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

ClanofLams

The opinions of saffers who have been watching him in years seems to be that's he a good goalkicker solid defender but a bit limited in attack. Time will tell I guess.

I'd love AJ to stay but I doubt Connacht are gonna be allowed two NIQ 10s.

Robbo

ClanofLams wrote: »

The opinions of saffers who have been watching him in years seems to be that's he a good goalkicker solid defender but a bit limited in attack. Time will tell I guess.

I'd love AJ to stay but I doubt Connacht are gonna be allowed two NIQ 10s.

Half of Munsterfans would march on d'IRFU at the sheer perceived injustice of it all.

connachta

ClanofLams wrote: »

The opinions of saffers who have been watching him in years seems to be that's he a good goalkicker solid defender but a bit limited in attack. Time will tell I guess.

Maybe in the past. But quite recent videos will always be a better indication than the best "authorized" opinion. Except in case of injury comeback, which was no more the situation.

connachta

Boshoff makes good restarts too, new for Connacht

81% carreer kicking success rate in August

Billysays no

porterbelly wrote: »

And Eric

It was Eric who made the first wave of high profile signings in Dan Parks, Willie Faloon, and Nathan White.

I would attribute to eric more weight to the development of the academy which is now seeing a flood of quality players coming. Parata, connolly, Robb, delahunt, sob2, quarter, Finn, and they just keep coming.

Eric had an impossible job with a back line that simply were so young and so inexperienced but he did his best. These guys have now grown up to be fine players. He deserves credit for understanding their ability.

Pat has brought it to the next level, but yes eric had laid a foundation. It was a shaky foundation but he saw the talent and believed in it. Now we move to new levels but Eric's belief in those kids has been proven correct by pat.

ki

After reading an article today, I supect AJ will be playing the New American Rugby League. There is a 12 week season. He would be a marque signing for one of the franchises. Once its over he could resign or go to Munster.

Billysays no

ki wrote: »

After reading an article today, I supect AJ will be playing the New American Rugby League. There is a 12 week season. He would be a marque signing for one of the franchises. Once its over he could resign or go to Munster.

As we all get caught up in the hype that is Connacht these days I would suspect that aj would not leave voluntarily.

And while Leinster have the game in hand I rather the points in the bag. Leinster have to earn every yard to catch us. We have already crossed that measurement. So leinster, look up because that's us at the top.. Come get us.

b.gud

ki wrote: »

After reading an article today, I supect AJ will be playing the New American Rugby League. There is a 12 week season. He would be a marque signing for one of the franchises. Once its over he could resign or go to Munster.

Got a link? I'd be interested in reading the article

ki

b.gud wrote: »

Got a link? I'd be interested in reading the article

http://www.the42.ie/usa-pro-rugby-irish-links-rosters-squads-2662985-Mar2016/

typhoony

i hope this is photoshopped...

https://twitter.com/TheDailBar1/status/710225413218410497

Billysays no

typhoony wrote: »

i hope this is photoshopped...

https://twitter.com/TheDailBar1/status/710225413218410497

Is that bicycle supporting Rodney?

wp_rathead

Apparently John Muldoon fell of his bike aswell ha

case885

Robbo wrote:

Half of Munsterfans would march on d'IRFU at the sheer perceived injustice of it all.

That's funny as it wasn't too long ago Connacht fans were marching up to D4 :pac

Billysays no

case885 wrote: »

That's funny as it wasn't too long ago Connacht fans were marching up to D4 :pac

And we had every right to do so. We were stripped left, right and centre of our best players by the other provinces. It wasnt the players fault. We were ****e so it was well justified. Now players want to move to connacht.

That aside we were screwed by the other provinces in those days as we were easy pickings. Those days are over

wp_rathead

Billysays no wrote: »

And we had every right to do so. We were stripped left, right and centre of our best players by the other provinces. It wasnt the players fault. We were ****e so it was well justified. Now players want to move to connacht.

That aside we were screwed by the other provinces in those days as we were easy pickings. Those days are over

That is bit unfair on the other provinces who supported Connacht Rugby being kept professional when it was proposed we be effectively scrapped by the IRFU in 2003
It is in stark contrast to how Welsh Regions reacted to Celtic Warriors- Cardiff Blues particularly supported letting CW fold as they thought the Ponty and Bridgend fans would support them instead..

Billysays no

wp_rathead wrote: »

That is bit unfair on the other provinces who supported Connacht Rugby being kept professional when it was proposed we be effectively scrapped by the IRFU in 2003
It is in stark contrast to how Welsh Regions reacted to Celtic Warriors- Cardiff Blues particularly supported letting CW fold as they thought the Ponty and Bridgend fans would support them instead..

very different analogy. connacht was always a development squad and players were always poached and that was how it was. the example you give is not comparable. the teams you describe were simply destroying each other and going nowhere. it is much like the loss of the borders team in scotland. there simply wasnt enough money to support a 3rd scottish team. its called consolidation. the difference with connacht is that we were simply a training ground for up and coming kids. not to be taken seriously but necessary. we were never competition, we were just a feeder to the other provinces.

and while today things may have changed somewhat, that is how we were perceived and used. so i do not agree we 'owe' the other provinces anything for their 'support'

jacothelad

Billysays no wrote: »

very different analogy. connacht was always a development squad and players were always poached and that was how it was. the example you give is not comparable. the teams you describe were simply destroying each other and going nowhere. it is much like the loss of the borders team in scotland. there simply wasnt enough money to support a 3rd scottish team. its called consolidation. the difference with connacht is that we were simply a training ground for up and coming kids. not to be taken seriously but necessary. we were never competition, we were just a feeder to the other provinces.

and while today things may have changed somewhat, that is how we were perceived and used. so i do not agree we 'owe' the other provinces anything for their 'support'

Which players were poached? i.e. taken illegally. I don't recall any of them pitching up at Ravenhill for example. Connacht was never a feeder for Ulster, nor I suspect Munster or Leinster despite your hysteria on the subject. Connacht simply did not have the players as a rule to make success a realistic prospect.

b.gud

Healy and Roux training with Ireland today

former total

Billysays no wrote: »

And we had every right to do so. We were stripped left, right and centre of our best players by the other provinces. It wasnt the players fault. We were ****e so it was well justified. Now players want to move to connacht.

That aside we were screwed by the other provinces in those days as we were easy pickings. Those days are over

Who specifically was "stripped"? I'm struggling to think of any players who went to another province around that time.

neelia11

Billysays no wrote: »

And we had every right to do so. We were stripped left, right and centre of our best players by the other provinces. It wasnt the players fault. We were ****e so it was well justified. Now players want to move to connacht.

That aside we were screwed by the other provinces in those days as we were easy pickings. Those days are over

how many players from other provinces are at connacht now?

Roux, White, Cooney, Marshall, Carr, JHW all ex Leinster

connachta

b.gud wrote: »

Healy and Roux training with Ireland today

Good for both. Acquire experience and quality training, without being forced to sit out of the Leinster game

connachta

neelia11 wrote: »

how many players from other provinces are at connacht now?

Roux, White, Cooney, Marshall, Carr, JHW all ex Leinster

Carr and JHW weren't required anymore in Dublin, and Connacht did everything in their developpement.

Roux and Cooney chose Connacht, not for money but gametime to fulfil their developpement.

White was going to struggle with Ross and Moore, made the logical choice too

None of the players you quote left Leinster being first or even 2nd choice AT THE MOMENT THEY LEFT (as were Cronin, McCarthy, Carr, Henshaw the other way). They now would have been, but it's because Connacht made them better too

freyners

neelia11 wrote:

Roux, White, Cooney, Marshall, Carr, JHW all ex Leinster

Worth mentioning jhw left leinster for bristol and connacht then signed him after a year there

freyners

Amazing that Muldowney was never called up. He's hitting the end of his career but he arguably the best iq lock all season

irishbucsfan

freyners wrote: »

Amazing that Muldowney was never called up. He's hitting the end of his career but he arguably the best iq lock all season

If he's going to be in France in a couple of months there's not much point really is there?

Redo91

typhoony wrote: »

i hope this is photoshopped...

https://twitter.com/TheDailBar1/status/710225413218410497

Is that not George?

freyners

irishbucsfan wrote: »

If he's going to be in France in a couple of months there's not much point really is there?

True and if that was known at the time of the call up fair enough, still would of the opinion that he should be called up given his form but if Joe decided he wasnt going to invest time in someone about to leave the system i can understand it

connachta

freyners wrote: »

True and if that was known at the time of the call up fair enough, still would of the opinion that he should be called up given his form but if Joe decided he wasnt going to invest time in someone about to leave the system i can understand it

And don't forget he's gonna be 33, Roux is barely 26. The latter can potentially play RWC 2019, Muldowney won't in any case. No point to play Aly, even at his best, on a Scotland game with nothing at stake.

wp_rathead

The Count Down Is On

former total

wp_rathead wrote: »

The Count Down Is On

I think Leinster's chances have actually increased in the last 24 hours.

Only five players start for Ireland tomorrow so we should have most of the international contingent back, plus Dave Kearney is fit again.

Connacht will still be (narrow) favourites though.

wp_rathead

Perfect I hope Leinster can field as strong a side as possible
Ye should be able have Madigan, Reddan, Cronin, Strauss, Healy, Ruddock, VdF, McFadden all available- maybe even Rob Kearney
Should be a belter, I'm looking forward to Glasgow game tonight

b.gud

wp_rathead wrote: »

The Count Down Is On

Is it too early for a match thread?

https://twitter.com/markcunning/status/514007130278731777

b.gud

wp_rathead wrote: »

Perfect I hope Leinster can field as strong a side as possible
Ye should be able have Madigan, Reddan, Cronin, Strauss, Healy, Ruddock, VdF, McFadden all available- maybe even Rob Kearney
Should be a belter, I'm looking forward to Glasgow game tonight

Yeah, win or lose I hope Leinster can field a string team to get a good guage of where we are at.

Hopefully we should be able to have at the least Dillane, Bealham and Marmion available for us

freyners

Saturday week just got even more interestingg. A win would sent us minimum one match clear

Robbo

Leinster's main attacking threat this week was George Clancy.

Billysays no

was left wondering if we wanted leinster or glasgow to win. leinster will be top 4 without a doubt. now we have glasgow looming. leinster are such a hard team to break down. whaterever happens in the sportsground it wont be pretty

typhoony

munster losing this evening is good for us, with Glasgow winning this evening it makes the race for top 5 now between the scots and the 4 teams currently in the top 4 positions, i think Glasgow will make top 4 and into semi-finals and I just think Scarlets will lose out as they are not playing as good as they were couple months ago and have 1 too many tough games coming up, so that's my top 4 - glasgow, connacht, leinster and ulster

It seems like we have been top of the league for ages.

Billysays no

wp_rathead wrote: »

Perfect I hope Leinster can field as strong a side as possible
Ye should be able have Madigan, Reddan, Cronin, Strauss, Healy, Ruddock, VdF, McFadden all available- maybe even Rob Kearney
Should be a belter, I'm looking forward to Glasgow game tonight

Leinster construed to lose the game tonight. May they do likewise in the sportsground. they were all over glasgow and lost. and still ringrose is the best 13 in the country. what a talent. but not for Mr Joe

connachta

Billysays no wrote: »

Leinster construed to lose the game tonight. May they do likewise in the sportsground. they were all over glasgow and lost. and still ringrose is the best 13 in the country. what a talent. but not for Mr Joe

Joe has Payne, McCloskey, Olding, Arnold, Cave, Henshaw, Fitzgerald, Aki and now Ringrose pushing for the BOD shirt. If there is one spot it's hard to blame him for indecision, that's n°13.

Billysays no

connachta wrote: »

Joe has Payne, McCloskey, Olding, Arnold, Cave, Henshaw, Fitzgerald, Aki and now Ringrose pushing for the BOD shirt. If there is one spot it's hard to blame him for indecision, that's n°13.

Disagree on this one Connachta. more I watch ringrose, he simply is shockingly good. But we will maintain our dreariness at international level. I maintain McCloskey and ringrose. A joy to watch. Rather than the ****e we are forced to watch. We must have Payne and henshaw who are the most negative centres I have witnessed full stop

CMOTDibbler

Billysays no wrote: »

Disagree on this one Connachta. more I watch ringrose, he simply is shockingly good. But we will maintain our dreariness at international level. I maintain McCloskey and ringrose. A joy to watch. Rather than the ****e we are forced to watch. We must have Payne and henshaw who are the most negative centres I have witnessed full stop

Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies?
Billy 36 and Luther Burrell?
etc.

connachta

Anyway Ringrose/Henshaw will play together every minutes + Schimdt has his Leinster coaching origin, they'll gonna be favorite for 2019... But I do hope he will have a look at a McCloskey/Aki pairing, starting November tests 2017....

Robbo

I see Pat Lam and Tim Alnutt on RTE pictured arriving into Lansdowne. Hardly up on the Go Bus for a jolly and a couple of pints? Let's commence rampant speculation.

Billysays no

Robbo wrote: »

I see Pat Lam and Tim Alnutt on RTE pictured arriving into Lansdowne. Hardly up on the Go Bus for a jolly and a couple of pints? Let's commence rampant speculation.

Rumour has it that Tim Alnutt is to be signed as Director of Rugby for Munster next season. Rumour also has it that Joe will not be around for South Africa, that Pat will be taking over and that Robbie is moving back to Connacht as Brian O'Driscoll, while saying lots of positive things about Robbie, would be unavailable to go on summer holidays with Robbie. Thats just what I heard

connachta

Nigel Owens will be reffing the Leinster game.


best news you could expect. Best ref for the Two best team in the league

b.gud

Was just thinking about this weeks game, and it could be one of the biggest games in the clubs history.

If we win we go a minimum of 4 points clear and 11 - 12 points clear of 5th place, which would almost certainly guarantee our 1st ever Champions cup qualification and most likely a top 4 finish as well.

errlloyd

Just thought you'd all love to know,

my sister is marrying a lad from Connacht, so they're thinking of naming the tables after players Leinster have stolen who have played for both teams. Any suggestions I'll happily pass on.

(I think there is a chance Fionn Carr gets to be the top table because he's bounced around so much)

b.gud

Quin Roux, Nathan White and John Cooney would be current Connacht players who've travelled West
Eoin Reddan, Mike McCarthy, Mick Kearney, Jamie Hagan, Bernard Jackman and Sean Cronin would be a few off the top of my head who've travelled East

Also depending on when the Wedding is you might be able to get a Henshaw table in, but with all the drink going round at a wedding that might not be a good idea

errlloyd

errlloyd wrote: »

Just thought you'd all love to know,

my sister is marrying a lad from Connacht, so they're thinking of naming the tables after players Leinster have stolen who have played for both teams. Any suggestions I'll happily pass on.

(I think there is a chance Fionn Carr gets to be the top table because he's bounced around so much)

Connacht -> Leinster
Cronin
Kearney
Carr
McCarthy
Reddan
Hagan
Fanning
Browne
Henshaw

Leinster -> Connacht
Kearney (very very tenuous!)
Keatley (ish, 0 caps)
Cooney
Carr
White
Roux

freyners

errlloyd wrote: »

Just thought you'd all love to know,

my sister is marrying a lad from Connacht, so they're thinking of naming the tables after players Leinster have stolen who have played for both teams. Any suggestions I'll happily pass on.

(I think there is a chance Fionn Carr gets to be the top table because he's bounced around so much)

Does JHW count for this since he came west via Bristol