Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Good solid 30 secs of coverage on Monday night rugby which consisted of Joe Molloy reading out try scorers and Liam Toland saying Carty is going well...

Understand smallest province etc but after biggest game in two years you would think they could rise to five minutes with someone who watched the game.

Zzippy

Mr Tickle wrote: »

You'll pry Stephen Archer from my cold dead hands!!!

If it's Archer I'll be looking for a refund of my season ticket, due to a lack of ambition from Connacht!

I'd rather have Rodney back...

realhorrorshow

Zzippy wrote: »

If it's Archer I'll be looking for a refund of my season ticket, due to a lack of ambition from Connacht!

I'd rather have Rodney back...

It frustrates me when other teams’ fans give our players no credit and it frustrates me just as much when I see the same crap from our fans about the likes of Archer, Dave Kearney, Noel Reid, Luke McGrath, etc.

Buer

realhorrorshow wrote: »

It frustrates me when other teams’ fans give our players no credit and it frustrates me just as much when I see the same crap from our fans about the likes of Archer, Dave Kearney, Noel Reid, Luke McGrath, etc.

The thing is, I'm not sure if there is any greater critic of those above than supporters of their own teams.

Archer was literally a danger to himself earlier in his career but he has improved massively to the point where he is a solid European Champions Cup level tighthead. Dave Kearney has been Leinster's best winger in 2019 but you'll find plenty of Leinster fans who wouldn't have him in the 23 this weekend.

Mud sticks and if people find a stick to beat a player with, that won't go away overnight....or ever, possibly.

Mr Tickle

Zzippy wrote: »

If it's Archer I'll be looking for a refund of my season ticket, due to a lack of ambition from Connacht!

I'd rather have Rodney back...

That's harsh. Archer is exactly the kind of player that you need to fill out a squad. A solid, hard working prop who can hold his own in a scrum. Fair enough he's not going to pick up many caps but he's a perfectly good tighthead.
It's been a while since Connacht have had two tightheads who were as good in the scrum as he is.

... and you should see him with open grass. Nothing more majestic. It's like when a dog is taken to the beach for the first time.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Speaking of Rodney, he apparently had a stormer for Newcastle at the weekend and played the full match, some man to turn it on when contract is expiring.

FACECUTTR

ClanofLams wrote: »

Speaking of Rodney, he apparently had a stormer for Newcastle at the weekend and played the full match, some man to turn it on when contract is expiring.

Put him on a performamce based weekly renewal contract and had be the best player in the world.....

Tommybojangles

Mul, it's over

I cant imagine a connacht fan not being delighted to see Stephen archer arrive. would be a great addition.

Moot point anyway, why would Munster let him go

thomond2006

Some Like It TOH

Archer is under contract and is a regular in the first choice 23 and has made plenty starts in Europe. Why would he leave, unless there is a big name coming in...

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

thomond2006 wrote: »

Archer is under contract and is a regular in the first choice 23 and has made plenty starts in Europe. Why would he leave, unless there is a big name coming in...

This all started from a comment on the 42 saying two Munster forwards were moving to Connacht( how reliable that is god only knows). Archers name got suggested here because it’s a position Connacht need. I personally can’t see archer moving at all. Tommy o donnell is anoth name mentioned over on the Connacht clan forum.

Mr Tickle

Wegians89 wrote: »

This all started from a comment on the 42 saying two Munster forwards were moving to Connacht( how reliable that is god only knows). Archers name got suggested here because it’s a position Connacht need. I personally can’t see archer moving at all. Tommy o donnell is anoth name mentioned over on the Connacht clan forum.

Yeah i just mentioned him as a bit of a joke. He's going nowhere

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Mr Tickle wrote: »

Yeah i just mentioned him as a bit of a joke. He's going nowhere

He’d have been brilliant back up to bealham to be fair.

connachta

People are harsh on McCoy. He's developping very well, there are good reasons he's been used ahead of Carey.
He needs to last more than 50 minutes but he's ok. Archer won't be 1st choice. We need a 1st choice NIQ
1) Top-class NIQ 2) Bealham 3) McCoy 4) Kenny

That's how we could compete in ChampionsCup

Put most money on a TH and powerful wing.
We can do on low-money squad players elsewhere, with the quality we already have.

Mr Tickle

connachta wrote: »

People are harsh on McCoy. He's developping very well, there are good reasons he's been used ahead of Carey.
He needs to last more than 50 minutes but he's ok. Archer won't be 1st choice. We need a 1st choice NIQ
1) Top-class NIQ 2) Bealham 3) McCoy 4) Kenny

That's how we could compete in ChampionsCup

Put most money on a TH and powerful wing.
We can do on low-money squad players elsewhere, with the quality we already have.

I don't know if you need someone who's out and out better than Bealham. He's excellent in the loose and pretty good scrumager. If you could sign someone who was an excellent in the scrum and not incompetent around the park then you'd be in a decent place.

Same goes for Loose head actually.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Mr Tickle wrote: »

I don't know if you need someone who's out and out better than Bealham. He's excellent in the loose and pretty good scrumager. If you could sign someone who was an excellent in the scrum and not incompetent around the park then you'd be in a decent place.

Same goes for Loose head actually.

I’d agree, bealham should be still first choice. I think Connacht lose so much in an attacking since with out bealham playing. He runs hard lines near the try line and is one of the more regular scorers in the Connacht pack. He also had a brilliant passing game creating space for other forward with tip on passes or off loads.

Mr Tickle

Wegians89 wrote: »

I’d agree, bealham should be still first choice. I think Connacht lose so much in an attacking since with out bealham playing. He runs hard lines near the try line and is one of the more regular scorers in the Connacht pack. He also had a brilliant passing game creating space for other forward with tip on passes or off loads.

Or at least be in a position to make a horses for courses selection. Maybe you'd be in a situation where he's more useful as an impact in certain games.

Zzippy

realhorrorshow wrote: »

It frustrates me when other teams’ fans give our players no credit and it frustrates me just as much when I see the same crap from our fans about the likes of Archer, Dave Kearney, Noel Reid, Luke McGrath, etc.

You're entitled to your opinion, I just don't rate Archer. Penalty machine in my experience.

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

According to a tweet from the branch more tickets were sold for the sportsground this season than ever before. Good timing for the new stadium.

FACECUTTR

Bazzo wrote: »

According to a tweet from the branch more tickets were sold for the sportsground this season than ever before. Good timing for the new stadium.

Great news.

Shelflife

Bazzo wrote: »

According to a tweet from the branch more tickets were sold for the sportsground this season than ever before. Good timing for the new stadium.

Highest demand, not highest sales !

Could well be highest sales , but it’s an interesting choice of words.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Ulster having some injury concerns ahead of playoff. Will Addison and Marty Moore out for season, Best currently out but they are hopeful he will be back, Stockdale damaged his hamstring against Edinburgh, will be ‘monitored’.

Connacht did a number on their scrum in Ravenhill earlier this season and without Moore this time should hopefully have the upper hand again there.


Roux, SOB and Godwin the only injuries for Connacht at the moment I think? Roux should be fine for Ulster as he had a virus, hopefully Godwin will be too.

Interesting to see what Connacht go with against Munster, no point risking key players I suppose but getting beaten out the gate wouldn’t be ideal preparation either.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

ClanofLams wrote: »

Ulster having some injury concerns ahead of playoff. Will Addison and Marty Moore out for season, Best currently out but they are hopeful he will be back, Stockdale damaged his hamstring against Edinburgh, will be ‘monitored’.

Connacht did a number on their scrum in Ravenhill earlier this season and without Moore this time should hopefully have the upper hand again there.


Roux, SOB and Godwin the only injuries for Connacht at the moment I think? Roux should be fine for Ulster as he had a virus, hopefully Godwin will be too.

Interesting to see what Connacht go with against Munster, no point risking key players I suppose but getting beaten out the gate wouldn’t be ideal preparation either.

With no rugby this weekend I think any of the first 15 who’s 100% fit will start. Anyone who has a tiny knock or anything probably won’t play. While there’s no need for it, winning in thomond would put a huge amount of momentum in the squad before going to Belfast

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

ClanofLams wrote: »

Ulster having some injury concerns ahead of playoff. Will Addison and Marty Moore out for season, Best currently out but they are hopeful he will be back, Stockdale damaged his hamstring against Edinburgh, will be ‘monitored’.

Connacht did a number on their scrum in Ravenhill earlier this season and without Moore this time should hopefully have the upper hand again there.


Roux, SOB and Godwin the only injuries for Connacht at the moment I think? Roux should be fine for Ulster as he had a virus, hopefully Godwin will be too.

Interesting to see what Connacht go with against Munster, no point risking key players I suppose but getting beaten out the gate wouldn’t be ideal preparation either.

Bealham also out at the minute though I know they were hopeful he'd be back for Munster.

Evil_g

Mul, it's over

ClanofLams wrote: »

Interesting to see what Connacht go with against Munster, no point risking key players I suppose but getting beaten out the gate wouldn’t be ideal preparation either.

Weirdly, if Glasgow were to only get an LBP against Edinburgh, Munster beating us out the gate kind of would be ideal.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Wegians89 wrote: »

With no rugby this weekend I think any of the first 15 who’s 100% fit will start. Anyone who has a tiny knock or anything probably won’t play. While there’s no need for it, winning in thomond would put a huge amount of momentum in the squad before going to Belfast

Yeah that seems a reasonable approach with the exception of Carty, not sure he should be risked? Not playing him obviously decreases chance of winning massively but he has a fair bit of rugby this season and were he to get injured, it would be real disaster stuff.

Is Horwitz or Conor Fitzgerald any closer to a return?

Diabhal Beag

I'd be using the Munster match to give lads like Niyi, Daly, Cannon, Delahunt etc gametime in case they might be called upon for the Ulster match.

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

Is there any indication whether the playoff will be on the Friday or Saturday?

testtech05

Some Like It TOH

MarinersBlues wrote: »

Is there any indication whether the playoff will be on the Friday or Saturday?

I'd like to know this too, Saturday would be the only chance for me personally to go, I hope its announced before the last round is played.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Both playoff games were on the Saturday last year and there was some rumours from Ulster fans online that Ravenhill staff had been told it would be Saturday.

Mr Tickle

ClanofLams wrote: »

Yeah that seems a reasonable approach with the exception of Carty, not sure he should be risked? Not playing him obviously decreases chance of winning massively but he has a fair bit of rugby this season and were he to get injured, it would be real disaster stuff.

Is Horwitz or Conor Fitzgerald any closer to a return?

I'd be very wary of sending out anyone too vital. A win in Belfast could well be on the cards. Lets not scupper that by risking guys against a Munster team who are chasing a bonus point win.