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

galwaylad14

George has been a great servant but I think the time is right for him to go now. He hasn't featured much at all this season and at this stage he's probably 4th choice to play number 8 (Masterson, McKeon and Muldoon all ahead of him) and I think we have better options in the second row too.

Should free up a bit of money aswell. As it is now our back row options for next season are Muldoon, Heenan (hopefully), McKeon, Masterson (I know he'll miss the first while), Browne, O'Brien, Fox, Connolly. Have I missed anyone there? Anyone in the academy capable of stepping up in the way O'Brien and Connolly have over the past year or so?

connachta

galwaylad14 wrote: »

George has been a great servant but I think the time is right for him to go now. He hasn't featured much at all this season and at this stage he's probably 4th choice to play number 8 (Masterson, McKeon and Muldoon all ahead of him) and I think we have better options in the second row too.

Should free up a bit of money aswell. As it is now our back row options for next season are Muldoon, Heenan (hopefully), McKeon, Masterson (I know he'll miss the first while), Browne, O'Brien, Fox, Connolly. Have I missed anyone there? Anyone in the academy capable of stepping up in the way O'Brien and Connolly have over the past year or so?

Maybe Moloney. I still think we'll recruit a direct replacement for naoupu, ball carrier to cover 5 and 8

Number 137

connachta wrote: »

Maybe Moloney. I still think we'll recruit a direct replacement for naoupu, ball carrier to cover 5 and 8

I always thought Rory Moloney was a handy player at u20 level for Ireland, but I do wonder if he is physically big enough for pro rugby?

connemara man

Players not back next season

Aly Muldowney
George Naoupu
AJ MacGinty
Fionn Carr
Jason Harris-Wright
Api Pewhairangi
Ian Porter

http://www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-rugby-confirm-outgoing-players/#ConnachtNews

BrokenMan

Heenan and Ronaldson not on the list.
Hope that means they are staying.

Bazzo

Best of luck to all of them. All have served the team well when called on. I presume Porter will be heading straight back to Ulster? Surely he's a better option than Marshall?

connemara man

Best of luck to all the lads.

Aly is a huge loss really in a leadership sense as much as anything else. With Porter gone does that mean we are down to 3 scrumhalves next season?

hopefully Harris wright gets to keep playing same as Porter. I didn't see enough of Api would he be good enough able to make the move to England somewhere?

I'm not surprised with George.

Bazzo

connemara man wrote: »

Aly is a huge loss really. I'm not surprised with George. does that mean we are down to 3 scrumhalves next season? hopefully Harris wright gets to keep playing same as Porter. I didn't see enough of Api would he be good enough able to make the move to England somewhere?

3 senior scrum halves and Stephen Kerins in the (sub?)academy looks a good prospect.

irishbucsfan

Anyone want to make a guess at where each are headed?

connemara man

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Anyone want to make a guess at where each are headed?

Fionn Carr - Retiring? maybe England somewhere
Jason Harris-Wright - England somewhere
AJ MacGinty - Sale
Aly Muldowney - Grenoble
George Naoupu - Retirement
Api Pewhairangi - I didn't see enough of him to see would he be picked up again
Ian Porter - Ulster

Bazzo

Muldowney to Grenoble and MacGinty to Sale we already know. I think Porter to head back to Ulster would make sense. Harris-Wright I can see going abroad. He's plenty good enough to play for one of the lower end AP clubs or he might get a decent offer from a championship club. Api... no idea to be honest, haven't seen him play at all really so...

Fionn Carr I think will be retiring, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Naoupu do the same. Don't himself and his wife have a business in Galway? Between that and Sene playing for Ireland I think he's quite settled where he is, although maybe he'll go abroad for a year or two to finish out his career.

EDIT: Great minds Connemara man...

wp_rathead

I'm sure JHW will get snapped up by Ulster or Munster
Shame never worked out for Api
I'm sure Porter, Noupou and Carr could still do a job for a Championship side (Hopefully the Noupou's stay around Galway and George stays coaching)

Wish AJ all the best with Sale

Shame the Aly Muldowney rumours were true- sad a player of his quality will never get an Irish Cap.

As BrokenMan said, no Heenan or Ronaldson on that list is encouraging. Guessing Qualter, Finn, O'Leary and JP Cooney will be staying on also

connachta

connemara man wrote: »

Players not back next season

Aly Muldowney
George Naoupu
AJ MacGinty
Fionn Carr
Jason Harris-Wright
Api Pewhairangi
Ian Porter

http://www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-rugby-confirm-outgoing-players/#ConnachtNews

Pretty much the list I expected TBH. Had just doubts about JHW and Api

connachta

Bazzo wrote: »

3 senior scrum halves and Stephen Kerins in the (sub?)academy looks a good prospect.

Yeah as I said earlier + Conor Lowndes

thomond2006

wp_rathead wrote: »

I'm sure JHW will get snapped up by Ulster or Munster

Munster have 4 senior hookers under contract, they don't need him.

connachta

wp_rathead wrote: »

As BrokenMan said, no Heenan or Ronaldson on that list is encouraging. Guessing Qualter, Finn, O'Leary and JP Cooney will be staying on also

Qualter pretty much saved his life by performing against Ospreys

connachta

My guess

Aly Muldowney Grenoble
George Naoupu Coaching (Connacht forward coach in 2 or 3 years)
AJ MacGinty Sale
Fionn Carr England Championship, probably relegated London Irish
Jason Harris-Wright Back with promoted Bristol
Api Pewhairangi Ireland 7's
Ian Porter Ulster

connemara man

Bazzo wrote: »

Muldowney to Grenoble and MacGinty to Sale we already know. I think Porter to head back to Ulster would make sense. Harris-Wright I can see going abroad. He's plenty good enough to play for one of the lower end AP clubs or he might get a decent offer from a championship club. Api... no idea to be honest, haven't seen him play at all really so...

Fionn Carr I think will be retiring, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Naoupu do the same. Don't himself and his wife have a business in Galway? Between that and Sene playing for Ireland I think he's quite settled where he is, although maybe he'll go abroad for a year or two to finish out his career.

EDIT: Great minds Connemara man...

First time anyone has called me a great mind :pac:

connachta

Best news are Heenan and Craig probably kept

Now 39-men squad, two NIQ to come, I guess one n°5/8 à la Naoupu, one utility back.
Georges + JHW + Carr + Muldowney freed cash must enable 2 very decent signings, and Jake contract raised closer to what French teams offered him...

d-gal

Huge chunk of cash freed up there.

You feel Aly's freed up cash will cover the incoming Griffin and Boshoff contracts

Carr, JHW, AJ and George would've been all on decent money so we can surely get in one or two decent signings. Hoping Api and Porter cash will cover the academy graduates

A wrecking ball backrow is something needed I feel. Maybe we will find the next CJ

connachta

The list hasn't changed a lot, but it makes it clearer

In red "still uncertain", which will be sorted out within next weeks
Into bracket those who will need to step up in case of injury crisis

1) Buckley, O'Donnell, Loughney (JP Cooney)
2) McCartney, Heff, Delahunt, (Dineen/O'Toole)
3) Bealham, White, Carey (JP Cooney)
4) Roux, Another strong ball-carrier 4/8 , (Qualter or Romaine)
5) Dillane, Marshall, Browne, (Qualter or Romaine)
6) Muldoon, SOB 2.0, Connolly, (Heenan)
7) Heenan, Nepia, Connolly, (McKeon)
8 ) McKeon, Masterson, Another strong ball-carrier 4/8
9) Marmion, Blade, Cooney, (Kerrins/Lowndes)
10) Boshoff, Carty, Ronaldson, (O'Leary)
11) Healy, TOH, Another winger/FB, (O'Keefe)
12) Aki, Ronaldson, Robb, McSharry (Brennan)
13) Griffin, Parata, Finn
14) Poolman, Leader, Niyi, (Gaffney)
15) TOH, Leader, Another winger/FB, (Gaffney)

freyners

Delighted to see Finn is not on that list. Very unfortunately timing with his injury as he looked comfortable in that game against Munster before he got injured. With Api leaving the squad he can look to keep training and show his value eventually.

JHW unfortunate, Two years back he was talked here as a future captain and really ill timed injuries have set him back. IMO he is the strongest thrower in the squad but would have struggled for the bench spot between him dave and delahunt

connachta

freyners wrote: »

JHW unfortunate, Two years back he was talked here as a future captain and really ill timed injuries have set him back. IMO he is the strongest thrower in the squad but would have struggled for the bench spot between him dave and delahunt

He's back for a few months now. It's not about him being average, more about Delahunt being better for the coaches. Happy times, Connacht have fat-cat issue:D

Stan27

How do people think delahunt will get on in the next few year. Good player. I think he started in Thomand if I'm correct.

Cosmo Kramer

I find it hard to believe there are 12 to 15 hookers in Irish rugby better than Harris Wright. Surely there's a contract with one of the provinces there somewhere for him?

I'm maybe a bit surprised JP Cooney looks set for another contract. Possibly not a ringing endorsement of the props in the academy other than O'Donnell.

Carr's career path to some extent shows the rise of Connacht Rugby over the years, he was too good for Connacht five years ago but not good enough now.

typhoony

i read somewhere recently that the academy guys get an allowance of 4,000 euros for the year but with all 4 provinces utilising the academy players in the senior squads they are going to increase it to 8,000 euros, I hope this doenst use up too much of the available money that we'd use to sign 1 or 2 NIQ SH players

freyners

typhoony wrote:

i read somewhere recently that the academy guys get an allowance of 4,000 euros for the year but with all 4 provinces utilising the academy players in the senior squads they are going to increase it to 8,000 euros, I hope this doenst use up too much of the available money that we'd use to sign 1 or 2 NIQ SH players

What is an academy deal actually? Scholarship, housing and board plus stipend?

freyners

Ah ya I knew he was back but he was very very good before injury, surprised he hasn't featured considering what came vefore but as you said that's pro sport. Easily good enough for pro12 tho and would be a great addition for championship or d2 if he isinterested.

its_phil

Very very sad to see JHW leave of all the names there. Really talented player who made himself into a hooker from the backrow. They probably were left with a straight shootout between JHW and Heffernan. Very tough to choose between the two, but the injury record of JHW hasn't been good the past two seasons.

Really good player who would be a great addition to any squad.

Also sad to see Carr go. At the end of the day he is our top try scorer and set the tone for the famous win in Toulouse with his big hit and try saving tackle.

The absence of names such as Heenan and Ronaldson can only be a good thing.

Ludikrus

What TV channel is the Grenoble match on?

irishbucsfan

Ludikrus wrote: »

What TV channel is the Grenoble match on?

BT Sport/BeIn

Teferi

Will be interesting to see where Carr goes. What's his background like? Would he be set up for retirement? Not that I think he'll take that option. He could be a club legend if he played with a Championship team, I think.

Bazzo

Bit random and slightly off topic but does anybody remember the interview where John Muldoon mentioned the average wage of a pro 12 player(at the time)? I can't seem to find it anywhere, if anybody had a link to it that'd be great.

Digifriendly

irishbucsfan wrote: »

BT Sport/BeIn

Grenoble vs Connacht for Sky viewers is on BT Sport/ESPN.

ClanofLams

Bazzo wrote: »

Bit random and slightly off topic but does anybody remember the interview where John Muldoon mentioned the average wage of a pro 12 player(at the time)? I can't seem to find it anywhere, if anybody had a link to it that'd be great.

Somewhere in this video.


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KDgKHySObFs

b.gud

https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/716949240598147073

connachta

Great piece of news it is!
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-rugby/kieran-marmion-and-jake-heenan-back-to-boost-connachts-challenge-cup-charge-34600541.html

Marmion and Heenan back for Grenoble, Carty and TOH sooner than expected.

wp_rathead

Would be brilliant if Carty was available for the Munster game

galwaylad14

Lads I know it's a small sample size but would I be the only one that would have O'Leary ahead of Carty when Carty comes back? I just loved the way O'Leary took the ball so flat and aggressively against Ulster and how his passing really invited the backs outside him to hit the ball at pace.

His kicking was fine too, one poor miss from the tee but nailed a couple of good ones and kicked decently from hand.

I just think that while Carty has improved I still think he's often guilty of taking the ball too deep and just basically shovelling it on to the next player, never takes it flat or at pace which can generate momentum for the backs outside him. He's very hit and miss with the boot too.

Either way I suppose O'Leary will have at least two more games to prove his worth before Lam has to decide on this issue.

wp_rathead

I actually didn't think O'Leary played all that well against Ulster tbh
In the context of it being his first Pro12 start yes he was good and he made few nice half breaks but personally he did nothing to say he is a better outhalf than Carty
I'm open to him having a stormer vs Grenoble and making himself first choice mind :P

Robbo

Squad update and updated "Archives of Pain".

Definitely injured:
Player|Knack|Expected Return
Nepia Fox-Matamua|ACL|Next Season
Dave McSharry|Concussion|Next Season
Darragh Leader|Wrist|Next Season
Eoghan Masterson|Knee|December 2016
Jack Carty|Spleen/Waterslide Ouch|Hoped for "upcoming Pro 12 games"
Rory Parata|Kneecap|Hoped for "upcoming Pro 12 games"
Tiernan O'Halloran|Quad|In Rehab/TBA
AJ McGinty|Shoulder Joint|In Rehab/TBA
Craig Ronaldson|Ankle|2-3 Weeks
Ciaran Gaffney|Ankle|2-3 Weeks
Nathan White|Concussion|RTP Protocols


Unknown: Ben Marshall was unavailable for Ulster but I can't find anything more than that.

Returning: Kieran Marmion, Jake Heenan

connachta

Disappointed Parata isn't available yet

I'd go with

1) Loughney
2) Heffernan
3) Bealham
4) Roux
5) Dillane
6) Muldoon
7) Heenan
8) McKeon
9) Marmion
10) O'Leary
11) Niyi
12) Robb
13) Henshaw
14) Poolman
15) Carr

16) McCartney
17) Buckley
18) JP Cooney
19) Muldowney
20) O'Brien
21) Blade
22) Aki
23) Healy

connachta

Here is our winger/FB to replace Carr
Reasonable money I guess, and we can put the whole amount remaining on a international Lock/n°8


"Leicester have confirmed that Niall Morris will leave the club at the end of the season. Fine player who’s had a really bad run of injuries."

Bazzo

connachta wrote: »

Here is our winger/FB to replace Carr
Reasonable money I guess, and we can put the whole amount remaining on a international Lock/n°8


"Leicester have confirmed that Niall Morris will leave the club at the end of the season. Fine player who’s had a really bad run of injuries."

Yeah I saw he was being released alright. He hasn't played rugby in nearly a year I think but when he is playing he's definitely a good player. Would have no issue taking a punt on him and I'd say the money wouldn't be too bad considering his injury profile.

Billysays no

Stan27 wrote: »

How do people think delahunt will get on in the next few year. Good player. I think he started in Thomand if I'm correct.

I see delahunt currently ahead of heff and well able to compete with tom. He is a proper monster

b.gud

Judging by this tweet I'm guessing that White won't be available this weekend
https://twitter.com/njwhite33/status/718063168380133377

RobbieRuns

Just cause a man has a nice day out and plugs social media for a freebee, does not mean he wont play........

ClanofLams

RobbieRuns wrote: »

Just cause a man has a nice day out and plugs social media for a freebee, does not mean he wont play........

Hopefully. If not go with Bealham and Conan. I don't mind lads having a bad run of form but Ah You hasn't even been giving it everything which is the least expected.

b.gud

RobbieRuns wrote: »

Just cause a man has a nice day out and plugs social media for a freebee, does not mean he wont play........

Well I'm guessing that since it's a Saturday match then today would have been a training day, and I doubt getting a facial is an integral part of this weekends game plan

RobbieRuns

Could be getting the false tan and nails painted for the big game.............. its on TV !