Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Class pic, fair f**ks to Copeland, massive game today. Hopefully he can stay healthy and continue in the same vein.

Fainga’a was excellent, a few worthy candidates but would have been my MotM, badly need to get him a new deal.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

42 saying Connacht looking at more medical jokers, particularly in the back three. Safe to say we’ll probably get a look at Goddard this week coming

Zzippy

Wegians89 wrote: »

42 saying Connacht looking at more medical jokers, particularly in the back three. Safe to say we’ll probably get a look at Goddard this week coming

Don't think Goddard was registered for Europe though...?

connachta

Zzippy wrote: »

Don't think Goddard was registered for Europe though...?

He's not, but can be registered.
What's up with Healy/Niyi, hope ther're not badly injured

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Zzippy wrote: »

Don't think Goddard was registered for Europe though...?

He Can be registered for this weekend up until Wednesday I think?

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

He's not, but can be registered.
What's up with Healy/Niyi, hope ther're not badly injured

Niyi was coming back from a concussion so I’d say he picked up a different know during the week, Healy could have aggravated the injury he was coming backbeats from

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Godwin Goddard Porch back three anyone? Nice Australian twang to it

Lucas44

What about second row, Niall Murray did the warm up yesterday, is it likely he’s on the bench next week?

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

Lucas44 wrote: »

What about second row, Niall Murray did the warm up yesterday, is it likely he’s on the bench next week?

Depends on whether Butler is fit I'd guess.

Management seem to see Masterson as at least a semi viable option in the second row.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Lucas44 wrote: »

What about second row, Niall Murray did the warm up yesterday, is it likely he’s on the bench next week?

Very possible with Gallagher looking in a bad way. Did Maksymiw go off injured? Some baptism of fire for Murray if he is involved

Mr Tickle

Wegians89 wrote: »

Very possible with Gallagher looking in a bad way. Did Maksymiw go off injured? Some baptism of fire for Murray if he is involved

Maksymiw finished the game I think. He took a bang very near the end but played on.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Mr Tickle wrote: »

Maksymiw finished the game I think. He took a bang very near the end but played on.

Was certain masterson had come on for him?

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

Mr Tickle wrote: »

Maksymiw finished the game I think. He took a bang very near the end but played on.

Masterson came on for Maksymiw

Mr Tickle

Wegians89 wrote: »

Was certain masterson had come on for him?

KBurke85 wrote: »

Masterson came on for Maksymiw

You're right. I should just assume nobody made it through at this stage.

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

Maksymiw looked alright post match so fingers crossed nothing major wrong with him.

connachta

Instead of Masterson/Murray as lock, I'd rather have Dillane/Copeland,

Than Butler (8)/Fainga'a(7)/Masterson (6)

With Macksymiw 19 and Boyle 20

If Butler isn't fit enough, then Boyle in, and S.Masterson on the bench

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

I saw Friend mentioned it was a knee issue that's cropped up with Butler. Unfortunately very rarely that's anything less than a few weeks.

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

Instead of Masterson/Murray as lock, I'd rather have Dillane/Copeland,

Than Butler (8)/Fainga'a(7)/Masterson (6)

With Macksymiw 19 and Boyle 20

If Butler isn't fit enough, then Boyle in, and S.Masterson on the bench

S. Masterson isnt currently in the European squad

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

We need a quality medical joker. A second row with a fair bit of super rugby experience who can make an immediate impact on a three month deal, other provinces never have an issue getting one.

There’s a legitimate outside chance of getting into European quarter finals but the squad needs some strengthening and with respect, not an academy player from another province just boosting available numbers.

connachta

ClanofLams wrote: »

We need a quality medical joker. A second row with a fair bit of super rugby experience who can make an immediate impact on a three month deal, other provinces never have an issue getting one.

There’s a legitimate outside chance of getting into European quarter finals but the squad needs some strengthening and with respect, not an academy player from another province just boosting available numbers.

problem is we don't need him vs kings, we need to register him tomorrow for Toulouse

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

connachta wrote: »

problem is we don't need him vs kings, we need to register him tomorrow for Toulouse

Ideally but to be honest even with that I think a lbp against Toulouse would be unlikely. Double header v Gloucester are the really big games in the pool. Plenty of time for a medical joker to be added.

Richie_Rich89

Mul, it's over

ClanofLams wrote: »

We need a quality medical joker. A second row with a fair bit of super rugby experience who can make an immediate impact on a three month deal, other provinces never have an issue getting one.

There’s a legitimate outside chance of getting into European quarter finals but the squad needs some strengthening and with respect, not an academy player from another province just boosting available numbers.

Would the timing not be all wrong for a three-month signing from Super Rugby? When does it kick off? February? They're probably all in pre-season training atm. Guys like Speight had to head back in January or something.

Don't know the dates for the Japanese season.

testtech05

Some Like It TOH

Good article from Murray Kinsella around Connacht defensive breakdown work from yesterday.

https://www.the42.ie/connacht-analysis-breakdown-montpellier-4895672-Nov2019/

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Richie_Rich89 wrote: »

Would the timing not be all wrong for a three-month signing from Super Rugby? When does it kick off? February? They're probably all in pre-season training atm. Guys like Speight had to head back in January or something.

Don't know the dates for the Japanese season.

Lealifano left Ulster after last champions cup game if I recall correctly, something like that would be perfect. Even getting high level player for six weeks would be better than just getting someone from an academy who is highly unlikely to be capable of making an impact at champions cup level.

Richie_Rich89

Mul, it's over

ClanofLams wrote: »

Lealifano left Ulster after last champions cup game if I recall correctly, something like that would be perfect. Even getting high level player for six weeks would be better than just getting someone from an academy who is highly unlikely to be capable of making an impact at champions cup level.

Leali'ifano was fairly unique circumstances, coming back from cancer. Not saying there aren't players out there, but you'd be looking for unusual circumstances if it's a high-level player you're after.

Doesn't it have to be at least a three-month contract to be eligible for European squad registration?

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Richie_Rich89 wrote: »

Leali'ifano was fairly unique circumstances, coming back from cancer. Not saying there aren't players out there, but you'd be looking for unusual circumstances if it's a high-level player you're after.

Doesn't it have to be at least a three-month contract to be eligible for European squad registration?

I don’t think so but open to correction.

connachta

I want Craig Clarke again!

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

Neil Francis just spent 5 minutes waffling about the game on Matt Cooper.
Half way through admitted he hadn't watched the game

HE WAS ANALYSING A GAME HE HADN'T WATCHED

but decided that Montpellier aren't any good anyway.

Why can't some of the really good young journalists out there get the same exposure he does.

salmocab

MarinersBlues wrote: »

Neil Francis just spent 5 minutes waffling about the game on Matt Cooper.
Half way through admitted he hadn't watched the game

HE WAS ANALYSING A GAME HE HADN'T WATCHED

but decided that Montpellier aren't any good anyway.

Why can't some of the really good young journalists out there get the same exposure he does.

A quick read of any of his columns would let you know he really shouldn’t be working in media at all but somehow he is.

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

salmocab wrote: »

A quick read of any of his columns would let you know he really shouldn’t be working in media at all but somehow he is.

Based on his analysis of the game he hadn't watched he has formed the opinion that Blade hasn't done enough to pass Cooney in the Irish SH pecking order.

Clown.