Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

Of all the players being let go, McCabe looks to be the biggest loss.
Ronaldson should remembered most fondly of all the players who are leaving though.

Of all of the others, none will really be missed.

Dubinusa

Some Like It TOH

The Freejacks are trying to recruit a couple of these lads. I know that they spoke to Mitchell. It would be good business if they could sign a couple. Mlr needs to develop.

Diabhal Beag

Shame Ronaldson has been ruined by injuries. Not too many years ago a lot of us (myself included) wanted him in ahead of Carty. Great servant to the province regardless. Wish him, Griffin and all departing Connacht players the very best of luck in whatever lies ahead. Presume from the wording that Ronaldson wants to continue on as a player.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Looks to me like this is the squad for next year. X for a position I feel needs to be recruited.

Buckley McAllister Burke
Delahunt heffernan McCartney Murphy
Bealham x McCoy Kenny
Dillane thornbury maksymiw
Roux x Gallagher
Sob mckeon masterson
Faingaa x
Butler Boyle Copeland
Marmion blade Lloyd kerins
Carty x Horwitz Fitzgerald
Healy Fitzgerald de buitlear
Bundee robb Daly
Farrell Godwin
X niyi
Toh leader x

connachta

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Delahunt and Robb have extended their contracts.

Great, great, news

connachta

So, only 3 TH (McCoy, Bealhan, Kenny) and 2 LH (Buckley, McAlister, Burke); 2 signings to come.. Duggan and ????

realhorrorshow

connachta wrote: »

So, only 3 TH (McCoy, Bealhan, Kenny) and 2 LH (Buckley, McAlister, Burke); 2 signings to come.. Duggan and ????

Duggan is already in the academy, unless you’re suggesting he might get a senior deal?

connachta

realhorrorshow wrote: »

Duggan is already in the academy, unless you’re suggesting he might get a senior deal?

I'm suggesting we can have 7 senior props and 1 from Academy. But who'll be the 7th?

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Ronaldson was an excellent player for Connacht. Superb in title winning season and when he came back from injury the following season for a few games he was playing and kicking brilliantly, particularly excellent against Toulouse at home.

Always thought he looked better at 12 than 10, I guess Connacht required someone in the position but trying to move him back there didn’t help him, along with injuries obviously.

Griffin was a great prospect when he burst on to the scene, seemed to lose a bit of pace with injuries and never looked the same since returning from London Irish.

Bit surprised at Conan O’Donnell, hopefully he kicks on elsewhere. Guessing it might be a one year deal for Robb given his injury record, hope Delahunt signed on for two though.

realhorrorshow

ClanofLams wrote: »

Ronaldson was an excellent player for Connacht. Superb in title winning season and when he came back from injury the following season for a few games he was playing and kicking brilliantly, particularly excellent against Toulouse at home.

Always thought he looked better at 12 than 10, I guess Connacht required someone in the position but trying to move him back there didn’t help him, along with injuries obviously.

Griffin was a great prospect when he burst on to the scene, seemed to lose a bit of pace with injuries and never looked the same since returning from London Irish.

Bit surprised at Conan O’Donnell, hopefully he kicks on elsewhere. Guessing it might be a one year deal for Robb given his injury record, hope Delahunt signed on for two though.

Ronaldson was incredible in the European playoff in 2017 as well.

connachta

Wegians89 wrote: »

Looks to me like this is the squad for next year. X for a position I feel needs to be recruited.

Buckley McAllister Burke
Delahunt heffernan McCartney Murphy
Bealham x McCoy Kenny
Dillane thornbury maksymiw
Roux x Gallagher
Sob mckeon masterson
Faingaa x
Butler Boyle Copeland
Marmion blade Lloyd kerins
Carty x Horwitz Fitzgerald
Healy Fitzgerald de buitlear
Bundee robb Daly
Farrell Godwin
X niyi
Toh leader x

Perfect summary. Just don't think we'll recruit 2 back-3 players, 7 would be ok with one marquee signing.

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

Perfect summary. Just don't think we'll recruit 2 back-3 players, 7 would be ok with one marquee signing.

Probably only need one back 3 signing. Godwin can play there if we're stuck and we have Kieran Joyce who can play in the centre

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

Perfect summary. Just don't think we'll recruit 2 back-3 players, 7 would be ok with one marquee signing.

I was thinking more a marquee signing and then promote an academy player or sign someone like jack Kelly from Leinster

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

KBurke85 wrote: »

Probably only need one back 3 signing. Godwin can play there if we're stuck and we have Kieran Joyce who can play in the centre

Rumors were Joyce was being let go, he’s an academy player still so wouldn’t have been included on the list yesterday

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

Wegians89 wrote: »

Rumors were Joyce was being let go, he’s an academy player still so wouldn’t have been included on the list yesterday

That seems strange. I thought he did well when he played earlier in the season. Wondering are they sending a message to academy lads by letting the like of O'Donnell and Joyce go by and saying just because you've played for the senior team you haven't made it and have to keep working hard,

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

Absolutely the correct decision not to sign him but **** me is Sevu Reece exactly the kind of player this team is screaming out for.

evil_seed

The Friend Zone

Bazzo wrote: »

Absolutely the correct decision not to sign him but **** me is Sevu Reece exactly the kind of player this team is screaming out for.

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

...what **** again, exactly?

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

Bazzo wrote: »

...what **** again, exactly?

I assume he means people talking about Reece

Former Former

You've got a Friend in me

Bazzo wrote: »

Absolutely the correct decision not to sign him but **** me is Sevu Reece exactly the kind of player this team is screaming out for.

Nothing you say before the word "but" really counts...

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

Former Former wrote: »

Nothing you say before the word "but" really counts...

Ok then, let me be implicitly clear with no buts: Connacht were absolutely correct not to sign Sevu Reece.

On an unrelated note. Seeing as it's contract season and looking at the needs of the team I hope Connacht manage to announce a signing of a back 3 player similar in style and calibre to the right wing for crusaders today. I thought the intent of my original post was pretty clear but hopefully everyone is happier now.

freyners

The Friend Zone

Former Former wrote: »

Nothing you say before the word "but" really counts...

Dont know what your trying to infer with this very helpful post


Moving on, still very surprised we are moving on McCabe as he has improved a lot this year in my books. Havent seen much of Burke, how well is rated?

connachta

https://t.co/5ae89WknzF[/Connacht Matchday Squad:
(15-9) Tiernan O’Halloran, Darragh Leader, Tom Farrell, Bundee Aki, Matt Healy, Jack Carty, Caolin Blade, (1-8) Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Ultan Dillane, Gavin Thornbury, Paul Boyle, Colby Fainga’a, Jarrad Butler (Capt).
Replacements (16-23): Shane Delahunt, Matthew Burke, Conor Carey, James Cannon, Robin Copeland, Kieran Marmion, Tom Daly, Cian Kelleher.

connachta

Very very happy with this team.
Heffernan, Boyle and Blade to start in particular, I think it's the right calls

Zzippy

Strong team but not a lot of impact off the bench. It was tight in Cork last week til Munster were able to spring Beirne and Stander, who both made a huge impact. Very nervous about this one...

connachta

https://t.co/0ENVJoPg06
No Williams no Decey

connachta

Zzippy wrote: »

Strong team but not a lot of impact off the bench. It was tight in Cork last week til Munster were able to spring Beirne and Stander, who both made a huge impact. Very nervous about this one...

Ok for front-5 but Robin Copeland, Kieran Marmion, Tom Daly, Cian Kelleher, these are hell of an impact!

Zzippy

connachta wrote: »

Ok for front-5 but Robin Copeland, Kieran Marmion, Tom Daly, Cian Kelleher, these are hell of an impact!

They're not game changing impact though. I'm more worried about the scrum, especially when the front row is replaced. We have possibly our lightest second row pairing pushing too...

Robbo

I can't believe it's not Butler

Zzippy wrote: »

They're not game changing impact though. I'm more worried about the scrum, especially when the front row is replaced. We have possibly our lightest second row pairing pushing too...

You can count on Arhip earning a card when he comes on.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Zzippy wrote: »

Strong team but not a lot of impact off the bench. It was tight in Cork last week til Munster were able to spring Beirne and Stander, who both made a huge impact. Very nervous about this one...

Delahunt, Copeland and Marmion are all very capable of making impact of the bench. Carey, Daly and cannon have been solid too. Big test for Burke when he gets on. A fresh kelleher against a tiring team could be brilliant but also liable defensively