Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

siltirocker

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120151991#Comment_120151991

You are one of the only posters who thinks Connacht have a '10 issue'. And you make stuff up to support it. . .

Let's take your post about MacGinty. Carty ran that team until his injury. Up until that point MacGinty only started one game for Connacht, in the Challenge Cup too. His first start for Connacht in the Pro12 wasn't until match day 14 in mid-February.

My favourite bit is when you said the team "was going nowhere until McGinty". Before he signed Connacht had won 7 from 8 and had 32 points in the league.

AccidentallyOnside

Tbf we do have an issue behind jack at 10, everyone seems to be a 12 who can play 10 rather than an out and out outhalf, with the exception of fitzy who hasn't established himself at this point so probably never will.

We need someone to be putting pressure on Jack or just another option. Listening to the rugby pod Mack was on and mentioned how he has played outhalf until he was 20, wonder if he'd fancy a pop there if we have a load of dead rubbers to finish the league.

Illo getting an extension is great news, he's really growing into the pro game this year after struggling a bit last year. Could have a big future in the game.

siltirocker

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120161759#Comment_120161759

I agree. But I think it's clear the '10 issue' they consistently refer to is Jack Carty.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120161759#Comment_120161759

I'd prefer if we kept Mack in the backfield. He's already brilliant on the wing and should definitely be given more time at full back. If he improves his positional and backfield management skills there, he'll solve a major problem for us. He may have played out half when younger but I'd rather see him focus on the position where he can definitely deliver.

Hawkshaw is worth some more time at out half but in reality we need another player there unless Fitz comes good suddenly.

freyners

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120161590#Comment_120161590

Not an ouncer sense in any of the posts at all...

freyners

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120163395#Comment_120163395

I think Fitz has done intermittently well for us, he's been involved in some big games (Munster and ulster away in the rainbow cup spring to mind). There's a reason jack is preferred, the gap is still there but if at some point jack got a injury that kept him sidelined for 4/5 games (and to be clear I really hope that doesn't happen to him) I wouldn't mind seeing seeing get a solid run of games starting ten and see how he has done after them

Zeugnis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120163549#Comment_120163549

No objections to Fitz filling in, but to my mind he's won't be our starting ten. I'm still a Carty loyalist, but am convinced that he needs real competition to drive him on and avoid excess reliance on him. If the tail end of our season is a series of dead rubbers, I would like to see Forde and Hawkshaw given lots of time at 10. If they are both destined for 12, and presuming Harry West is too callow, then we should recruit.

Zeugnis

Team to play Lions:

15. Tiernan O’Halloran (214)

14. Diarmuid Kilgallen (12)

13. Tom Farrell (90)

12. Cathal Forde (7)

11. John Porch (72)

10. Jack Carty (190) (C)

9. Caolin Blade (161)

1. Peter Dooley (12)

2. Shane Delahunt (124)

3. Jack Aungier (43)

4. Darragh Murray (5)

5. Niall Murray (47)

6. Josh Murphy (11)

7. Conor Oliver (54)

8. Jarrad Butler (107)16. Dylan Tierney-Martin (15)

17. Jordan Duggan (34)

18. Dominic Robertson-McCoy (76)

19. Leva Fifita (22)

20. Shamus Hurley-Langton (12)

21. Kieran Marmion (222)

22. Tom Daly (71)

23. Oran McNulty (12)

FACECUTTR

Why again are we not going full strength ? There are only 6 regular league games left. Surely they are all cup finals for us.

Zeugnis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120164788#Comment_120164788

The internationals have not been released for this. Who else do you think we're missing?

FACECUTTR

I didn't realise the internationals were tied up with the national squad already. Is Heffernan injured ?

Zeugnis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120165594#Comment_120165594

Yep, knee injury. I too hoped that some of the internationals would be released but it was not to be. Will be a tough contest tomorrow.

FACECUTTR

Absolutely. The front 5 will be tested.

ElisaAtWar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120163547#Comment_120163547

The ouncer still lives? And continues to expose the atrocities and inner workings of a political rugby distopian view that is Connacht rugby? I wonder if he will unearth the conspiracy

OldRio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120161590#Comment_120161590

Very good post.

realhorrorshow

Loosehead

Denis Buckley (33) - Signed contract in 2021

Matthew Burke (26) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Peter Dooley (29) - Signed contract in 2022

Jordan Duggan (25) - Signed contract in 2021

Oisin Michel (21) - Academy year 1

Charlie Ward (23) - Academy year 3

Tighthead

Jack Aungier (24) - Signed contract in 2022

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

Sam Illo (22) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Dominic Robertson-McCoy (29) - Signed 1 year contract in 2022

Hooker

Eoin De Buitléar (21) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Shane Delahunt (29) - Signed contract in 2021

Dave Heffernan (32) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Dylan Tierney-Martin (24) - Signed 3 year contract in 2023

Lock

Oisin Dowling (26) - Signed contract in 2022

Leva Fifita (34) - Signed contract in 2021

Joe Joyce (29) - Signed contract in 2023

Darragh Murray (22) - Signed contract in 2022

Niall Murray (23) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Gavin Thornbury (29) - Signed contract in 2021

Back row

Ciaran Booth (23) - Signed contract in 2022

Paul Boyle (26) - Signed contract in 2021

Jarrad Butler (32) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Shamus Hurley-Langton (23) - Signed contract in 2022

Sean Masterson (25) - Signed contract in 2021

Oisin McCormack (22) - Signed contract in 2022

Josh Murphy (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Conor Oliver (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Cian Prendergast (23) - Signed 3 year contract in 2022

Donnacha Byrne (22) - Academy year 3

John Forde (20) - Academy year 1

Scrumhalf

Caolin Blade (29) - Signed 3 year contract in 2023

Kieran Marmion (31) - Signed 3 year contract in 2020

Colm Reilly (24) - Signed contract in 2021

Matthew Devine (21) - Academy year 1

Will Reilly (u23) - Academy year 2

Outhalf

Jack Carty (31) - Signed 3 year contract in 2022

Conor Fitzgerald (25) - Signed contract in 2021

Harry West (20) - Academy year 1

Centre

Bundee Aki (33) - Signed 3 year central contract in 2020

Shayne Bolton (23) - Signed contract in 2021

Tom Daly (30) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

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

Cathal Forde (21) - Signed contract in 2022

David Hawkshaw (24) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Shane Jennings (22) - Signed contract in 2022

John Devine (u21) - Academy year 1

Hugh Gavin (u20) - Academy year 1

Daniel Hawkshaw (21) - Academy year 1

Back 3

Adam Byrne (28) - Signed contract in 2022

Mack Hansen (25) - Signed 3 year contract in 2022

Diarmuid Kilgallen (23) - Signed contract in 2022

Oran McNulty (23) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Tiernan O'Halloran (32) - Signed 1 year contract in 2022

John Porch (29) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Byron Ralston (23) - Signed contract in 2022

Alex Wootton (29) - Signed contract in 2021

Shane Mallon (21) - Academy year 1

Chay Mullins (21) - Academy year 1

Josh O'Connor (22) - Academy year 2

*ages as at 01/09/2023

IN: Joe Joyce (Lock, Bristol Bears)

OUT: Grant Stewart (Hooker, TBC)

realhorrorshow

Definitely out of contract

Dominic Robertson-McCoy (tighthead)

Kieran Marmion (scrum half)

Bundee Aki (centre)

Tiernan O'Halloran (back 3)

Probably out of contract (signed contract in 2021)

Denis Buckley (loosehead)

Jordan Duggan (loosehead)

Shane Delahunt (hooker)

Leva Fifita (lock)

Gavin Thornbury (lock)

Paul Boyle (back row)

Sean Masterson (back row)

Colm Reilly (scrum half)

Conor Fitzgerald (out half)

Shayne Bolton (centre)

Alex Wootton (back 3)

Possibly out of contract (signed contract in 2022)

Peter Dooley (loosehead)

Jack Aungier (tighhead)

Oisin Dowling (lock)

Darragh Murray (lock)

Ciaran Booth (back row)

Shamus Hurley-Langton (back row)

Oisin McCormack (back row)

Cathal Forde (centre)

Shane Jennings (centre)

Adam Byrne (back 3)

Diarmuid Kilgallen (back 3)

Byron Ralston (back 3)

Redo91

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120167946#Comment_120167946

Aki isn’t out of contract. Has been widely reported that he actually has a central contract until 2024.

SqueakyKneecap

I think Jack McGrath or potentially Carberry moved within Ireland on central contracts but this is significantly different scenario. Bundee isn't a lad with 5 years left professionally, Connacht aren't stacked with options at centre and Munster don't need him more than Connacht.

Bundee would want to be getting gametime at Connacht to have any hope of getting into World Cup squad. Whatever internal suspension he, you'd have to think McCloskey is a huge threat to his usual spot in the Ringrose/Henshaw triangle.

ElisaAtWar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120168442#Comment_120168442

Connacht has never been more stacked at centre so losing Bundee really wouldn't be a big deal.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120168466#Comment_120168466

If we have ambitions to win URC playoff games, European knockout rounds, and pick up regular Interpro wins, we'll need players of Bundee's quality in our backline. I'd agree that we haven't gotten the best out of him for the last couple of seasons but that's as much on Connacht as a team as him as a player. He's generally been excellent for Ireland.

Zeugnis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120168442#Comment_120168442

Joey was never on a central contract. Jack McGrath was on a cc but had been displaced by Ed Byrne by the time he moved to Ulster He signed a provincial deal shortly after his move.

Despite the enthusiasm for McCloskey, and I'm not blind to his virtues, I don't really see him taking Bundee's spot. I think when he retires we'll look back and recognise just how good Bundee has been for Ireland: the guy is a rock, has a good pass and has built dynamic partnerships throughout midfield. Disciplinary issues excepted, it's hard for me to recall an international game where he didn't front up. Unfortunately, he hasn't been great for Connacht, why is that?

Anyway the current situation is an utter circus and reflects badly on all involved.

ElisaAtWar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120168564#Comment_120168564

The same could be said for Peter O'Mahony. Some things matter more

kita99

The tonight game will be very harsh,I think.Lions no3 is about 140kg(He will play 45 minutes. Will Dooley endure?).Their OH is very nice goal kicker,so Connacht must not be conceded any penalty even on the half way line.Is it possible? (Please be carful, especially Oliver,Deluhant,O'Haroran).

Other players in Lions are not special.

And after this game, Connacht will fight against scrum-strong sides (cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow),so they need very very hard and boring long-hours scrum training every day in the term of six nations.It's only way to win play-off.

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120168466#Comment_120168466

None of them are even remotely close to Aki in terms of talent though.

Mind you as others have pointed out. Connacht have either failed to utilize that talent. Or Aki has failed to utilize that talent for Connacht for a couple of years now.

AccidentallyOnside

Happy with Eoin De Buitlear getting a contract. Showed up well in preseason, surprised we haven't seen him since. Not seen much of him outside of that but he has a huge frame which is badly needed for an undersized squad like us.

SqueakyKneecap

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120168466#Comment_120168466

We've Daly who is having a really crisis of confidence the last year, Tom Farrell who is injury prone, Ralston who is naturally a winger, Forde who is still very young and Hawkshaw who is also unfortunately dogged with injuries since U-20's.

If all of them were fit Bundee would still start imo.

Yeah, have to say I’ve found some of the generally negative Bundee talk a little surprising in recent weeks.

I understand there have been times when Connacht are probably frustrated as it feels he plays his best stuff for Ireland, or isn’t as available as you’d like, but I still thought he’d be a more beloved guy than the tone of the last few weeks from some sections of the Connacht support would indicate.

Im not as close to this, but I would have rated him as one of Connacht’s greatest ever players, who was integral to the Pro14 success. He’s 33 now and past his best, but he’s given a lot to Connacht for a long time when he easily could have gone elsewhere for bigger paydays before now.

By contrast, I see Andy Friend as a spoofer & charlatan who barely had his feet under the table when he was talking about the exit door (interviews with him talking about his plan to travel around Europe in a camper van with his wife post Connacht c. 18 months ago). He’s gregarious and media friendly, but I don’t think he’s really brought Connacht along at all.

I know which of the two I’d have more loyalty towards and fondness of.

randomname2005

Jesus half time and no post about the game. Bonus point try by half time is good, hopefully they can keep it up and keep down any response from the lions

Strand1970

Blade buzzing tonight