Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

Lucas44

realhorrorshow wrote: »

Kearney is better than Cannon. and although I think there are areas of greater need I wouldn't be displeased to see us strengthen in any position. Having said that, if any of Claffey, Gallagher, or Maksimyw are any good they'll overtake Cannon over the next year anyway.

Cannon and claffey to be released per the end of the year,

b.gud

Squad update, per the42.ie

Carty fit to play
Bealham having scans, hopes to be fit for Munster game
McCoy having back spasms, no mention of if he'll be available this weekend
Roux and Aki, on down time this week will be available for the rest of the season after that

realhorrorshow

Lucas44 wrote: »

Cannon and claffey to be released per the end of the year,

Would leave us with 5+1 second rows, probably need a signing as Niall Murray won't be ready for substantial first team rugby. Shame Claffey is leaving, was a real prospect but had a very tough time with injury I believe.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

realhorrorshow wrote: »

Would leave us with 5+1 second rows, probably need a signing as Niall Murray won't be ready for substantial first team rugby. Shame Claffey is leaving, was a real prospect but had a very tough time with injury I believe.

A slight possibility two second rows could be gone to a World Cup or at least on stand by for it. A signing would need to be made if the two go. Poor claffey looked very likely to make it but injuries really hampered him

connachta

Wegians89 wrote: »

A slight possibility two second rows could be gone to a World Cup or at least on stand by for it. A signing would need to be made if the two go. Poor claffey looked very likely to make it but injuries really hampered him

Here's the list I made 2 months ago


Dave Foley/Jerry Sexton/Joe Joyce/Mick Kearney/Frank Bradshaw-Ryan


Sexton signed again for Jersey in the meantime, and Joyce is contracted with Lam till 2020 too



My bet would be Kearney or Foley


Talking about Pau players, I'd bet Butler or Dougall will come over if both Connolly/Masterson leave. Decent IQ experienced cover players to play Champions Cup



Leaves us with 2 spots for powerful NIQ TH and Wing we will desperately need

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

Here's the list I made 2 months ago


Dave Foley/Jerry Sexton/Joe Joyce/Mick Kearney/Frank Bradshaw-Ryan


Sexton signed again for Jersey in the meantime, and Joyce is contracted with Lam till 2020 too



My bet would be Kearney or Foley


Talking about Pau players, I'd bet Butler or Dougall will come over if both Connolly/Masterson leave. Decent IQ experienced cover players to play Champions Cup



Leaves us with 2 spots for powerful NIQ TH and Wing we will desperately need

Masterson is under contract for next season

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

If any backrow is signed I think it should be a 7, butler can play 7 but I think the team work best with butler and faingaa starting together. If Connolly does leave that leaves no out and out 7s in the squad after butler and faingaa. Boyle and mckeon can slot in there at a push

realhorrorshow

Loosehead

Denis Buckley - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Paddy McAllister - Signed contract in 2019
Peter McCabe - Signed contract in 2018
Conan O'Donnell - Signed contract in 2018

Matthew Burke - Academy year 2

Tighthead

Finlay Bealham - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Conor Carey - Signed 1 year contract in 2018
Dominic Robertson-McCoy - Signed contract in 2018

Conor Kenny - Academy year 3

Hooker

Shane Delahunt - Signed contract in 2017
Dave Heffernan - Signed contract in 2019
Tom McCartney - Signed 3 year contract in 2017
Jonny Murphy - Signed contract in 2018

Dylan Tierney - Academy year 1

Lock

James Cannon - Signed 2 year contract in 2017
Peter Claffey - Signed contract in 2018
Ultan Dillane - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Cillian Gallagher - Signed contract in 2018
Joe Maksymiw - Signed contract in 2018
Quinn Roux - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Gavin Thornbury - Signed 2 year contract in 2019

Niall Murray - Academy year 1

Back row

Paul Boyle - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Jarrad Butler - Signed 3 year contract in 2017
James Connolly - Signed contract in 2018
Robin Copeland - Signed 2 year contract in 2018
Colby Fainga'a - Signed contract in 2018
Eoghan Masterson - Signed 2 year contract in 2018
Eoin McKeon - Signed contract in 2017
Sean O'Brien - Signed 2 year contract in 2018

Joshua Dunne - Academy year 1
Cian Huxford - Academy year 1
Sean Masterson - Academy year 2
Mikey Wilson - Academy year 1

Scrumhalf

Caolin Blade - Signed contract in 2018
Kieran Marmion - Signed 2 year contract in 2018
Conor McKeon - Signed contract in 2018
James Mitchell - Signed 2 year contract in 2017

Stephen Kerins - Academy year 3
Colm Reilly - Academy year 1

Outhalf

Jack Carty - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Dave Horwitz - Signed contract in 2018

Luke Carty - Academy year 2
Conor Dean - Academy year 1
Conor Fitzgerald - Academy year 1

Centre

Bundee Aki - Signed 3 year contract in 2017
Tom Daly - On loan from Leinster
Tom Farrell - Signed 2 year contract in 2018
Kyle Godwin - Signed contract in 2018
Eoin Griffin - Signed contract in 2018
Peter Robb - Signed contract in 2018
Craig Ronaldson - Signed contract in 2018

Kieran Joyce - Academy year 2
Sean O'Brien - Academy year 1

Back 3

Niyi Adeolokun - Signed contract in 2019
Stephen Fitzgerald - On loan from Munster
Matt Healy - Signed 2 year contract in 2018
Cian Kelleher - Signed 1 year contract in 2018
Darragh Leader - Signed contract in 2018
Tiernan O'Halloran - Signed 2 year contract in 2018

Mark Balaski - Academy year 1
Colm de Buitléar - Academy year 2
Conor Hayes - Academy year 1
Oran McNulty - Academy year 1

EachSmallChime

When you see it laid out like that, it's pretty obvious that we could struggle to compete on two fronts next year.

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

EachSmallChime wrote: »

When you see it laid out like that, it's pretty obvious that we could struggle to compete on two fronts next year.

Tight head and Out-half are fairly thin.

Everything else is managable.

Our depth is miles better than the year we won the pro12.

We also look to be deeper than the likes of Sale, who are competing reasonably on two fronts.

realhorrorshow

EachSmallChime wrote: »

When you see it laid out like that, it's pretty obvious that we could struggle to compete on two fronts next year.

I'd be inclined to agree. we're struggling to qualify this year despite having the opportunity to rest players on European weekends and one of our best seasons injury wise in recent memory. On the other hand, for financial reasons and player recruitment/retention we probably need to be in the Champions Cup.

Lucas44

MarinersBlues wrote: »

Tight head and Out-half are fairly thin.

Everything else is managable.

Our depth is miles better than the year we won the pro12.

We also look to be deeper than the likes of Sale, who are competing reasonably on two fronts.

Scrumhalf is very thin with Mitchell and Mckeon going

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

I’d assume there will he an official list of players leaving before the Cardiff match

connachta

Lucas44 wrote: »

Scrumhalf is very thin with Mitchell and Mckeon going

Blade, Marmion, Kerrins, that's nice
Just need another one, Charlie Mulchrone?

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

Munster gone with a strong team v Cardiff thankfully

connachta

KBurke85 wrote: »

Munster gone with a strong team v Cardiff thankfully

Saw that, great team, great bench

Mr Tickle

KBurke85 wrote: »

Munster gone with a strong team v Cardiff thankfully

The worrying side of that coin is that Cardiff look like they're resting Nick Williams and Navidi. Two guys who have a knack for ruining Connacht's day.

connemara man

The Friend Zone

Mr Tickle wrote: »

The worrying side of that coin is that Cardiff look like they're resting Nick Williams and Navidi. Two guys who have a knack for ruining Connacht's day.

Navidi is out for the season

Mr Tickle

connemara man wrote: »

Navidi is out for the season

Ah! had no idea. One less obstacle for between Connacht and Champions cup rugby

connemara man

The Friend Zone

Mr Tickle wrote: »

Ah! had no idea. One less obstacle for between Connacht and Champions cup rugby

Still no easy task Cardiff are hitting form at the right time

Zzippy

Mr Tickle wrote: »

The worrying side of that coin is that Cardiff look like they're resting Nick Williams and Navidi. Two guys who have a knack for ruining Connacht's day.

Nick Williams picked up a minor knock, sounds like he might be back for our game though

connachta

Zzippy wrote: »

Nick Williams picked up a minor knock, sounds like he might be back for our game though

Nick Williams is good for 30 minutes. Nothing to fear after that.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

With Marmion likely gone to World Cup and 6N the third choice 9 will likely end up with a fair whack of playing time next season. Be an important addition as would another no.10 as Carty is odds on to be involved in World Cup too.

connachta

If we can't get 3rd, and Munster/Leinster win Champions Cup, we have to turn the best Sale and La Rochelle fans to get the 20th qualifying spot

Here's my projection, Sale should be ok, La Rochelle toe-to-toe to be among the 6 french qualified..

LaRochelle | UBB | Stade Fr
69 | 67 | 69


Sale | Wasps | Bath | North
54 | 50 | 50 | 52

Lucas44

ClanofLams wrote: »

With Marmion likely gone to World Cup and 6N the third choice 9 will likely end up with a fair whack of playing time next season. Be an important addition as would another no.10 as Carty is odds on to be involved in World Cup too.

Not sure there will be enough room in the squad for 6 half backs, Carty may miss out instead of someone like John cooney due to covering both

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

Lucas44 wrote: »

Not sure there will be enough room in the squad for 6 half backs, Carty may miss out instead of someone like John cooney due to covering both

Given Sexton's and Carbery's injury record this year they would be mad to rely on them ad the only out-half options.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

MarinersBlues wrote: »

Given Sexton's and Carbery's injury record this year they would be mad to rely on them ad the only out-half options.

Agreed, there’s little chance of them bringing only two tens and risking having to throw Cooley in who has very little experience in the position, one start for Connacht and a few short twenty min ish spells for Connacht and Ulster, open to correction on the latter but don’t think he has a start with Ulster at 10 or any experience above Pro14 level.

If they’re limiting to five half backs, it’ll be two 9s but I think it’ll probably be three of each, Addison covering 11-15 probably allows them to bring one less outside back.

its_phil

Mul, it's over

MarinersBlues wrote: »

Lucas44 wrote: »

Not sure there will be enough room in the squad for 6 half backs, Carty may miss out instead of someone like John cooney due to covering both

Given Sexton's and Carbery's injury record this year they would be mad to rely on them ad the only out-half options.

Think it will be three 9s and three 10s because of the time difference and travel time to get a player out to Japan. I like Cooney but if Sexton or Carbery go down on the Wednesday before Scotland, that’s far too risky IMO. Cooney can cover 10, as he did admirably for Connacht also, but playing there is another story.

connachta

1. Denis Buckley

2. Dave Heffernan

3. Dominic Robertson-McCoy

4. Ultan Dillane

5. Gavin Thornbury

6. Eoin McKeon

7. Colby Fainga’a

8. Jarrod Butler ©

9. Caolin Blade

10. Jack Carty

11. Matt Healy

12. Peter Robb

13. Tom Farrell

14. Darragh Leader

15. Tiernan O’Halloran

Replacements:

16. Shane Delahunt

17. Peter McCabe

18. Conan O’Donnell

19. Joe Maksymiw

20. Robin Copeland

21. Kieran Marmion

22. Tom Daly

23. Cian Kellegher

GBFM miswrote Kelleher

connachta

Very good team.
Carey's fit so sign of trust for O'Donnell