Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

salmocab

connachta wrote: »

Was McCabe injured?
If not, that's a huge sign he may be released and Burke might be 3rd choice next season, he's doing ok and turning 22

which would mean in September

1) Buckley (29) or marquee NIQ
2) McAllister (30)
3) Burke (22)
4) Ryan Lomas (20) -looks promising, try to convert him as LH-

and for TH

1) Bealham (27)
2) McCoy (25)
3) O'Donnell (23)
4) Kenny (23)

If we release Cannon too, all this would release huge money for a great ball-carrying 2nd Row. We need this, desperately. Above all with Dillane/Roux/Thornbury around the Irish squad

Dillane, Roux and Thornbury are behind 4 locks for Ireland. Connacht would be throwing money away on a marquee second row.

gally74

The Friend Zone

salmocab wrote: »

Dillane, Roux and Thornbury are behind 4 locks for Ireland. Connacht would be throwing money away on a marquee second row.

Hard to believe Buckley is 29, I rember when he came thru first. He owes Connacht nothing

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

salmocab wrote: »

Dillane, Roux and Thornbury are behind 4 locks for Ireland. Connacht would be throwing money away on a marquee second row.

Gallagher was really impressive yesterday, think he could leapfrog cannon before the end of the year. Think cannon could be let go, nothing really wrong with him he hasn’t ever had really let the team down but the others are just better. You then have the two Murray’s likely to be in the academy/ sub academy next season.

Second row and scrum half are two positions Connacht are producing players in, won’t want to see any big investment in those two areas.

Also don’t think lomas should be converted to a loose head, need depth at tight head. Carey has been linked with a move away and McCoy seems to have leapfrogged him anyways. Haven’t been convinced Kenny will make it pro either

connachta

Wegians89 wrote: »

Gallagher was really impressive yesterday, think he could leapfrog cannon before the end of the year. Think cannon could be let go, nothing really wrong with him he hasn’t ever had really let the team down but the others are just better. You then have the two Murray’s likely to be in the academy/ sub academy next season.

Second row and scrum half are two positions Connacht are producing players in, won’t want to see any big investment in those two areas.

Also don’t think lomas should be converted to a loose head, need depth at tight head. Carey has been linked with a move away and McCoy seems to have leapfrogged him anyways. Haven’t been convinced Kenny will make it pro either

Gallagher is the perfect example why I think we need a 2nd Row. He is not a ball-carrier. He's a 6

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

Gallagher is the perfect example why I think we need a 2nd Row. He is not a ball-carrier. He's a 6

Tbh I’m not convinced myself where Gallagher will end up long term at 6 or lock but either way I don’t think any signing is needed at second row. There’s so many good options in the second row and back row atm that any signings should just be for depth if any current players leave and academy players aren’t ready to step up. Personally see the pack for next season as:

Buckley McAllister McCabe Burke
Delahunt heffernan McCarthney murphy/ Tierney
Bealham McCoy carey Conan
Thornbury dillane Murray
Roux Gallagher maksymiw
Sob masterson x
Butler faingaa Connolly
Boyle mckeon Copeland

Would be hoping some one like huxford or Sean masterson could make a breakthrough for the “x “ spot but really you wouldn’t need the extra back row with Gallagher able to slot in.

connachta

Wegians89 wrote: »

Tbh I’m not convinced myself where Gallagher will end up long term at 6 or lock but either way I don’t think any signing is needed at second row. There’s so many good options in the second row and back row atm that any signings should just be for depth if any current players leave and academy players aren’t ready to step up. Personally see the pack for next season as:

Buckley McAllister McCabe Burke
Delahunt heffernan McCarthney murphy/ Tierney
Bealham McCoy carey Conan
Thornbury dillane Murray
Roux Gallagher maksymiw
Sob masterson x
Butler faingaa Connolly
Boyle mckeon Copeland

Would be hoping some one like huxford or Sean masterson could make a breakthrough for the “x “ spot but really you wouldn’t need the extra back row with Gallagher able to slot in.

We need an extra 2nd Row far more than a back-row.
We even may be forced to released Connolly or McKeon when they do not deserve it at all...

connachta

If Robb and/or Griffin leave, I'm nearly sure we'll enlist one of the 3 centres on the field today :

Either Brendan Macken with all his experience, Mark Best, so, so, solid, or James Neway a promising Irish Exile U20 (21 y.o, with kicking abilities)

realhorrorshow

Wegians89 wrote: »

Gallagher was really impressive yesterday, think he could leapfrog cannon before the end of the year. Think cannon could be let go, nothing really wrong with him he hasn’t ever had really let the team down but the others are just better. You then have the two Murray’s likely to be in the academy/ sub academy next season.

Second row and scrum half are two positions Connacht are producing players in, won’t want to see any big investment in those two areas.

Also don’t think lomas should be converted to a loose head, need depth at tight head. Carey has been linked with a move away and McCoy seems to have leapfrogged him anyways. Haven’t been convinced Kenny will make it pro either

Niall Murray is listed as 99kgs and likely to play 6 for the 20s, don’t think he’ll be in the conversation to play lock at senior level next year. Darragh Murray is u18.

Not sure why everyone is so keen to get rid of Cannon, he’s a perfect squad player. Never injured, IQ, not an international, presumably cheap, presumably happy to be a squad player, and above all a solid player.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

realhorrorshow wrote: »

Niall Murray is listed as 99kgs and likely to play 6 for the 20s, don’t think he’ll be in the conversation to play lock at senior level next year. Darragh Murray is u18.

Not sure why everyone is so keen to get rid of Cannon, he’s a perfect squad player. Never injured, IQ, not an international, presumably cheap, presumably happy to be a squad player, and above all a solid player.

Was just mentioning the murrays as a reason not to make a big money signing in second row. They’ll both make the break through in the next 3-5 years. Niall Murray will be in his second year of the academy so could very well get a few minutes here and there given how friend likes to use the academy.

realhorrorshow

Wegians89 wrote: »

Was just mentioning the murrays as a reason not to make a big money signing in second row. They’ll both make the break through in the next 3-5 years. Niall Murray will be in his second year of the academy so could very well get a few minutes here and there given how friend likes to use the academy.

Fair, I've no clue why we'd sign an NIQ second row. I'd keep the same group as this year, if the young lads are any good they'll displace Cannon. Niall Murray is listed as 201cm and 99kg, if that's accurate he has a hell of a lot of bulking up to do.

realhorrorshow

connachta wrote: »

Was McCabe injured?
If not, that's a huge sign he may be released and Burke might be 3rd choice next season, he's doing ok and turning 22

which would mean in September

1) Buckley (29) or marquee NIQ
2) McAllister (30)
3) Burke (22)
4) Ryan Lomas (20) -looks promising, try to convert him as LH-

and for TH

1) Bealham (27)
2) McCoy (25)
3) O'Donnell (23)
4) Kenny (23)

If we release Cannon too, all this would release huge money for a great ball-carrying 2nd Row. We need this, desperately. Above all with Dillane/Roux/Thornbury around the Irish squad

McCabe missing one game doesn't mean anything, could be injury/rotation/whatever. If Buckley leaves there's no way we can afford to lose McCabe as well. Even if he stays we shouldn't let McCabe go unless we sign someone better. Haven't seen enough of Burke to make a judgement on him, but our standards need to be higher than "ok" going forward.

A homegrown tighthead would be worth his weight in gold, if the coaches believe Lomas has the potential to be a pro tighthead there's no way he should be moved. If you had to move someone across I'd have thought O'Donnell would be a more obvious candidate, as his short powerful body shape would be more suited there. Lomas at 19 is already much closer physically to the prototypical tighthead.

There's no way we could compete in Europe and the Pro14 with that depth at 3. The thought of going into next season with Conor Kenny as 4th choice terrifies me. I'd rather see us sign an NIQ here than at loosehead, unless we lose Buckley or get Oli Jager or someone of a similar stature.

errlloyd

Does the Connacht website have a historic squads section like Leinster and Munster. Wanna see how much fullback Robbie actually played.

b.gud

errlloyd wrote: »

Does the Connacht website have a historic squads section like Leinster and Munster. Wanna see how much fullback Robbie actually played.

No I'm afraid not. Off the top of my head I'd say his entire first and second season was at FB. In his third season I seem to recall him playing a few games at centre and then for his 4th season he was almost entirely used at centre

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

b.gud wrote: »

No I'm afraid not. Off the top of my head I'd say his entire first and second season was at FB. In his third season I seem to recall him playing a few games at centre and then for his 4th season he was almost entirely used at centre

Even in his last season, he played there a bit, Munster away and a few post 6N games. He didn't play that much for Connacht that season between World Cup, injury which ruled him out for December and January, 6N, would say close to a majority of his appearances that season were at 15.

realhorrorshow

b.gud wrote: »

No I'm afraid not. Off the top of my head I'd say his entire first and second season was at FB. In his third season I seem to recall him playing a few games at centre and then for his 4th season he was almost entirely used at centre

First season was mostly spent playing 15 with the exception of two games at 13. Second season was split fairly evenly between 15 and 13. Third season he played solely 13 bar one start at 12. In his final season he played a few games at 15 when returning from injury to accommodate the Ronaldson-Aki partnership, before moving to 13 for the run in.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Interesting that the Cardiff boss said in a post match interview that they knew Horwitz is really a 12 playing at 10 and that they could go at him. They really did exploit him.

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

After his performance on Staurday Gallagher's interview was really good.
He sounds very level headed and intelligent.
A very exciting prospect!

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

MarinersBlues wrote: »

After his performance on Staurday Gallagher's interview was really good.
He sounds very level headed and intelligent.
A very exciting prospect!

Hopefully he can stay injury free. He could see a lot of game time in either second row or 6.

The Lost Sheep

realhorrorshow wrote: »

McCabe missing one game doesn't mean anything, could be injury/rotation/whatever. If Buckley leaves there's no way we can afford to lose McCabe as well. Even if he stays we shouldn't let McCabe go unless we sign someone better. Haven't seen enough of Burke to make a judgement on him, but our standards need to be higher than "ok" going forward.

A homegrown tighthead would be worth his weight in gold, if the coaches believe Lomas has the potential to be a pro tighthead there's no way he should be moved. If you had to move someone across I'd have thought O'Donnell would be a more obvious candidate, as his short powerful body shape would be more suited there. Lomas at 19 is already much closer physically to the prototypical tighthead.

There's no way we could compete in Europe and the Pro14 with that depth at 3. The thought of going into next season with Conor Kenny as 4th choice terrifies me. I'd rather see us sign an NIQ here than at loosehead, unless we lose Buckley or get Oli Jager or someone of a similar stature.

Conan seems to be preferred as loose and though played some part at tight i think he'll be kept loose. Wouldnt worry too much about Conor Kenny as 4th choice. How much would be play and even still if he is thought about as 4th choice he'll just spend a lot of the summer down in Nenagh with Seamus Harty to prep for that

errlloyd wrote: »

Does the Connacht website have a historic squads section like Leinster and Munster. Wanna see how much fullback Robbie actually played.

Pro14 site is best option but you need to check each game. easier to do it than connacht website which doesnt really have that.

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

Given the flack he took over the last few years, this is a very satisfying picture that popped up today.

evil_seed

The Friend Zone

Great to see, but there's too much of a hint of "1st day of school" about that. Must be the backpack

Buer

evil_seed wrote: »

Great to see, but there's too much of a hint of "1st day of school" about that. Must be the backpack

The fact that he's checking his own pulse to see if this is all real doesn't help.

Diabhal Beag

Buer wrote: »

The fact that he's checking his own pulse to see if this is all real doesn't help.

He's actually tracking the IP addresses of any Boards poster who wronged him and will strangle them to death via said Casio Calculator Watch.

freyners

The Friend Zone

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

He's actually tracking the IP addresses of any Boards poster who wronged him and will strangle them to death via said Casio Calculator Watch.

Was wondering why certain posters have been extremely quiet recently

:D

macslash

Mul, it's over

Murray Kinsella saying Henshaw in pole position for full back on Saturday. His best position. Aki in line to definitely start if so too.

irishgrover

macslash wrote: »

Murray Kinsella saying Henshaw in pole position for full back on Saturday. His best position. Aki in line to definitely start if so too.

is the pink bit yours or Murrays.... this is just a "curious" seeking of clarrification as opposed to "have you got a link to prove that" type of clarrification...

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

irishgrover wrote: »

is the pink bit yours or Murrays.... this is just a "curious" seeking of clarrification as opposed to "have you got a link to prove that" type of clarrification...

Murray talked about henshaws fondness for the position, didn’t say his best

macslash

Mul, it's over

irishgrover wrote: »

is the pink bit yours or Murrays.... this is just a "curious" seeking of clarrification as opposed to "have you got a link to prove that" type of clarrification...

Ya sorry, that bit was my own opinion.

jacothelad

Buer wrote: »

The fact that he's checking his own pulse to see if this is all real doesn't help.

I think he is tightening his watch strap. His radial pulse is on the other side of his wrist from where his right hand fingers are.

Zzippy

jacothelad wrote: »

I think he is tightening his watch strap. His radial pulse is on the other side of his wrist from where his right hand fingers are.

jaco I'd say you're a hoot to watch medical dramas with. House in particular. "That's rubbish, she clearly has Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva. Next episode!"