Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Faingaa confirmed to Lyon

Balls

FACECUTTR

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Faingaa confirmed to Lyon

This makes me sad

realhorrorshow

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Faingaa confirmed to Lyon

Where did you see that?

Burkie1203

Mul, it's over

realhorrorshow wrote: »

Where did you see that?

Linley McKenzie on twitter

testtech05

Some Like It TOH

I knew it was coming but still very disappointing news!

realhorrorshow

Ages are at start of next season

Loosehead

Denis Buckley (30) - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Matthew Burke (23) - Signed contract in 2019
Paddy McAllister (31) - Signed contract in 2019
Peter McCabe (28) - Signed short term contract in 2019

Jordan Duggan (22) - Academy year 2

Tighthead

Finlay Bealham (29) - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Rory Burke (26) - Signed contract in 2019
Conor Kenny (24) - Signed contract in 2019
Dominic Robertson-McCoy (26) - Signed contract in 2018

Hooker

Shane Delahunt (26) - Signed contract in 2019
Dave Heffernan (29) - Signed contract in 2019
Tom McCartney (34) - Signed 3 year contract in 2017
Jonny Murphy (28) - Signed contract in 2018

Declan Adamson (21) - Academy year 1
Dylan Tierney-Martin (21) - Academy year 2

Lock

Ultan Dillane (26) - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Cillian Gallagher (23) - Signed contract in 2018
Joe Maksymiw (24) - Signed contract in 2018
Quinn Roux (29) - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Gavin Thornbury (26) - Signed 2 year contract in 2019

Niall Murray (20) - Academy year 2

Back row

Paul Boyle (23) - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Jarrad Butler (29) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Robin Copeland (32) - Signed 2 year contract in 2018
Colby Fainga'a (29) - Signed contract with Lyon for next season
Eoghan Masterson (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2018
Eoin McKeon (29) - Signed contract in 2019
Sean O'Brien (25) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020

Joshua Dunne (20) - Academy year 2
Sean Masterson (22) - Academy year 3
Oisin McCormack (19) - Academy year 1
Mikey Wilson (23) - Academy year 2

Scrumhalf

Caolin Blade (26) - Signed contract in 2018
Stephen Kerins (24) - Signed contract in 2019
Angus Lloyd (27) - Signed contract in 2019
Kieran Marmion (28) - Signed 3 year contract in 2020

Colm Reilly (21) - Academy year 2

Outhalf

Jack Carty (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Conor Fitzgerald (22) - Signed contract in 2019
Dave Horwitz (25) - Signed contract in 2018

Luke Carty (22) - Academy year 3
Conor Dean (22) - Academy year 2

Centre

Bundee Aki (29) - Signed 3 year central contract in 2020
Tom Daly (27) - Signed contract in 2019
Tom Farrell (26) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Kyle Godwin (28) - Signed contract in 2018
Peter Robb (26) - Signed contract in 2019

Shane Jennings (19) - Academy year 1
Sean O'Brien (22) - Academy year 2

Back 3

Niyi Adeolokun (29) - Signed contract in 2019
Stephen Fitzgerald (24) - Signed contract in 2019
Will Goddard (21) - Signed short term contract in 2019
Matt Healy (31) - Signed 2 year contract in 2018
Darragh Leader (27) - Signed contract in 2018
Tiernan O'Halloran (29) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
John Porch (26) - Signed contract in 2019
Peter Sullivan (22) - Signed short term contract in 2019

Colm de Buitléar (22) - Academy year 3
Hugh Lane (21) - Academy year 1
Oran McNulty (20) - Academy year 2

irishgrover

I'll be honest, I have a huge problem reconciling Denis being 30... In my head he's still a young fella, not an elder of the squad.... I'm suddenly feeling like an old fella

Former Coach

Mul, it's over

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/id-be-open-to-playing-at-any-of-the-provinces-ian-madigan-open-to-ireland-return-after-four-years-away-38905220.html

Squidgy Black

Former Coach wrote: »

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/the-left-wing/id-be-open-to-playing-at-any-of-the-provinces-ian-madigan-open-to-ireland-return-after-four-years-away-38905220.html

I feel bad for Madigan in a sense, was probably hard done by with MOC in Leinster, but his stock has plummeted immensely over the last couple of years. His stint in France wasn't great and then Pat Lam made the mental decision of bringing him over to Bristol on a massive contract in the championship to hold the ship together until Sheedy was ready, and is now 3rd on the depth chart despite being one of their highest paid players.

He'd probably be a decent utility back as a squad player for a province but he's 31 in a couple months and hasn't played regularly in top flight rugby since 2017.

connemara man

The Friend Zone

Could see him going to Munster TBH. Carberry injury prone, TB constantly injured, Hanrahan good but has his flaws and Healy doesn't seem ready or trusted for the starting 15

RobbieRuns

Funny, I would say Ulster. They have been improving year on year, nearly turned Leinster over last year. They only have Burns and then no depth.

FACECUTTR

I'd have him in a heartbeat. He covers 10, 12 and 15. Horowitz leaving would mean theres a spot and if he was willing to take a drastic wage cut why not. I'd still have Fitz as 2nd choice after Jack.

Squidgy Black

RobbieRuns wrote: »

Funny, I would say Ulster. They have been improving year on year, nearly turned Leinster over last year. They only have Burns and then no depth.

They've Bill Johnston and Michael Lowry, I'm not sure Madigan would be much use to them unless they're signing him to have an experienced head in the group

RobbieRuns

Squidgy Black wrote: »

They've Bill Johnston and Michael Lowry, I'm not sure Madigan would be much use to them unless they're signing him to have an experienced head in the group

Maybe..... just an opinion. Johnson not up to that standard (left Munster as 5th choice) and Lowry is more of a FB for me. I just feel that Ulster need Moore strength in depth and that is where I could see Madigan fitting in.

connemara man

The Friend Zone

FACECUTTR wrote: »

I'd have him in a heartbeat. He covers 10, 12 and 15. Horowitz leaving would mean theres a spot and if he was willing to take a drastic wage cut why not. I'd still have Fitz as 2nd choice after Jack.

The thing is it's a hell of a paycut to be a 3rd choice player/ utility sub.
Our big signings need to be pushing to start if not guaranteed starter quality imo, we've taken on too many squad player's the past few seasons

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

FACECUTTR wrote: »

I'd have him in a heartbeat. He covers 10, 12 and 15. Horowitz leaving would mean theres a spot and if he was willing to take a drastic wage cut why not. I'd still have Fitz as 2nd choice after Jack.

Agreed, if Madigan was willing to take pay cut to join as squad player, be happy if he joined.

Diabhal Beag

Munster don't need Madigan which is why they will 100% get him

slingerz

I can't believe it's not Butler

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Munster don't need Madigan which is why they will 100% get him

I could see him going to Ulster really

thomond2006

Some Like It TOH

Madigan will be 31 and has been a bust at Bordeaux and Bristol. I'm not sure why any of the provinces would be interested except in the case of injuries.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

thomond2006 wrote: »

Madigan will be 31 and has been a bust at Bordeaux and Bristol. I'm not sure why any of the provinces would be interested except in the case of injuries.

It’s a fair point, you’re taking a chance that some of his ability is still there. His versatility would be a very useful attribute at Connacht and you would be gambling on him coming back to some form, maybe moving home to Ireland would help etc

It’s definitely a punt but one perhaps worth the gamble.

Buer

After this season, Madigan's market value will be so low compared to what it was I would not be surprised if he retired. He could literally be taking a 75% paycut given he was reportedly on around €500k at Bristol. Is anyone going to offer a 3rd choice outhalf in his thirties €200k?

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

Buer wrote: »

After this season, Madigan's market value will be so low compared to what it was I would not be surprised if he retired. He could literally be taking a 75% paycut given he was reportedly on around €500k at Bristol. Is anyone going to offer a 3rd choice outhalf in his thirties €200k?

Maybe he will maybe he won't. Will he be able to make ~150k a year doing something else if he retired?

realhorrorshow

thomond2006 wrote: »

Madigan will be 31 and has been a bust at Bordeaux and Bristol. I'm not sure why any of the provinces would be interested except in the case of injuries.

Well in Connacht's case he would be a clear upgrade on Dave Horwitz. I haven't really seen him play since he left but at the very least he is versatile, experienced, durable, and a top goal kicker. I wouldn't be too worried about his age, he seems to have a Jamie Heaslip-like approach to maintaining his fitness.

freyners

The Friend Zone

If we managed to secure him on something close to what Horowitz was on (I've heard wildly different rumours on that) it would be an excellent bit of business. His ability at 15 in particularly would be an asset given both TOH and Leader have had a fair amount on injuries

Buer

Bazzo wrote: »

Maybe he will maybe he won't. Will he be able to make ~150k a year doing something else if he retired?

Highly unlikely but he also has his pride like any professional player. I doubt he'll want to be viewed by his colleagues as simply picking up a payslip. There will come a point when he knows he cannot perform and needs to walk away. I'm not sure that moment has arrived in his mind but it has to be on the horizon.

We're about to reach February and he has a grand total of 5 minutes rugby in the Premiership this season. His fall has been dramatic and I'm sure he'll be thinking of the bigger picture. I'd expect him to take another contract somewhere but I certainly wouldn't be eager for any province to put one on the table unless it's in line with his level of performance and involvement this season which will be a massive drop.

Regarding his flexibility, he has been an outhalf pretty much exclusively since leaving Leinster. He hasn't worn 15 in almost 6 years. I wouldn't be signing him with a mind to playing in other positions.

thomond2006

Some Like It TOH

Madigan sounds like a player who will be getting a call from MLR in the US.

typhoony

more than likely he'll end up in the English championship. Saracens may be an option on a 1 year contract, I wonder is Dave McHugh still his agent

Buer

thomond2006 wrote: »

Madigan sounds like a player who will be getting a call from MLR in the US.

That's a very good shout.

macslash

Mul, it's over

What year did we win the lads and ladies u19 interpro series? I always thought it would be this year we'd have a heap of lads coming through with the u20's.

realhorrorshow

macslash wrote: »

What year did we win the lads and ladies u19 interpro series? I always thought it would be this year we'd have a heap of lads coming through with the u20's.

The u18s won the clubs interpros last season. They didn't have the same success this season but are a very strong crop. Last year's u19s were pretty poor hence we only have three from that age group (two of whom are Exiles) playing Irish 20s this year.