lot of Connacht fans will be interested to see where he ends up

wp_rathead

Brilliant
Delighted for him, with a fully fit squad I would have had him on bench behind only Tom
Here's hoping Fionn and the rest find a club

civis_liberalis

Might be of interest...

Pat Lam and his @connachtrugby players and staff are our special guests at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night. #GUFC

oneofakind32

civis_liberalis wrote: »

Might be of interest...

Pat Lam and his @connachtrugby players and staff are our special guests at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night. #GUFC

Heading down to check out the facilities. Could there be something in the works?