Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

ClanofLams wrote: »

Even tonight the move off a scrum which nearly saw Healy go over in the corner early in the first half was obviously planned and a very good one at that. I don’t think you can really expect to get more than one of those a game.

Also the lineout move that saw Heff go 20-30m down field before being tackled about 5m short. Happened while they were interviewing Tim Allnut. The set piece moves are definitely there. Just need the patience and the top 2 inches to hold on once in the 22, usually it ends in a knock on or a silly turn over, rushed pass, something like that.

Utah_Saint wrote: »

I thought all 4 teams have similar budgets given to them buy irfu?

They do but all the other provinces will have bigger budgets due to sponsorship, ticket sales etc

salmocab

Utah_Saint wrote: »

I thought all 4 teams have similar budgets given to them buy irfu?

Think it’s a lot more complicated than that, it wouldn’t be fair if provinces didn’t do better for having better attendances and sponsorships plus doing better in tournaments. Leinster do well out of players having central contracts but they also regularly lose 14/15 players to Irish camp so need to have a bigger squad to get through those periods without dropping loads of points.

Paul Smeenus

KBurke85 wrote: »

Only one thing worse then a bad loser and that’s a bad winner

Yes, this morning I think that's a pretty bad look. I apologise - pretty graceless.

Was a fantastic game to be at - very exciting, and Connacht could have come away winners.

The "only two Ulster players are better than their Connacht counterparts" just really rankled. Sounded pretty arrogant and just simply uninformed. No requirement for me to be a bellend, though.

Well done the lads in green.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Feel Connacht were exposed badly at the breakdown. It doesn’t seem to happen as much when roux and sob are playing. I think if there are funds there I’d try and bring in another brute or two in second/back row

its_phil

Mul, it's over

I think first year under a new head coach to get to a quarter final and be within a point of Ulster with 3 minutes to go while playing very average is huge. If we have a good year of retention and add a carrier we could be looking good for next seasons play offs again. If the game was in the Sportsground, I don’t think Ulster would have got the win. Home advantage and Coetzee was the difference. Coetzee repaid the faith Ulster had in him the past couple years, fair play to him.

People criticising Carolan need to have a look at the amount of tries we’ve scored off first phase this year and realise once you go past 4th phase it’s difficult to breakdown any defence. The Bundee-Tom partnership looked very rusty and it’s the first time I saw Tom really struggling. He’ll be better for it and is a super player.

jacothelad

It's still a mystery why Buckley isn't a capped international. He didn't have his best game yesterday but he is still a top notch player. Should be in the wider squad at least.

thomond2006

Some Like It TOH

jacothelad wrote: »

It's still a mystery why Buckley isn't a capped international. He didn't have his best game yesterday but he is still a top notch player. Should be in the wider squad at least.

Ireland are stacked at loosehead prop, Buckley is unlucky
that his career has coincided with two Lions and a solid international in Kilcoyne.

connemara man

The Friend Zone

jacothelad wrote: »

It's still a mystery why Buckley isn't a capped international. He didn't have his best game yesterday but he is still a top notch player. Should be in the wider squad at least.

If you watch Buckley's bind at Scrum time he has a bent elbow so he'll always look like he's dragging down the scrum. So he needs to be monstering THs out of it otherwise collapses even when not his own fault look like they are.

At international level that's a huge liability

Zzippy

connemara man wrote: »

If you watch Buckley's bind at Scrum time he has a bent elbow so he'll always look like he's dragging down the scrum. So he needs to be monstering THs out of it otherwise collapses even when not his own fault look like they are.

At international level that's a huge liability

Ulster TH dropped his bind twice in first half and got the penalty both times. Buckley was not at fault. He just needs officials who can ref the scrum properly.

Lucas44

Wegians89 wrote: »

Stockdale wasn’t playing otherwise I would have included him. Coetzee and Henderson were the two I think could get in. Don’t think murphy would get in ahead of butler or faingaa

Best> heffernan
Jordi > butler
treadwell > thornbury
Marshall > Farrell Yesterday anyway

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

It’s irrelevant now but they are two evenly matched teams. Both sets of supporters could make a reasonable argument that only a few players from the other would make their team. Home advantage would dictate favourites in any game.

connemara man

The Friend Zone

Zzippy wrote: »

Ulster TH dropped his bind twice in first half and got the penalty both times. Buckley was not at fault. He just needs officials who can ref the scrum properly.

Oh I know but the easy thing to ping is the bent elbow forcing the TH down and thus breaking bind

(I've had a long chat about this with a scrum coach)

Paul Smeenus

Lucas44 wrote: »

Best> heffernan
Jordi > butler
treadwell > thornbury
Marshall > Farrell Yesterday anyway

O'Sullivan was better than Buckley I thought, although, that's only in the game yesterday.
Baloucoune > Fitzgerald.

troyzer

Can we stop the dick swinging? It was a good contest between two evenly matched teams, Ulster edged it in a few positions and deserved the win.

There isn't much between the teams though, Ulster just have that little bit more top test quality in Henderson and Coetzee.

Paul Smeenus

ClanofLams wrote: »

It’s irrelevant now but they are two evenly matched teams. Both sets of supporters could make a reasonable argument that only a few players from the other would make their team. Home advantage would dictate favourites in any game.

Connacht better at 3, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 15. Very evenly matched teams, as you say.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

I’ve always felt Buckley’s height is a major issue with coming to international recognition. If he had a few extra inches I think he’d have had a better chance.

Paul Smeenus

Out of interest, what players were Connacht missing? SOB.2, Roux, who else?

connachta

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

Out of interest, what players were Connacht missing? SOB.2, Roux, who else?

Godwin

Paul Smeenus

connachta wrote: »

Godwin

Would he have started ahead of Farrell?

Typically back-up ten?

connemara man

The Friend Zone

Roux and S.O.B. 2.0 are big losses though, Colby and Butler are too similar and we are effectively playing with two 7s an the field. and Dillane and Thornburry are quite similar style wise Roux relishes that physical ruck work, where as the two lads are more of the big tackling second rows

Godwin would be at 22 i think

Paul Smeenus

connemara man wrote: »

Roux and S.O.B. 2.0 are big losses though, Colby and Butler are too similar and we are effectively playing with two 7s an the field. and Dillane and Thornburry are quite similar style wise Roux relishes that physical ruck work, where as the two lads are more of the big tackling second rows

Godwin would be at 22 i think

Yeah, I getcha. Actually thought the teams were good and strong for this point of the season, quite close to full strength. Ulster were missing probably four that would have started.

Utopia Parkway

connemara man wrote: »

Roux and S.O.B. 2.0 are big losses though, Colby and Butler are too similar and we are effectively playing with two 7s an the field. and Dillane and Thornburry are quite similar style wise Roux relishes that physical ruck work, where as the two lads are more of the big tackling second rows

Godwin would be at 22 i think

Roux was actually missed recently. He gives a bit of bulk to the pack which is a bit lightweight without him to be honest.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Three signing, one NIQ and two IQ due according to Friend. Would hope there might be one or two more deals done. Friend already confirmed new TH, need another second row, Cannon played a lot this season and fair chance of one being involved internationally and two isn’t out of the question depending on injuries. New option at ten and one back three player at least, ideally two.

He also noted the physicality brought by Coetzee in particular was missing for Connacht. But suggested that was something that could be potentially brought by a few players who got various reasons haven’t been seen much this season. Don’t really know who he could be referring to there, Copeland most obvious in terms of carrying I guess? Robb maybe, Cillian Gallagher?


https://www.the42.ie/connacht-new-signings-niq-friend-4620777-May2019/

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Roux was actually missed recently. He gives a bit of bulk to the pack which is a bit lightweight without him to be honest.

Himself and sob add a lot of balance to the pack, when they’re playing you get to see faingaa and butler shine more

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

ClanofLams wrote: »

Three signing, one NIQ and two IQ due according to Friend. Would hope there might be one or two more deals done. Friend already confirmed new TH, need another second row, Cannon played a lot this season and fair chance of one being involved internationally and two isn’t out of the question depending on injuries. New option at ten and one back three player at least, ideally two.

He also noted the physicality brought by Coetzee in particular was missing for Connacht. But suggested that was something that could be potentially brought by a few players who got various reasons haven’t been seen much this season. Don’t really know who he could be referring to there, Copeland most obvious in terms of carrying I guess? Robb maybe, Cillian Gallagher?


https://www.the42.ie/connacht-new-signings-niq-friend-4620777-May2019/

Yeah thought there needed to be more additions, he also said kelleher would be replaced. So tight head, back 3 and someone else probably a lock.

I’d say it’ll be this week or next week the signings get announced as general sale of season tickets starts Monday week

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

Anyone got any shots in the dark as to who our IQ signings might be?

We know we're signing a TH, probably a back 3 player and the third spot is likely a lock or maybe an outside chance of a 10 though I'd imagine they're hoping to give Horwitz and Fitzgerald a run at it. Other positions seem unlikely(to me at least).

Burkie1203

Mul, it's over

Bazzo wrote: »

Anyone got any shots in the dark as to who our IQ signings might be?

We know we're signing a TH, probably a back 3 player and the third spot is likely a lock or maybe an outside chance of a 10 though I'd imagine they're hoping to give Horwitz and Fitzgerald a run at it. Other positions seem unlikely(to me at least).

Brendan Macken?

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Bazzo wrote: »

Anyone got any shots in the dark as to who our IQ signings might be?

We know we're signing a TH, probably a back 3 player and the third spot is likely a lock or maybe an outside chance of a 10 though I'd imagine they're hoping to give Horwitz and Fitzgerald a run at it. Other positions seem unlikely(to me at least).

Think the niq is needed in back three. Need a spark ala the treviso wingers out there. I’d say mick Kearney at lock or possibly someone like bill Johnston at ten. Then ideally I’d love jager at tight head but there’s other Irish options there, vakh in Leinster a possibility or a few Irish qualified lads over in England

troyzer

Wegians89 wrote: »

Bazzo wrote: »

Anyone got any shots in the dark as to who our IQ signings might be?

We know we're signing a TH, probably a back 3 player and the third spot is likely a lock or maybe an outside chance of a 10 though I'd imagine they're hoping to give Horwitz and Fitzgerald a run at it. Other positions seem unlikely(to me at least).

Think the niq is needed in back three. Need a spark ala the treviso wingers out there. I’d say mick Kearney at lock or possibly someone like bill Johnston at ten. Then ideally I’d love jager at tight head but there’s other Irish options there, vakh in Leinster a possibility or a few Irish qualified lads over in England

I doubt Vakh is going to make the move. He's really young and Bent will be gone soon.

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Brendan Macken?

Highly doubt a centre will be signed