Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

testtech05

Some Like It TOH

connachta wrote: »

Has Boyle played any game as 8?

I thought most of his appearances in his breakthrough season were at no.8 but maybe i am mistaken.

connachta

testtech05 wrote: »

I thought most of his appearances in his breakthrough season were at no.8 but maybe i am mistaken.

I thought he played 6 with Butler (who's not often injured) played 8

connemara man

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

I thought he played 6 with Butler (who's not often injured) played 8

Butler played 8 to fit Colby at 7

Boyle is primarily an 8 pushed to 6

connachta

connemara man wrote: »

Butler played 8 to fit Colby at 7

Boyle is primarily an 8 pushed to 6

I agree about Jarrad, but not necessarily the 2nd part
where do you take that from?
He was used 6, 7 and 8, what's his natural position....

connemara man

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

I agree about Jarrad, but not necessarily the 2nd part
where do you take that from?
He was used 6, 7 and 8, what's his natural position....

8 most of his best games for Connacht come at 8

connachta

connemara man wrote: »

8 most of his best games for Connacht come at 8

So you'd say Boyle 8 Butler 7 Masterson 6 Oliver 20 SOB not rushed back ?

connemara man

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

So you'd say Boyle 8 Butler 7 Masterson 6 Oliver 20 SOB not rushed back ?

If SOB is fit he'd be at 6, Masterson on the bench

connachta

connemara man wrote: »

If SOB is fit he'd be at 6, Masterson on the bench

Oliver is a very nice player, he should bench IMO...

connemara man

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

Oliver is a very nice player, he should bench IMO...

Oliver covers one position and everyone else shifts to accommodate him when he comes on

Masterson cover's 2 so less disruption on field when he comes on.

connachta

connemara man wrote: »

Oliver covers one position and everyone else shifts to accommodate him when he comes on

Masterson cover's 2 so less disruption on field when he comes on.

Butler and Boyle can both shift easily
I think we must consider player quality and form prominient
But SOB/Masterson can be better, I just meant it's not sure (good to have competition, and Oliver will bring some)

realhorrorshow

Paul Boyle: 10 starts @ blindside, 3 starts @ openside, 14 starts @ no. 8
Sean O'Brien: 36 starts @ blindside, 2 starts @ no. 8

realhorrorshow

connemara man wrote: »

Oliver covers one position and everyone else shifts to accommodate him when he comes on

Masterson cover's 2 so less disruption on field when he comes on.

Masterson has played 6 almost exclusively since his injury, I wouldn't have him on the bench for his versatility. Fwiw Oliver has played a bit of no. 8 for Munster.

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-squad-update-friday-24th-july/

theVersatile

I'm nearly certain Oliver has played 8 for Munster - not that I'd classify him as a #8 myself but he has played there.

thomond2006

Some Like It TOH

theVersatile wrote: »

I'm nearly certain Oliver has played 8 for Munster - not that I'd classify him as a #8 myself but he has played there.

One start at number eight at senior level. The most important thing for him is not where he plays but that he plays at all and stays fit.

connachta

No SOB no Roux then...
I wish we can have some news about O'Donnell injury....

connachta

Unavailable for Ulster|Sure bets|Choices|
||McAllister or Buckley|
|Heffernan||
|Bealham||
Roux|Dillane||
|Thornbury||
SOB|E.Masterson||
|Butler||
Papali'i|Boyle||
||Blade or Marmion|
||Carty or C.Fitzegrald|
O'Donnell|Healy||
|Aki||
||Farrell or Arnold
S.Fitzgerald|Porch||
|TOH||

||Delahunt or Murphy
|McCoy||
Dowling||Gallagher or Murray|
|Oliver||
||Blade or Marmion|
||Carty or C.Fitzegrald|
||Wootton or Sullivan|

realhorrorshow

connachta wrote: »

Unavailable for Ulster|Sure bets|Choices|
||McAllister or Buckley|
|Heffernan||
|Bealham||
Roux|Dillane||
|Thornbury||
SOB|E.Masterson||
|Butler||
Papali'i|Boyle||
||Blade or Marmion|
||Carty or C.Fitzegrald|
O'Donnell|Healy||
|Aki||
||Farrell or Arnold
S.Fitzgerald|Porch||
|TOH||

||Delahunt or Murphy
|McCoy||
Dowling||Gallagher or Murray|
|Oliver||
||Blade or Marmion|
||Carty or C.Fitzegrald|
||Wootton or Sullivan|

When do Papali'i and O'Donnell arrive? I wouldn't have Healy down as a sure thing based on last season's form but hopefully he can get back to his best after the break.

connachta

realhorrorshow wrote: »

When do Papali'i and O'Donnell arrive? I wouldn't have Healy down as a sure thing based on last season's form but hopefully he can get back to his best after the break.

Don't think Wootton or Sullivan are ready to provide competition yet. Real one may happen when O'Donnell is fit. Due to arrive in September, but i'm afraid his ACL recovery has him far from full-training and from Healy experience in 15s for a while


Matt has to play 10-15 games to 2021. Then the 3 options behind him will rise hopefully

connachta

So your opinions about
Choices ?

McAllister or Buckley

I'd go with Denis and then Paddy vs Munster (bigger pack)

Blade or Marmion

50/50 depends purely on form

Carty or C.Fitzegrald

Jack, still, there, IMO

Farrell or Arnold

Everybody will go for Tom but I have the intuition Sam will be our best signing this season. I'm going with him

Delahunt or Murphy

Friends seems to have considered last winter John brings something else... I'd go for Shane though

Gallagher or Murray

Gallagher. His year. I'm confident about it. Murray will rise at the same age

Wootton or Sullivan

Wootton tackling is worrying, and Sullivan 100kg will help to balance Healy light-profile. I'd try him from the bench (covering 13 if needed)

FACECUTTR

https://www.the42.ie/connacht-depth-chart-2020-5161081-Jul2020/
From this it looks as if O'Donnell will be fit for the upcoming games. Would be great if true.

connachta

So assuming O'Donnell (sadly) + Fitzgerald aren't available for 7's in September we could have

1) Robb
2) Oliver
3) Daly
4) SOB 2.0
5) Sullivan
6) Porch (Capt.)
7) Wootton

8) Papali'i (why not give him time on the field, as 7's prop sub)
9) Booth
10) Jennings
11) McNulty
12) Reilly

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

So assuming O'Donnell (sadly) + Fitzgerald aren't available for 7's in September we could have

1) Robb
2) Oliver
3) Daly
4) SOB 2.0
5) Sullivan
6) Porch (Capt.)
7) Wootton

8) Papali'i (why not give him time on the field, as 7's prop sub)
9) Booth
10) Jennings
11) McNulty
12) Reilly

What comp is this for?

The Lost Sheep

KBurke85 wrote: »

What comp is this for?

there is three rounds of 7s in september but its mainly going to be academy selections supposedly against the world series squad.

connachta

KBurke85 wrote: »

What comp is this for?

7's, and I picked without any main 15 players (no Aki, Farrell, Healy and so on)

connachta

Good news

New back-row Abraham Papali'i arrived in Ireland on Monday and is completing his 14-day quarantine before he commences training

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

In the Advertiser Friend was saying De Buitlear's academy deal was extended to December. If he impresses during that time he'll be offered a full deal. Friend also said he's impressed so far and was the trainer of the week in the squad last week

connachta

Well indeed we can be happy with the squad, 8 back-three players, no-one to be Irish-selected, O'Donnell has quiet period to rehab and re-adjust!
Nice for back-rowers too now Papali'i has arrived, wasn't sure such a move accross the world would have been without problems in these times ...

the main area of fragility is 10
Carty may be absent 1/2 of the season with Ireland.
1 injury for Fitzgerald and, not only we'd start Dean without experience, but also would have litterally nobody for the bench
I do hope Friend trains Tom Daly to cover there,
Anticipation of this very likely outcome should be from now on...

realhorrorshow

I would say tighthead lock is a concern as well, either Dillane or Thornbury will likely be in the 5 jersey come August and neither are strong scrummagers.

Dunney848

connachta wrote: »

Well indeed we can be happy with the squad, 8 back-three players, no-one to be Irish-selected, O'Donnell has quiet period to rehab and re-adjust!
Nice for back-rowers too now Papali'i has arrived, wasn't sure such a move accross the world would have been without problems in these times ...

the main area of fragility is 10
Carty may be absent 1/2 of the season with Ireland.
1 injury for Fitzgerald and, not only we'd start Dean without experience, but also would have litterally nobody for the bench
I do hope Friend trains Tom Daly to cover there,
Anticipation of this very likely outcome should be from now on...

I wouldn’t be too concerned about Dean at fly half. Yes he’s inexperienced but so are half of the Leinster up and comers who turn into stars.

Sometimes it’s not such a good strategy to throw young players in the deep end particularly when the players surrounding them aren’t all Irish internationals but it’s the risk taking by coaches which often comes off and pays dividends by doing so.

Dean looks like a steady if unspectacular fly half but he has all the features of being one who can control a game and possibly open it up. He has good game management certainly looks like a better prospect than Fitzgerald.

His kicking is a bit wayward sometimes but accuracy and composure will come if he gets game time. His option taking and ability to get the back line moving is what I like about him. Teammate of Doris in rock and his father is the great Paul Dean of Ireland game so he comes from good rugby stock. Give him a chance and I think you’ll reap dividends