Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

CowboyTed

Lucas44 wrote: »

Godwin was a far bigger signing than bundee in terms of reputation before arriving here out west, bundee became the superstar he is today in connacht not with the chiefs otherwise they wouldn’t of let him go. Looking bag yes it was a major signing but at the time it wasn’t

Bundee was considered a major signing when we got him... There was a lot looking for him. His name today is far higher than then... He had no cap when he arrived.

Personally I don't mind seeing a young rising star from underage coming through...

freyners

The Friend Zone

Lucas44 wrote: »

Godwin was a far bigger signing than bundee in terms of reputation before arriving here out west, bundee became the superstar he is today in connacht not with the chiefs otherwise they wouldn’t of let him go. Looking bag yes it was a major signing but at the time it wasn’t

Wouldnt necessarily agree there. Munster and possibly Leinster were in for Bundee at the time and NZ were not too happy losing him. Rob Penney who was managing Munster at the time lost it when we signed him also . I'd be doubtful Godwin was as competitive (although a fairly high profile signing no doubt)

Cosmo Kramer

Lucas44 wrote: »

Godwin was a far bigger signing than bundee in terms of reputation before arriving here out west, bundee became the superstar he is today in connacht not with the chiefs otherwise they wouldn’t of let him go. Looking bag yes it was a major signing but at the time it wasn’t

That's not how it was at all, quite the opposite in fact - he was one of the biggest names in NZ rugby outside of the ABs squad and it caused a fair bit of controversy there when he was lost to the northern hemisphere. The Chiefs couldn't afford to match the money offered to him and we also outbid Glasgow Warriors and Munster to sign him.

Cosmo Kramer

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

That's not how it was at all, quite the opposite in fact - he was one of the biggest names in NZ rugby outside of the ABs squad and it caused a fair bit of controversy there when he was lost to the northern hemisphere. The Chiefs couldn't afford to match the money offered to him and we also outbid Glasgow Warriors and Munster to sign him.

From what I've been told, thats not true at all.
We made the exact same bid as Munster. In fact, Bundee was very close to signing for Munster, but then a phone call from Mils Muliaina, who was joining us that summer too, convinced Bundee to join us.
It also helped that Craig Clarke, Bundees old captain from the Chiefs was playing with us at the time

Zzippy

Deleted User wrote: »

From what I've been told, thats not true at all.
We made the exact same bid as Munster. In fact, Bundee was very close to signing for Munster, but then a phone call from Mils Muliaina, who was joining us that summer too, convinced Bundee to join us.
It also helped that Craig Clarke, Bundees old captain from the Chiefs was playing with us at the time

It was reported at the time that Connacht had outbid Munster (300k vs 200-250k IIRC. There is/was a rule that provinces could not outbid each other for players in the Irish system, but this didn't apply to a player in the NZ system obviously. IIRC it caused quite a stir at the time that Connacht had the resources to outbid Munster.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Presumably the departing players will be announced this week so they can get the post match send off on Saturday as normal after last home game?

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

ClanofLams wrote: »

Presumably the departing players will be announced this week so they can get the post match send off on Saturday as normal after last home game?

Had thought the same yeah, would expect an announcement Thursday or Friday

Lucas44

Wegians89 wrote: »

Had thought the same yeah, would expect an announcement Thursday or Friday

Confirmed players so far, feel free to add to this list

Props: Conan , Conor Carey
Hooker:?
Second row: James cannon, Peter claffey
Back row: James Connolly
Scrum half: James Mitchell, Conor Mckeon
outhalf: Craig ronaldson
Centre: Kieran Joyce, eoin Griffin (retiring)
Back 3: Cian kelleher

Lebute

Lucas44 wrote: »

Confirmed players so far, feel free to add to this list

Props: Conan , Conor Carey
Hooker:?
Second row: James cannon, Peter claffey
Back row: James Connolly
Scrum half: James Mitchell, Conor Mckeon
outhalf: Craig ronaldson
Centre: Kieran Joyce, eoin Griffin (retiring)
Back 3: Cian kelleher

Are the bove your guess highlighted in green who i believe will be kept.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Lucas44 wrote: »

Confirmed players so far, feel free to add to this list

Props: Conan , Conor Carey
Hooker:?
Second row: James cannon, Peter claffey
Back row: James Connolly
Scrum half: James Mitchell, Conor Mckeon
outhalf: Craig ronaldson
Centre: Kieran Joyce, eoin Griffin (retiring)
Back 3: Cian kelleher

Are they all confirmed? Only saw officially Carey and kelleher and Connolly was rumored to be leaving in a paper.

That’s a lot bigger turnover in players than I expected. Can see reasons for all leaving though. Big recruitment needed though

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Would be surprised if Conan O’Donnell is going

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

ClanofLams wrote: »

Would be surprised if Conan O’Donnell is going

I would be too to be fair. He probably wouldn’t be first choice but good squad player being able to cover both sides

Henry Ford III

The Friend Zone

Zzippy wrote: »

It was reported at the time that Connacht had outbid Munster (300k vs 200-250k IIRC. There is/was a rule that provinces could not outbid each other for players in the Irish system, but this didn't apply to a player in the NZ system obviously. IIRC it caused quite a stir at the time that Connacht had the resources to outbid Munster.

Hard to believe that. The IRFU control and authorise all.

I heard Aki went to Connacht to be guaranteed his place on the starting 15.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Wegians89 wrote: »

I would be too to be fair. He probably wouldn’t be first choice but good squad player being able to cover both sides

Yep and at 22, still very young for a prop.

Zzippy

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Hard to believe that. The IRFU control and authorise all.

I heard Aki went to Connacht to be guaranteed his place on the starting 15.

Really? You don't think he would have walked into Munster's team at the time? That's not at all credible.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

ClanofLams wrote: »

Yep and at 22, still very young for a prop.

Adding in that he’s a Connacht man

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

No sign of bealham in training pics, as expected really.
Team id pick would be:

Buckley delahunt McCoy
Dillane roux
Butler Copeland faingaa
Marmion carty
Bundee Farrell
Healy toh leader

Heffernan, McCabe, Carey/Conan, thornbury, mckeon/Boyle, blade, Godwin, Fitzgerald

Shelflife

Mike Adamson reffing Sat

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

https://inpho.ie/media/EE6gGj7I25y2qdHU4rnffA..a?ts=o-NEdiE1WKT9BmS6jPW3Iw..a

Anyone know who that is the the right?

connachta

Conor Dean?...

Tom Farrell is on the training pics too. The eyes doesn't look good though.
Robb/Daly/Joyce all appear to pair with Bundee, in case.

No Godwin, No Carey...

Mr Tickle

connachta wrote: »

Conor Dean?...

Tom Farrell is on the training pics too. The eyes doesn't look good though.
Robb/Daly/Joyce all appear to pair with Bundee, in case.

No Godwin, No Carey...

Ah I'm sure Farrell's fine. It's just a shiner. If there was any damage he wouldn't be training.

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/three-connacht-academy-players-sign-first-professional-contracts/

Matthew Burke,
Conor Fitz
Conor Kenny

connachta

Worrying for Conan O'Donnell

1) Buckey, McAlister, McCabe, Burke
3) Bealham, NIQ, McCoy, Kenny....

Lucas44

6 connacht players in Irish u18 schools squad, Diarmuid kilcommins , Shane Jennings, Oisín McCormack , Diarmuid McCormack, darragh Murray

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Lucas44 wrote: »

6 connacht players in Irish u18 schools squad, Diarmuid kilcommins , Shane Jennings, Oisín McCormack , Diarmuid McCormack, darragh Murray

Very impressive number, this must be a record? We usually have 0-1 in the schools squad as far as I recall.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

ClanofLams wrote: »

Very impressive number, this must be a record? We usually have 0-1 in the schools squad as far as I recall.

Is that schools or the schools and clubs ?

Lebute

connachta wrote: »

Worrying for Conan O'Donnell

1) Buckey, McAlister, McCabe, Burke
3) Bealham, NIQ, McCoy, Kenny....

O’Donnell was upgraded to a senior contract this season so it may have being a 2 year and still seems to be ahead of Burke and Kenny plus can cover both sides

b.gud

Wegians89 wrote: »

Is that schools or the schools and clubs ?

Looks to be the schools squad https://www.irishrugby.ie/2019/04/09/ireland-u18-schools-squad-named-for-six-nations-festival/

connachta

Lebute wrote: »

O’Donnell was upgraded to a senior contract this season so it may have being a 2 year and still seems to be ahead of Burke and Kenny plus can cover both sides

I know that but we won't have 9 props and we can't go in Champions Cup without a marquee NIQ

connachta

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pro14/setback-for-connacht-as-quinn-roux-ruled-out-of-crunch-cardiff-clash-1.3854822?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

No Quinn Roux. Less penalties conceeded.. But Thornbury has to prove how good he is
Farrell in. Massive boost.