Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

testtech05

Some Like It TOH

typhoony wrote: »

Doubt that Bundee will play in the next 2 weeks, doesn't he have an important date coming up?

He got married last week and returned to training today I think. Is that what your referring to?

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Good interview here with Andy Friend.

http://galwaybayfm.ie/sports/connacht-coach-andy-friend-on-over-the-line/

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

The Perpignan player who got the red at the weekend got a 9 week ban. What the hell did he do??

Squidgy Black

Bazzo wrote: »

The Perpignan player who got the red at the weekend got a 9 week ban. What the hell did he do??

"Dangerously striking with the shoulder" on Healy according to the citing commissioner.

connemara man

The Friend Zone

https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/1075699177122861056?s=19


FIXTURE UPDATE | The EPCR have confirmed that our final @ERChallengeCup pool game against Bordeaux-Begles will take place at Stade Chaban-Delmas on Saturday January 19th 2019 (k/o 3pm Irish time). #StrongerInGreen

connemara man

The Friend Zone

Squidgy Black wrote: »

"Dangerously striking with the shoulder" on Healy according to the citing commissioner.

Yeah listening to Galway Bay, Matt Healy was on the wrong side of a ruck and prone and your man took him out with a shoulder to the head

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

MarinersBlues wrote: »

Powers have gone up with a 18 point handicap at the weekend!

I will be waiting for squad updates/team naming but that seems rather excessive.

I would have it around 12 points to Leinster at the moment.
And that is if it is dry.

They are into 17 now.
That was before the Munster and Ulster teams were named.
I definitley expect it to end up around 12-14 in the finish.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Schmidt called Cian Kelleher before November internationals to say he was doing well and on his radar etc

https://m.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-rugby/big-interview-i-got-a-call-from-joe-its-nice-to-know-im-getting-closer-37645716.htmlD

troyzer

ClanofLams wrote: »

Schmidt called Cian Kelleher before November internationals to say he was doing well and on his radar etc

https://m.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-rugby/big-interview-i-got-a-call-from-joe-its-nice-to-know-im-getting-closer-37645716.htmlD

How much does that really mean? Joe has less than 12 months left. Kelleher has no chance of making the Six Nations squad and while he might be given a cap during the warm ups he has no realistic shot at Japan. There are simply too many wings and fullbacks ahead of him.

evil_seed

The Friend Zone

troyzer wrote: »

How much does that really mean? Joe has less than 12 months left. Kelleher has no chance of making the Six Nations squad and while he might be given a cap during the warm ups he has no realistic shot at Japan. There are simply too many wings and fullbacks ahead of him.

Wingers/FB definitely ahead of him: Stockdale (nailed on starter), Earls (injury prone), Conway, Kearney, Larmour

Wingers/FB on equal footing: Sweetnam, Addison... IMO that's it.

Realistically he's not going to be in the squad for the WC, but if he's on the radar then there's players that the WC is their last hurrah, so he needs to be thinking he's in with a chance after that.

Jump_In_Jack

evil_seed wrote: »

Wingers/FB definitely ahead of him: Stockdale (nailed on starter), Earls (injury prone), Conway, Kearney

Wingers/FB on equal footing: Sweetnam, Addison... IMO that's it.

Realistically he's not going to be in the squad for the WC, but if he's on the radar then there's players that the WC is their last hurrah, so he needs to be thinking he's in with a chance after that.

Ahem, Larmour...

Former Former

You've got a Friend in me

evil_seed wrote: »

Wingers/FB definitely ahead of him: Stockdale (nailed on starter), Earls (injury prone), Conway, Kearney

Wingers/FB on equal footing: Sweetnam, Addison... IMO that's it.

Realistically he's not going to be in the squad for the WC, but if he's on the radar then there's players that the WC is their last hurrah, so he needs to be thinking he's in with a chance after that.

Ah you'd have to count Sweetnam and Addison as ahead of him. You've forgotten Larmour and McFadden too.

troyzer

evil_seed wrote: »

troyzer wrote: »

How much does that really mean? Joe has less than 12 months left. Kelleher has no chance of making the Six Nations squad and while he might be given a cap during the warm ups he has no realistic shot at Japan. There are simply too many wings and fullbacks ahead of him.

Wingers/FB definitely ahead of him: Stockdale (nailed on starter), Earls (injury prone), Conway, Kearney

Wingers/FB on equal footing: Sweetnam, Addison... IMO that's it.

Realistically he's not going to be in the squad for the WC, but if he's on the radar then there's players that the WC is their last hurrah, so he needs to be thinking he's in with a chance after that.

Larmour and Addison are comfortably ahead of him. Sweetnam is closer but still ahead of him by virtue of his test experience.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

troyzer wrote: »

How much does that really mean? Joe has less than 12 months left. Kelleher has no chance of making the Six Nations squad and while he might be given a cap during the warm ups he has no realistic shot at Japan. There are simply too many wings and fullbacks ahead of him.

Yeah I didn't suggest he was gonna be in the squad or anything. I posted it as news and as a reflection that his strong start to the season hasn't gone unnoticed.

connachta

Kelleher will be 29 for RWC 2023. If he does well he has his chance there

Lebute

connachta wrote: »

Kelleher will be 29 for RWC 2023. If he does well he has his chance there

With due respect to Joe he has selected him previously although it was an uncapped international v The Ba Ba’s

Diabhal Beag

Fairly sure Joe said that to Buckley in 2016. It means ****all tbh.

Former Former

You've got a Friend in me

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Fairly sure Joe said that to Buckley in 2016. It means ****all tbh.

Especially since being on Joe's radar won't mean a whole lot come November 2019...

stephen_n

Is every professional player in Ireland not on Joes radar.

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

Connacht Team V Leinster

15-9) Tiernan O’Halloran, Cian Kelleher, Kyle Godwin, Tom Farrell, Darragh Leader, Jack Carty, Caolin Blade, (1-8) Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Gavin Thornbury, Jarrad Butler (Capt), Colby Fainga’a, Paul Boyle.
Replacements (16-23): Shane Delahunt, Peter McCabe, Dominic Robertson McCoy, James Cannon, Eoghan Masterson, James Mitchell, David Horwitz, Bundee Aki.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Disappointing Healy is out but hopefully nothing serious. Deserved opportunity for Darragh Leader, been very good with the game time he has gotten this season. In the mix with 20 to go and bring Bundee on will be a bit of craic.

tobdom

KBurke85 wrote: »

Connacht Team V Leinster

15-9) Tiernan O’Halloran, Cian Kelleher, Kyle Godwin, Tom Farrell, Darragh Leader, Jack Carty, Caolin Blade, (1-8) Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Gavin Thornbury, Jarrad Butler (Capt), Colby Fainga’a, Paul Boyle.
Replacements (16-23): Shane Delahunt, Peter McCabe, Dominic Robertson McCoy, James Cannon, Eoghan Masterson, James Mitchell, David Horwitz, Bundee Aki.

Gees I'd imagine Copeland is pretty disappointed not to be in the 23, given it was "probably" between himself & Boyle for the 8 jersey according to his article in the Independent!

It's probably between myself and Paul Boyle as to who will start in the No 8 jersey this weekend and I quite enjoy the battle we have going on there. Two Gorey lads fighting it out for the Connacht No 8 jersey.

connemara man

The Friend Zone

tobdom wrote: »

Gees I'd imagine Copeland is pretty disappointed not to be in the 23, given it was "probably" between himself & Boyle for the 8 jersey according to his article in the Independent!

It's probably between myself and Paul Boyle as to who will start in the No 8 jersey this weekend and I quite enjoy the battle we have going on there. Two Gorey lads fighting it out for the Connacht No 8 jersey.

He might be disappointed but I'm not surprised. He's a guaranteed 2 to 3 penalties a game. Boyle already seems like a more rounded intelligent player than him.

tobdom

connemara man wrote: »

He might be disappointed but I'm not surprised. He's a guaranteed 2 to 3 penalties a game. Boyle already seems like a more rounded intelligent player than him.

Yea, I just thought it was a very forthright statement to make 'publicly', despite his use of the word "probably"

Diabhal Beag

Delighted for Leader tbh. It's been a long road back but he's really worked his bollocks off. Would be fitting to see him score the double-hattrick tomorrow and I'll be proud to shed a tear of joy when it happens.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Think leader on the wing will try to help counter Adam Byrnes aerial skills. Very strong 23 from Connacht. Very good chance of extending the winning run

Dubinusa

Some Like It TOH

It is a strong team. They have a good chance.
Leinster going with more of a mix than I expected.
I think it will be a close match, maybe a couple of points in it.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Angus Lloyd signs on loan for the season

Utopia Parkway

Sick. 17 points up with 12 minutes to go. Have to close that out.

Somebody missed a tackle out on the wing on the near side there in the final phase that proved very costly. Leinster were going backwards and suddenly they made 20 yards from that missed tackle alone.

So many players flying off their feet during that last phase it was ridiculous but Clancy was never going to end the match on one of those up in Dublin. You could see Bundee saying numerous times to Clancy that they are going off their feet.

Zzippy

I actually feel physically sick after that. But what a performance for 60 minutes. I hope the lads take that disappointment and anger and blow Ulster away next week. Take it out on them. No more f*ck-ups