Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

b.gud

macslash wrote: »

Just saw this. Anyone know off heart who the possible opponents from England and France will now be?

Think its wasps and Bristol for England and Toulouse and Racing for France. I wonder can we ask to get put back into tier 4

Though its worth noting places 4 to 2 in England are really tight so it could end up being either of those plus Sale

Diabhal Beag

Might aswell win the thing now tbh

If we end playing Bristol and Racing home and away, and I can't attend any of those games, then I think it's accepted, that I'm living in purgatory

connachta

Can't see much difference between any of Top 4 in France or England
So it doesn't matter Tier 3 or 4
We'll play the best

And I've the feeling we'll face Pat Lam again, coaching a mix of Bristol and Sarries!

evil_seed

The Friend Zone

Deleted User wrote: »

If we end playing Bristol and Racing home and away, and I can't attend any of those games, then I think it's accepted, that I'm living in purgatory

All your sins are forgiven. You can travel

realhorrorshow

Loosehead

Denis Buckley (30) - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Matthew Burke (23) - Signed contract in 2019
Jordan Duggan (22) - Signed contract in 2020
Paddy McAllister (31) - Signed contract in 2019

Charlie Ward (20) - Academy year 1

Tighthead

Jack Aungier (21) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Finlay Bealham (29) - Signed 2 year 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
Jonny Murphy (28) - Signed contract in 2018

Declan Adamson (21) - Academy year 2
Eoin De Buitléar (u20) - Academy year 1
Dylan Tierney-Martin (21) - Academy year 3

Lock

Ultan Dillane (26) - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Oisin Dowling (23) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Cillian Gallagher (23) - Signed contract in 2018
Niall Murray (20) - Signed contract in 2020
Quinn Roux (29) - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Gavin Thornbury (26) - Signed 2 year contract in 2019

Darragh Murray (u20) - Academy year 1
Cian Prendergast (20) - Academy year 1

Back row

Paul Boyle (23) - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Jarrad Butler (29) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Eoghan Masterson (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2018
Sean Masterson (22) - Signed contract in 2020
Sean O'Brien (25) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Conor Oliver (24) - Signed 1 year contract in 2020
Abraham Papali’i (27) - Signed contract in 2020

Ciaran Booth (20) - Academy year 1
Donnacha Byrne (u20) - Academy year 1
Hubert Costello (u20) - Academy year 1
Joshua Dunne (20) - Academy year 3
Oisin McCormack (19) - Academy year 2

Scrumhalf

Caolin Blade (26) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Stephen Kerins (24) - Signed contract in 2019
Kieran Marmion (28) - Signed 3 year contract in 2020
Colm Reilly (21) - Signed contract in 2020

Outhalf

Jack Carty (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Conor Dean (22) - Signed contract in 2020
Conor Fitzgerald (22) - Signed contract in 2019

Cathal Forde (19) - Academy year 1

Centre

Bundee Aki (28) - Signed 3 year central contract in 2020
Sammy Arnold (24) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Tom Daly (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Tom Farrell (26) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Peter Robb (26) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020

Shane Jennings (19) - Academy year 2
Sean O'Brien (22) - Academy year 3

Back 3

Stephen Fitzgerald (24) - Signed contract in 2019
Matt Healy (31) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Ben O'Donnell (25) - Signed contract in 2020
Tiernan O'Halloran (29) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
John Porch (26) - Signed contract in 2019
Peter Sullivan (22) - Signed contract in 2020
Alex Wootton (26) - Signed 1 year loan contract in 2020

Colm de Buitléar (22) - Academy year 3
Diarmuid Kilgallen (20) - Academy year 1
Oran McNulty (20) - Academy year 3

Updated to include Diarmuid Kilgallen, who was obviously added to the academy late.

freyners

The Friend Zone

realhorrorshow wrote:

Back row

Paul Boyle (23) - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Jarrad Butler (29) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Eoghan Masterson (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2018
Sean Masterson (22) - Signed contract in 2020
Sean O'Brien (25) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Conor Oliver (24) - Signed 1 year contract in 2020
Abraham Papali’i (27) - Signed contract in 2020

Ciaran Booth (20) - Academy year 1
Donnacha Byrne (u20) - Academy year 1
Hubert Costello (u20) - Academy year 1
Joshua Dunne (20) - Academy year 3
Oisin McCormack (19) - Academy year 2

any of the backrows favoured to come through more than others. I know McCormack was talked about recently but could do with 1/2 stepping up this year

realhorrorshow

freyners wrote: »

any of the backrows favoured to come through more than others. I know McCormack was talked about recently but could do with 1/2 stepping up this year

Booth is primarily an openside, looked decent for Ireland u20 in 2019 as an u19, he was subsequently put injured for a long spell so we’ll have to wait and see on him.
Donnacha Byrne started a fair few games for the Eagles last year as an u19 and likely would have played Ireland u19 in the spring. We’ll see how he does for Ireland u20s this year.
Hubert Costello mainly plays six afaik, personally thought he would be behind Diarmuid McCormack for an academy place but he got in. Has Ireland underage appearances and has a shot at being involved with the 20s, though less likely than the others imo.
Josh Dunne is a 6/8 but has played second row for wegians. Was on the fringes of the Ireland u20 team this year. Big guy, I’m a fan although I haven’t seen much from him in adult rugby thus far.
Oisin McCormack (openside) has been well flagged as a prospect since school and was given an academy deal to ward off Galway GAA. Probably would have been involved with Ireland u20 this year were it not for a bad injury, and will surely feature heavily next time out.
IMO: wait and see how the u20s go with Ireland. Both of the older guys have potential but neither are a sure thing.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Watched the first 25 minutes of the Munster match there. Really excited by Papalii. If he can sort his fitness and tackle technique out, you could be looking at the missing piece to the connacht squad. Made Stander his doormat at times, which you don’t see often

connachta

Wegians89 wrote: »

Watched the first 25 minutes of the Munster match there. Really excited by Papalii. If he can sort his fitness and tackle technique out, you could be looking at the missing piece to the connacht squad. Made Stander his doormat at times, which you don’t see often

Exactly

thomond2006

Some Like It TOH

Wegians89 wrote: »

Watched the first 25 minutes of the Munster match there. Really excited by Papalii. If he can sort his fitness and tackle technique out, you could be looking at the missing piece to the connacht squad. Made Stander his doormat at times, which you don’t see often

The last time he was talked up, the mocker gods got him sent off.
Please stop doing this to him.

JohnniDrama

thomond2006 wrote: »

The last time he was talked up, the mocker gods got him sent off.
Please stop doing this to him.

It’s ok to be excited about new players. Part of team sports!

I am sure all Munster fans were really excited about RG but sadly your captain dropped him.

Diabhal Beag

Don't mind thomond. He's as Leinster as "ordering six sticks of Heinomite, barkeep".

thomond2006

Some Like It TOH

JohnniDrama wrote: »

It’s ok to be excited about new players. Part of team sports!

I am sure all Munster fans were really excited about RG but sadly your captain dropped him.

Now that's just mean.

connachta

Just watched the 2nd half I missed last week. It's true there's a gap between 1st and 2nd team. Even McAlister, McCoy, Oliver, Fitz, Arnold, in who we could have hope to contest positions are not on a par yet, it seems.

Blade is, Murray looks good too. Dean has had a very nice run. Murphy is lively. Daly will be very useful too

connachta

In my humble opinion, we should have in 4 weeks


1) Buckley
2) Heff
3) Bealham
4) Dillane
5) Thornbury
6) SOB
7) Butler
8) Boyle
9) Marmion
10) Carty
11) S.Fitz
12) Aki
13) Farrell
14) Porch
15) TOH

16) Delahunt
17) Deegan
18) Aungier
19) Murray
20) Papali'i
21) Blade
22) Dean
23) Daly/Wootton

Lucas44

won’t get away with papali playing for another 6 weeks or so.. hopefully he gets a run out in A games to get to match fitness only so much conditioning you can do some players just need to play there way back into shape.. noticed on one occasion we had a 5m line out that Munster stole and cleared to about half way, 2 carries/phases later papali was walking back past the Munster defensive line... this was 22 mins in after 3/4 carries.. often see south islanders in Ail etc that have 4/5 big carries a game before the engine gives up with all that fast twitch muscle hopefully this isn’t the case

realhorrorshow

Lucas44 wrote: »

won’t get away with papali playing for another 6 weeks or so.. hopefully he gets a run out in A games to get to match fitness only so much conditioning you can do some players just need to play there way back into shape.. noticed on one occasion we had a 5m line out that Munster stole and cleared to about half way, 2 carries/phases later papali was walking back past the Munster defensive line... this was 22 mins in after 3/4 carries.. often see south islanders in Ail etc that have 4/5 big carries a game before the engine gives up with all that fast twitch muscle hopefully this isn’t the case

He'll be banned for the A games surely. You're right though he was gassed after 20 mins.

realhorrorshow

connachta wrote: »

In my humble opinion, we should have in 4 weeks


1) Buckley
2) Heff
3) Bealham
4) Dillane
5) Thornbury
6) SOB
7) Butler
8) Boyle
9) Marmion
10) Carty
11) S.Fitz
12) Aki
13) Farrell
14) Porch
15) TOH

16) Delahunt
17) Deegan
18) Aungier
19) Murray
20) Papali'i
21) Blade
22) Dean
23) Daly/Wootton

A bit of a reactionary selection IMO. A decent run against an abject Ulster team isn't enough for Duggan for to oust McAllister. Delahunt will likely be banned, Jonny Murphy in for him. Extremely harsh to drop Roux completely after one poor showing in his first game in 8 months. Him and Dillane to start with Thornbury on the bench. Agree with your back row in theory but in reality SOB will probably not be fit and Papali'i will be suspended. Not too enamoured with any of our other back row options right now but I'd go for one of our lock/backrow hybrids (Gallagher, Dowling, Murray) at 6 and eh Sean Masterson on the bench.
Again I wouldn't toss Conor Fitz just yet. Centres are bang on. Not sure how Stephen Fitz is going to recover from an ACL and force himself into the starting lineup in the space of four weeks. Wootton, Porch, and O'Halloran in the back 3 for me. Arnold to be given another shot in the 23 jersey, he was thrown to the wolves last week.

Paul Smeenus

Who are you playing in four weeks? Connachta might not have been saying that's your best team - we'll all be getting started back in the Pro14. He might just want to see that team starting.

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

realhorrorshow wrote: »

He'll be banned for the A games surely. You're right though he was gassed after 20 mins.

Actually has there been anything said about citings yet for himself or Delahunt? Haven't heard anything but suppose there's no rush on the hearings

connachta

realhorrorshow wrote: »

A bit of a reactionary selection IMO. A decent run against an abject Ulster team isn't enough for Duggan for to oust McAllister. Delahunt will likely be banned, Jonny Murphy in for him. Extremely harsh to drop Roux completely after one poor showing in his first game in 8 months. Him and Dillane to start with Thornbury on the bench. Agree with your back row in theory but in reality SOB will probably not be fit and Papali'i will be suspended. Not too enamoured with any of our other back row options right now but I'd go for one of our lock/backrow hybrids (Gallagher, Dowling, Murray) at 6 and eh Sean Masterson on the bench.
Again I wouldn't toss Conor Fitz just yet. Centres are bang on. Not sure how Stephen Fitz is going to recover from an ACL and force himself into the starting lineup in the space of four weeks. Wootton, Porch, and O'Halloran in the back 3 for me. Arnold to be given another shot in the 23 jersey, he was thrown to the wolves last week.

It may be short for Fitz indeed, but not for SOB who's training
Disagree about Roux, Thornbury/Dillane pair was impressive enough to retain the spot, Murray too...
McAlister wasn't up to it I thought
I'm very, very worried about Wootton tacklin technique, even our best attacking winger I wouldn't start him
Arnold hasn't moved Daly (nor Farrell, then) IMO for now

FACECUTTR

Bazzo wrote: »

Actually has there been anything said about citings yet for himself or Delahunt? Haven't heard anything but suppose there's no rush on the hearings

Ya I thought it would have been held during the week considering there was matches coming up. What are they both looking at ?

connachta

FACECUTTR wrote: »

Ya I thought it would have been held during the week considering there was matches coming up. What are they both looking at ?

It was close to a yellow for Papali'i. I can't see it being more than traditional 6 weeks reduced to 3.


Will the A/Final phases weeks count?

Burkie1203

Mul, it's over

connachta wrote: »

It was close to a yellow for Papali'i. I can't see it being more than traditional 6 weeks reduced to 3.


Will the A/Final phases weeks count?

It was a shoulder/upper arm straight to the head. Not even close to being a yellow

connachta

It's very close between 2 and 5 in Premiership
I've watched every teams this week-end, and came to reinforce the conclusion : I don't care if n°3 and 4, our Champions Cup opponents, are Wasps, Sale, Bath, or Bristol. They are exactly the same level.
It will be a huge physical battle.
Against one of them, Papali'i, Dillane, Roux, and SOB have to be on the teamsheet

connachta

https://www.the42.ie/owen-farrell-saracens-leinster-5196473-Sep2020

If you can't see the dfference between that and Papali'i's..
Both tackles have been red but hearing shouldn't go to the same ban at all

salmocab

connachta wrote: »

https://www.the42.ie/owen-farrell-saracens-leinster-5196473-Sep2020

If you can't see the dfference between that and Papali'i's..
Both tackles have been red but hearing shouldn't go to the same ban at all

Did anyone say they couldn’t see the difference?

connachta

salmocab wrote: »

Did anyone say they couldn’t see the difference?

A poster above implied a lenghy ban as "a high tackle is a high tackle".
No.
They are reds close to yellows (are even yellows sometimes for some refs)
If Papali'i and Farrell undergo the same duration, that's insane.
Wait and see

Former Former

You've got a Friend in me

connachta wrote: »

A poster above implied a lenghy ban as "a high tackle is a high tackle".
No.
It's Papali'i and Farrell undergo the same duration, that's insane.
Wait and see

The minimum ban is six weeks. Since Papali'i has no priors (easy enough with no career to date), he'll get full remission and get a three week ban.

I'm not sure where Farrell fits into this.