Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

AccidentallyOnside

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120450906#Comment_120450906

Trying to figure out from his statement if it was an injury thing or just not renewed.

Don't want it to be an injury as you want a player going out that way.

Don't want it to be not renewed as, for me, he's still our best hooker.

Whatever the reason best of luck to him in his retirement, some player for us down the years. Long time until we'll see a hooker throwing a back handed offload to score against Leinster again :(

KBurke85

I believe he wasn’t renewed and apparently wasn’t too happy about it

SqueakyKneecap

Yep he wasn't offered an extension and I think is more focused on the farming than relocating for a last payday

CIARAN_BOYLE

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120451593#Comment_120451593

He mentioned a few years ago that if he leaves the country his brother gets the farm.

AccidentallyOnside

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120451243#Comment_120451243

That's very disappointing.

He's an upgrade on anyone munster have at 2 and the commute from Offaly must be similar. Boggles the mind that neither would put a decent contract infront of him.

AccidentallyOnside

Also just spotted the list of leavers from Edinburgh; Jaco Van Der Walt would be a serious signing at 10.

Not world class but definitely good enough to be putting serious pressure on Carty. I'd imagine he'd be cheaper than Hanrahan too, who I've seen touted.

Edit: Saffa press have him linked with the Bulls though so he has interest

Wegians89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120451750#Comment_120451750

Hanrahan had a post surgery Instagram up with “looking forward to be back playing with the dragons next season” to it, so doubt he’s an option

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120451243#Comment_120451243

Yeah. I believe "wasn't too happy" would need to have quite a lot of swear words added to capture up his opinion at the time.too

It's a crying shame too - fully fit and at his best he was my first choice hooker.

Borders no.2

The statement from Delahunt was more interesting for who wasn't mentioned as opposed to who was.

Surprising he isn't looking to pick up a contract elsewhere but he needs to do what's right for him.

CIARAN_BOYLE

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120451967#Comment_120451967

There was an interview a few years back where he mentioned that he wanted to keep his hat in regarding the family farm. If he left Ireland his brother would get it.

I guess that limits his options to go elsewhere.

ElisaAtWar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120449374#Comment_120449374

TOH one more year. Definitely slower than he was but his positional play overcomes that to some extent

Wegians89

Van der Walt heading to the bulls apparently

FACECUTTR

So is that possibly 10 players out and 5 in so far ? Would they be looking to reduce the wage bill by going with a smaller squad or is it already tight with numbers ?

Wegians89

If scarlets were to win the challenge cup, that means only the top 6 URC teams would get champions cup next season?

Jump_In_Jack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120453761#Comment_120453761

And if Sharks win the Champions Cup they’d take another spot, if they finish outside the top 6 that is.

Or likewise if a team outside the top 6 wins the URC they’d take another spot.

fatgav

In that scenario, would the Scarlets not take the place of another Welsh team, instead of the team that finished 7th?

CIARAN_BOYLE

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120455514#Comment_120455514

Winner of the Welsh shield (and Irish and South Africa and Scotland/Italy shield) gets a spot. So does the Winner of the European Challenge Cup and Winner of the European Champions cup and the winner of the urc.

Then the next highest finishing teams that weren't otherwise qualified until there are 8 qualified teams from the urc.

connachta

I still don't get the only point : Scarlets winning CC, Connacht taking 7th spot what happens?

Wegians89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120456869#Comment_120456869

Only the top 6 in the league would qualify if scarlets win the challenge cup.

5 points next weekend is vital and you’d probably want to be picking up one away to Glasgow

connachta

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120456918#Comment_120456918

That's utterly and more and more unfair to Connacht. Except if Scarlets overcomes Cardiff in URC table don't they?

+ Hypothesis purely as Scarlets won't beat both Glasgow and Toulon

Wegians89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120456954#Comment_120456954

Yeah four shield winners get four spots. The URC winner if not a shield winner gets a spot and the winners of the champions cup and challenge cup qualify too. The rest of the spots are the highest ranked team in the table that isn’t already qualified.

connachta

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120456978#Comment_120456978

Whatever Scarlets or Treviso are booked 5 and 12 for 1. Highly unlikely. Toulon will win, Glasgow may win, the other 2 potentially bothering us won't. 7th will be enough. Glasgow will send A vs us to rest for their semi. We're with fate in hands

Borders no.2

The champions Cup qualification criteria really needs a look at given that the Premiership looks like it may be down to 10 teams next season. 8 if those 10 qualifying is too many. I know the old Celtic League used to have a disproportionate number of teams qualifying years ago but if you are going to create an elite competition this doesn't help especially when certain teams are already hamstrung in being able to qualify through the urc due to the fixture makeup.

connachta

Any news about Bealham injury recovery?

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120456918#Comment_120456918

This would also happen if Treviso win

realhorrorshow

Loosehead

Denis Buckley (33) - Signed 2 + 1 year contract in 2023

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

Peter Dooley (29) - Signed contract in 2022

Jordan Duggan (25) - Signed 1 year contract in 2023

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 2023

Hooker

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

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

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

Darragh Murray (22) - Signed contract in 2022

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

Gavin Thornbury (29) - Signed 1 year contract in 2023

Back row

Ciaran Booth (23) - Signed contract in 2022

Paul Boyle (26) - Signed 1 year contract in 2023

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

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

Sean Jansen (24) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Sean Masterson (25) - Signed contract in 2021

Oisin McCormack (22) - Signed contract in 2022

Sean O'Brien (23) - Signed contract in 2023

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

Colm Reilly (24) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Matthew Devine (21) - Academy year 1

Will Reilly (22) - 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 1 year contract in 2023

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

Byron Ralston (23) - Signed contract in 2022

John Devine (19) - Academy year 1

Hugh Gavin (19) - Academy year 1

Daniel Hawkshaw (21) - Academy year 1

Back 3

Adam Byrne (28) - Signed contract in 2022

Santiago Cordero (29) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

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

Shane Jennings (22) - Signed 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

Andrew Smith (23) - Signed contract in 2023

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: Eoin De Buitléar (hooker, academy), Joe Joyce (lock, Bristol Bears), Sean Jansen (back row, Leicester Tigers), Sean O'Brien (back row, Leinster), Andrew Smith (back 3, Leinster)

OUT: Shane Delahunt (hooker, retiring), Grant Stewart (hooker, TBC), Kieran Marmion (scrum half, Bristol Bears), Alex Wootton (back 3, retiring)

Former Coach

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120460953#Comment_120460953

Cordero!!

Wegians89

Carty, Bealham and Buckley all back this weekend.

Id go for something like:

Buckley DTM Bealham

Murphy N Murray

Prendegast Butler Oliver

Blade Carty

Forde Farrell

Mack TOH Porch

Heff Dooley Aungier Dowling Boyle Marmion Bundee Jennings

connachta

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120464378#Comment_120464378

So relieving,

mine would be

Buck Heff Aungier

Murray Dowling

Prendergast Boyle Butler

Blade Carty

Forde Farrell

Hansen Porch TOH

Dooley/DTM/Beal (slowly for Glasgow)/Murphy/SHL/Marmion/Aki (Forde covering 10)/Jennings

Wegians89

heff out for the next two rounds, porch nursing injury and Ralston back in training but not down as available this week