Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Strong team. Everyone playing in their own position feels like a bigger deal than it should after injury crisis. Need to play conditions appropriately, that’s been a bit of struggle this year, having big wind in first half and going in level or three up etc.

FACECUTTR

Great to have the back 3 settled. Looking forward to this now. It's been a long 3 weeks

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 1 year contract in 2020
Dominic Robertson-McCoy (26) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020

Hooker

Shane Delahunt (26) - Signed 1 year contract in 2020
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 2 year contract in 2020
Tom Farrell (26) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Kyle Godwin (28) - Signed contract in 2018
Peter Robb (26) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020

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

realhorrorshow

I reckon it's likely Rory Burke, Angus Lloyd, and perhaps Matt Burke are out of contract also.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Seems likely Horwitz and Kyle Godwin are away. Darragh Leader too possibly, he might get another one year deal but difficulty to justify much more with injury record he has.

Would think Copeland will be gone if rumours about him being in significant wedge are true. Unless he takes reduced one year deal.

Expect most of the rest will be retained, although Cillian Gallagher likely in last chance saloon, mainly due to injury record in fairness.

EachSmallChime

ClanofLams wrote: »

Would think Copeland will be gone if rumours about him being in significant wedge are true. Unless he takes reduced one year deal.

What are his options? Lower end of the Premiership? France?

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

EachSmallChime wrote: »

What are his options? Lower end of the Premiership? France?

Guess so. Maybe a pro14 club too, back to Cardiff? Nick Williams must surely be retiring this season. He’s clearly very talented at his best but for whatever reason, that doesn’t seem to be reflected on pitch often enough.

Would be good to get Blades contract sorted soon, thankfully the other provinces are all fairly sorted at 9 so seems less likely he would consider move.

Current situation must make recruitment for next season tricky, squad is definitely too thin at the moment for League and Champions Cup but risk of it being too bloated if Connacht recruit strongly and end up missing out on Champions Cup. Hopefully they’re ambitious though and recruit on assumption of qualification.

connemara man

The Friend Zone

ClanofLams wrote: »

Guess so. Maybe a pro14 club too, back to Cardiff? Nick Williams must surely be retiring this season. He’s clearly very talented at his best but for whatever reason, that doesn’t seem to be reflected on pitch often enough.

Would be good to get Blades contract sorted soon, thankfully the other provinces are all fairly sorted at 9 so seems less likely he would consider move.

Current situation must make recruitment for next season tricky, squad is definitely too thin at the moment for League and Champions Cup but risk of it being too bloated if Connacht recruit strongly and end up missing out on Champions Cup. Hopefully they’re ambitious though and recruit on assumption of qualification.

Copeland has played his best for teams that are set up to let their No8s do whatever they want.

thomond2006

Some Like It TOH

Zero minutes played for Rory Burke per the website. Has he been injured?

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

thomond2006 wrote: »

Zero minutes played for Rory Burke per the website. Has he been injured?

Ya think he was out for a good part of the season with injury

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

KBurke85 wrote: »

Ya think he was out for a good part of the season with injury

He was injured at the start of the season but I think he's been mostly available and not selected. Will almost surely be released at the end of the season.

macslash

Mul, it's over

How's the weather in Galway city? The crowd will definitely take a hit with it. Hardly any chance of being cancelled?

Digifriendly

macslash wrote: »

How's the weather in Galway city? The crowd will definitely take a hit with it. Hardly any chance of being cancelled?

Interesting that Dragons game with Treviso scheduled for same time is off while Ospreys game with Ulster a couple of hours earlier is on. Hopefully by 7.35pm worst of storm will have passed west coast of Ireland.

Redo91

You've got a Friend in me

It’s due to calm down a bit by kick off. Not sure if the rain will have eased off though.

N1one

Any pub in Dublin that shows Connacht games, near city centre?

Evil_g

Mul, it's over

N1one wrote: »

Any pub in Dublin that shows Connacht games, near city centre?

If you're on the North side the Wool Shed will have it.

If you're on the South side Sinnott's will have it (or will put it on one of the screens if it's clashing with a big football game)

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

N1one wrote: »

Any pub in Dublin that shows Connacht games, near city centre?

Can’t recall name but there’s an Australian themed bar on Parnell Street (think that’s street name) next door to cinema that does.

Squidgy Black

ClanofLams wrote: »

Can’t recall name but there’s an Australian themed bar on Parnell Street (think that’s street name) next door to cinema that does.

That's the woolshed

Clegg

ClanofLams wrote: »

Can’t recall name but there’s an Australian themed bar on Parnell Street (think that’s street name) next door to cinema that does.

Woolshed. They show every sport imaginable.

I'd guess that the usual spots on Baggot Street will show it too. Doheny & Nesbitt, Searsons etc. The Old Stand on Exchequer Street shows rugby too.

reap-a-rat

Mul, it's over

Healy out, Niyi in. Poor Healy can't catch a break. Has only started one of the last 4 games he was named to start by my count.

Clegg

TOH butchered a certain try. Two men outside him but he delayed the pass so much that by the time.it went to Marmion he was covered by a defender.

Burkie1203

Mul, it's over

TOH should sell meat.

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

Ah jaysus, that's hardly through the middle...

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

Basically 3 try opportunities blown already... Not good

tobdom

Course the try had to come off their ball, cause we can't execute for **** in the red zone with our own ball....

Inspector Coptoor

I can't believe it's not Butler

tobdom wrote: »

Course the try had to come off their ball, cause we can't execute for **** in the red zone with our own ball....

Just did.

Great kick by JC and well finished by Robb

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

Jesus talk about threading the needle. Carty is some use with the boot

Inspector Coptoor

I can't believe it's not Butler

Really clever by TOH there to drag the foot into touch.

Try BUTCHERED!

tobdom

Inspector Coptoor wrote: »

Just did.

Great kick by JC and well finished by Robb

Just finally did, after a series of missed opportunities. Great try that 2nd one, Carty's kicking game is flying tonight

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Best half of rugby Jack Carty has played all season, exhibition stuff.

Is there a TMO? No indication there is, thought same at Munster game in January.