Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

FACECUTTR

Adam Byrne confirmed.

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/adam-byrne-completes-move-to-connacht-rugby/

macslash

New #8 signing from NZ! Only 21!

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-sign-new-zealand-back-rower-shamus-hurley-langton/

b.gud

Some highlights, from a quick look seems quite physical and a real poaching threat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXmEdZpE86s

SqueakyKneecap

Any shoulder hits we need to keep an eye on?

Wegians89

Not Irish qualified. Looks a decent signing. Some serious depth being built

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118767307#Comment_118767307

A guy named Shamus Hurley-Langton isn't Irish qualified?!

Wegians89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118767438#Comment_118767438

Can’t believe it myself but apparently, I’m sure we could have faked some documents

Wegians89

Buckley - Dooley - Burke - Duggan

Heffernan - Delahunt - DTM - ?

Bealham - aungier - illo - McCoy / tuimuague

murray - Dowling - Murray

thornbury - fifita ?

prendergast - Murphy - S Masterson

Oliver - Butler - McCormack

Boyle - SHL - Booth

Marmion - Blade - Reilly - Devine

Carty - Fitz - Hawkshaw

Hansen - Wootton - Killgallen

Bundee - Daly - forde

Farrell - Bolton - Jennings

Byrne - Sullivan

Porch - McNulty - Toh

E masterson, Johnny Murphy, Robb and Healy all on the way out?

Clegg

This man is at least 30 years old.

https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/1502244528069165060?t=KBGQA1P3QQ_8yWA2-M_CJA&s=09

jimdemp

Looks like he plays 7. Played for Wellington and Manawatu just like Tietie Tuimauga.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/300127580/manawat-turbos-loosie-shamus-hurleylangton-makes-his-presence-known

jimdemp

Interview with him here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc4y004QpjM

ionadnapokot

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118764257#Comment_118764257

4 starts in the last 2 years at Leinster.

It's a good move for Byrne but im not sure if its a good move for Connacht. Frailties in defense that i cant see ever improving. He simply does not like tackling. IF he can get a run of 15-20 games a season for 2 years he will deliver on his attacking potential.

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118768359#Comment_118768359

Funny, I thought in the games I've seen this year that his defence had improved a huge amount. Always felt he was a guy who tackled because he had to not because he wanted to, but have seen him lay in some good shots this season.

We'll have to wait and see, it's irrelevant if he can't stay fit anyway.

ionadnapokot

Hold my hand up! I've seen next to nothing of Leinster in URC this season. No interest in the mismatches. Then again they lost to Cardiff! How did he play that day? On score sheet but came off early......injury?

realhorrorshow

Loosehead

Denis Buckley (32) - Signed contract in 2021

Matthew Burke (25) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Peter Dooley (28) - Signed contract in 2022

Jordan Duggan (24) - Signed contract in 2021

Tietie Tuimauga (28) - Signed contract in 2021

Charlie Ward (22) - Academy year 2

Tighthead

Jack Aungier (23) - Signed contract in 2022

Finlay Bealham (31) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Sam Illo (21) - Signed 2 year contract in 2021

Greg McGrath (25) - Signed contract in 2021

Dominic Robertson-McCoy (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020

Hooker

Shane Delahunt (28) - Signed contract in 2021

Dave Heffernan (31) - Signed contract in 2021

Jonny Murphy (30) - Signed contract in 2021

Dylan Tierney-Martin (23) - Signed 1 year contract in 2022

Declan Adamson (23) - Academy year 3

Eoin De Buitléar (20) - Academy year 2

Lock

Oisin Dowling (25) - Signed contract in 2022

Leva Fifita (33) - Signed contract in 2021

Darragh Murray (21) - Signed contract in 2022

Niall Murray (22) - Signed contract in 2021

Gavin Thornbury (28) - Signed contract in 2021

Back row

Ciaran Booth (22) - Signed contract in 2022

Paul Boyle (25) - Signed contract in 2021

Jarrad Butler (31) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Shamus Hurley-Langton (22) - Signed contract in 2022

Eoghan Masterson (29) - Signed contract in 2021

Sean Masterson (24) - Signed contract in 2021

Oisin McCormack (21) - Signed contract in 2022

Josh Murphy (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Conor Oliver (26) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Cian Prendergast (22) - Signed contract in 2021

Donnacha Byrne (21) - Academy year 2

Scrumhalf

Caolin Blade (28) - Signed 1 year contract in 2022

Kieran Marmion (30) - Signed 3 year contract in 2020

Colm Reilly (23) - Signed contract in 2021

Will Reilly (u22) - Academy year 1

Outhalf

Jack Carty (30) - Signed 3 year contract in 2022

Conor Fitzgerald (24) - Signed contract in 2021

Cathal Forde (20) - Signed contract in 2022

Centre

Bundee Aki (32) - Signed 3 year central contract in 2020

Shayne Bolton (22) - Signed contract in 2021

Tom Daly (29) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Tom Farrell (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Shane Jennings (21) - Signed contract in 2022

Peter Robb (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020

Back 3

Adam Byrne (27) - Signed contract in 2022

Mack Hansen (24) - Signed 2 year contract in 2021

Matt Healy (33) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020

Diarmuid Kilgallen (22) - Signed contract in 2022

Oran McNulty (22) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Ben O'Donnell (27) - Signed contract in 2020

Tiernan O'Halloran (31) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020

John Porch (28) - Signed 1 year contract in 2022

Peter Sullivan (24) - Signed contract in 2021

Alex Wootton (28) - Signed contract in 2021

Josh O'Connor (21) - Academy year 1

IN: Peter Dooley (Loosehead, Leinster), Darragh Murray (Lock, Academy), Ciaran Booth (Back row, Academy), Shamus Hurley-Langton (Back row, Manawatu Turbos), Oisin McCormack (Back row, Academy), Josh Murphy (Back row, Leinster), Cathal Forde (Outhalf, Academy), Shane Jennings (Centre, Academy), Adam Byrne (Back 3, Leinster), Diarmuid Kilgallen (Back 3, Academy)

OUT: Ultan Dillane (Lock, La Rochelle), Abraham Papal'i (Back row, Brive), Sammy Arnold (Centre, Brive)

*ages as at 01/09/2022

jimdemp

Given Connachts terrible ruck play and defence this guy looks like a good signing. Looks a Ardie Savea type player

connachta

Just saying

when you see Healy today and Killcoyne who should no more be around,

Another (new signing) Connacht player has a decent chance to wear 17 for RWC if he leapfrogs Buckley early next season...

Dubinusa

Who would this lad be? I think Dooley could overtake Buckley and Burke. But, we will see.

Zeugnis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118777082#Comment_118777082

He's referring to Dooley. He will definitely overtake Buckley. i think people forget that Denis wasn't in great form prior to his injury. Burke is difficult to assess, he made a lot of progress this year, solid and quite wily in the scrum, combined with good carrying, maul etc. We'll work out who ranks where once Dooley arrives.

Zeugnis

Ireland's second row issues yesterday were a reminder that we have two (Murray, Thornbury) who may be seeing international action sooner than later. Surely one of them will be part of the tour to NZ?

AccidentallyOnside

That's an awful lot of inbounds, gotta think we'll be losing some very good servants at the end of season 😢

Looking at the contract list, and with talk of budgets being cut, you'd have to think Masterson, Healy, Robb, TOH, DRM and maybe one or two others will be on the way out. Would be sad to see all of those guys leave as they have, to a man, be great contributors to Connacht rugby.

Wegians89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118778221#Comment_118778221

From Bernard Jackman on the 42s podcast, I don’t think Connachts budget is being cut. Sounds more like Leinster and Munster. A great opportunity to close the gap in the Irish provinces

Wegians89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118777801#Comment_118777801

If Thornbury had got injured , I’m sure he’d have been capped by now. Probably the fourth best lock in the country.

Also think as a second row Murray is heads and shoulders Above Baird. As an athlete and impact from the bench Baird has it though.

LRind2008

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118777801#Comment_118777801

Think you'll be dissapointed when joe mccarthy at Leinster leap frogs both of those lads, Joe mccarthy is outstanding at the moment

ShineyShiney

If Joe McCarthy passes Murray and Thornberry he will be a cracking player and well worth Irish involvement and I for 1 won't be a bit disappointed.

Thornberry has the potential, if fit, to be Connacht's best lock in the professional era and if McCarthy is better then Ireland and Connacht will be the better for it.

Zeugnis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118778926#Comment_118778926

I'm glad to see Joe McCarthy do well, and that Leinster have a good prospect in the row, especially with Dunne leaving for Exeter. In the upcoming (ridiculous) series of Connacht v Leinster fixtrures, we will get to compare the locks. Although Thornbury will surely take some time to get back into the game, having been out for ten months now.

Dubinusa

I'd say Murray is on the national teams radar. I think he's a better 2nd row than Baird, tbh. I think Baird is picked because of his athleticism.

Thornbury just can't stay healthy. It's why Leinster cut him.

Tigerandahalf

I think Murray is a super prospect. He has real ability to win ball in the lineout, has great hands. With none of our top 3 Ireland locks being lineout specialists Murray is a guy who could step up. He has superb pace for a lock and is filling out plus he looks to have a very good mentality too. Baird for me is overhyped, a bit like Larmour and Casey when they came on the scene.

I think Burke the LH hasn't got the credit he deserves. When Buckley got injured there was a real fear for the scrum but he quietly stepped in and the scrum was rock solid with him there. He is also tidy around the field, doesn't do stupid things.

Prendergast if he stays injury free is another fine prospect. I'd just worry that he has played a bit too much rugby this year. He could well go to NZ if they take a wider squad. There was talk in NZ media of mid week games between the Irish squad and presumably the franchises. Looking to bring in more income after Covid I guess.

The NZ guy looks a good prospect based on his highlights reel, though it looked like the reel was created by himself. Has pace and can jackal and looks older and bigger than his age.

I am not sure about Adam Byrne. Always injured and a player that just hasn't stood out for me. Josh Murphy is another guy who hopefully will stay injury free. Where will he play with Prendergast nailed on at 6? Maybe 2nd row.

I see Hawkshaw noted above. Has he left Leinster. He might struggle for game time unless he fills in behind Jack Carty.

The Ire u20s were very impressive again the other night. Another fine bunch coming through that will need to spread amongst the provinces.

Zeugnis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118780452#Comment_118780452

Thornbury had problems with his knees early on, that appears to no longer be an issue. This season he had an operation on his shoulder. Providing the surgery was successful, he may be able to look forward to a less disrupted future. Even so, his stats aren't that bad, in his early seasons at Connacht his minutes were low because he benched a lot.

21/22 - 0 matches

20/21 - 19 appearances, 1203 mins

19/20 - 9 appearances, 562 mins

18/19 - 16 appearances, 892 mins

17/18 - 16 appearances, 604 mins

b.gud

Connacht just tweeted that another signing/extension is going to be announced today, no time given