Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

realhorrorshow

freyners wrote: »

Seems like a bit of a steal for us. Brumbies are a quality side and he's been in their front line squad this season. Iq is a massive bonus and the fact they have him down as ten cover is a signal to me as back three for us is prob not where we are in most need of signings

He's never started a top level game at 10, but then again neither had Tom Daly up to this season. I reckon there's one spot in the back three up for grabs alongside Porch and Wootton, would imagine this means Stephen Fitz is off.

realhorrorshow

Loosehead

Denis Buckley (31) - Signed contract in 2021
Matthew Burke (24) - Signed contract in 2021
Jordan Duggan (23) - Signed contract in 2021
Paddy McAllister (32) - Signed contract in 2019

Charlie Ward (21) - Academy year 1

Tighthead

Jack Aungier (22) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Finlay Bealham (30) - Signed contract in 2021
Conor Kenny (25) - Signed 1 year contract in 2020
Dominic Robertson-McCoy (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020

Hooker

Shane Delahunt (27) - Signed contract in 2021
Dave Heffernan (30) - Signed contract in 2021
Jonny Murphy (29) - Signed contract in 2018

Declan Adamson (22) - Academy year 2
Eoin De Buitléar (u21) - Academy year 1
Dylan Tierney-Martin (22) - Academy year 3

Lock

Ultan Dillane (27) - Signed contract in 2021
Oisin Dowling (24) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Cillian Gallagher (24) - Signed contract in 2018
Niall Murray (21) - Signed contract in 2021
Quinn Roux (30) - Signed 2 year contract in 2019
Gavin Thornbury (27) - Signed contract in 2021

Darragh Murray (u21) - Academy year 1

Back row

Paul Boyle (24) - Signed contract in 2021
Jarrad Butler (30) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Eoghan Masterson (28) - Signed contract in 2021
Sean Masterson (23) - Signed contract in 2021
Sean O'Brien (26) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Conor Oliver (25) - Signed contract in 2021
Abraham Papali’i (28) - Signed contract in 2020
Cian Prendergast (21) - Signed contract in 2021

Ciaran Booth (21) - Academy year 1
Donnacha Byrne (u21) - Academy year 1
Hubert Costello (u21) - Academy year 1
Joshua Dunne (21) - Academy year 3
Oisin McCormack (20) - Academy year 2

Scrumhalf

Caolin Blade (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Stephen Kerins (25) - Signed contract in 2019
Kieran Marmion (29) - Signed 3 year contract in 2020
Colm Reilly (22) - Signed contract in 2021

Outhalf

Jack Carty (29) - Signed contract in 2021
Conor Dean (23) - Signed contract in 2020
Conor Fitzgerald (23) - Signed contract in 2021

Cathal Forde (20) - Academy year 1

Centre

Bundee Aki (29) - Signed 3 year central contract in 2020
Sammy Arnold (25) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Tom Daly (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Tom Farrell (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Peter Robb (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020

Shane Jennings (20) - Academy year 2
Sean O'Brien (23) - Academy year 3

Back 3

Stephen Fitzgerald (25) - Signed contract in 2019
Mack Hansen (23) - Signed 2 year contract in 2021
Matt Healy (32) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Oran McNulty (21) - Signed contract in 2021
Ben O'Donnell (26) - Signed contract in 2020
Tiernan O'Halloran (30) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
John Porch (27) - Signed contract in 2021
Peter Sullivan (23) - Signed contract in 2021
Alex Wootton (27) - Signed contract in 2021

Colm de Buitléar (23) - Academy year 3
Diarmuid Kilgallen (21) - Academy year 1

IN: Mack Hansen (Brumbies)
OUT:

*ages as at 01/09/2021

FACECUTTR

Very happy with this signing. Roux now and we are sucking diesel.

Squidgy Black

realhorrorshow wrote: »

He's never started a top level game at 10, but then again neither had Tom Daly up to this season. I reckon there's one spot in the back three up for grabs alongside Porch and Wootton, would imagine this means Stephen Fitz is off.

Hasn't started but he's come on a couple of times off the bench at 10 for the Brumbies and is a decent placekicker apparently.

RonnieL

Can't link to it, but I saw a tweet earlier from Murray Kinsella saying that South African Rugby have paid their €6m rainbow cup contribution, which will be split between the other 12 teams. Every little helps.

Wegians89

RonnieL wrote: »

Can't link to it, but I saw a tweet earlier from Murray Kinsella saying that South African Rugby have paid their €6m rainbow cup contribution, which will be split between the other 12 teams. Every little helps.

Straight to the sportsground fund plz

ShineyShiney

Looks like a good signing, well done.

That looks like 38 onboard for next year if bod and Papilli are included.

ClanofLams

https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/1385186322479030273?s=21

Seems pretty likely Papali is here next season when he keeps getting eagles & senior game time.

ClanofLams

Strong Ulster team, Will Addison back in squad after long injury.



https://twitter.com/ulsterrugby/status/1385186658098745347?s=21

b.gud

Squad update https://www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-squad-update-thursday-22-april/

Sam Arnold (chest) has returned to full training.

Conor Dean (shoulder) will return to training in the coming weeks.

Peter Robb (back) has undergone surgery for a back injury sustained in training and will be out of action until August.

Alex Wootton (hip) sustained a hip injury in the Leicester game and will be out of action for a number of weeks.

Jack Aungier (neck), Tom Farrell (knee), Stephen Fitzgerald (knee), Cillian Gallagher (shoulder) Sean O’Brien SNR (head), Tiernan O’Halloran (quad) and Quinn Roux (shoulder) are all continuing their rehabilitation from long term injuries.

Former Coach

Niyi and Jake both starting for Bristol against Exeter.

Bazzo

b.gud wrote: »

Squad update https://www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-squad-update-thursday-22-april/

Not sure if Peter Robb or Sean O'Brien 2.0 is unluckier with injury.

Dubinusa

Peter Robb is so unlucky. His career has been devastated with injury.

ClanofLams

https://twitter.com/christypdoran/status/1384983286510878720?s=21

tobdom

ClanofLams wrote: »

https://twitter.com/christypdoran/status/1384983286510878720?s=21

That thread reads very well for us, with input from guys that seem to know a lot about him/Aus rugby. Sounding like a great signing, fingers crossed!

ClanofLams

tobdom wrote: »

That thread reads very well for us, with input from guys that seem to know a lot about him/Aus rugby. Sounding like a great signing, fingers crossed!

Agreed, have been critical of friend in other areas but his record in bringing players in is excellent.

ShineyShiney

Wonder does friend have any influence with Naisarani big ball carrying back row Oz/Fijian roumoured to be departing Australian rugby and heading Europe or Japan

briandebum

ShineyShiney wrote: »

Wonder does friend have any influence with Naisarani big ball carrying back row Oz/Fijian roumoured to be departing Australian rugby and heading Europe or Japan

I would be shocked if we had anywhere near the money to even get close to affording Naisarani.

ShineyShiney

briandebum wrote: »

I would be shocked if we had anywhere near the money to even get close to affording Naisarani.

One can dream 😂

Wegians89

briandebum wrote: »

I would be shocked if we had anywhere near the money to even get close to affording Naisarani.

Also can’t see them bringing in another niq and layer especially in the back row

connachta

Wegians89 wrote: »

Also can’t see them bringing in another niq and layer especially in the back row

Except Papa and O'Donnell, we have room for 1 big NIQ signing (Hooker I'd say)

+ 1 project player (n°10 I'd say)


then a IQ LH for McAlister, and we're ok

Bazzo

tobdom wrote: »

That thread reads very well for us, with input from guys that seem to know a lot about him/Aus rugby. Sounding like a great signing, fingers crossed!

Murray Kinsella sounded distinctly unimpressed on the42 podcast but I think Friend has shown a good nose for signings so I'd be more optimistic.

ClanofLams

Bazzo wrote: »

Murray Kinsella sounded distinctly unimpressed on the42 podcast but I think Friend has shown a good nose for signings so I'd be more optimistic.

Was that the members podcast yeah? What did he say?

Bazzo

ClanofLams wrote: »

Was that the members podcast yeah? What did he say?

Just the regular weekly one released today. Something along the lines of he looked like a decent player but wasn't blown away by the signing or what he'd seen of him for the Brumbies. He did say he was excellent for the u20s.

b.gud

About 6 and a half minutes in here https://soundcloud.com/user-200743868/why-irish-rugbys-silent-majority-is-losing-hope-pro14-mess-and-how-to-fix-the-womens-game

Wegians89

connachta wrote: »

Except Papa and O'Donnell, we have room for 1 big NIQ signing (Hooker I'd say)

+ 1 project player (n°10 I'd say)


then a IQ LH for McAlister, and we're ok

Porch not niq too?

With Hansen being labeled as cover for 10, can’t see any signings there. Could see a LH and back row come in but that’s about it

Zeugnis

connachta wrote: »

then a IQ LH for McAlister, and we're ok

I think LH has to be the priority now, with scrummaging ability as top criteria. It's a bit concerning that there's only prop in the Academy.

Can anyone provide any information about Charlie Ward in the Academy? I know he's from Tullow, came up through the Leinster system etc but has he had any minutes this season?

Another one for the wish list would be a back row who loves winning turnover ball on the ground, think we've all noticed that lack this season. Lucky we have Thornbury.

ShineyShiney

Zeugnis wrote: »

I think LH has to be the priority now, with scrummaging ability as top criteria. It's a bit concerning that there's only prop in the Academy.

Can anyone provide any information about Charlie Ward in the Academy? I know he's from Tullow, came up through the Leinster system etc but has he had any minutes this season?

Another one for the wish list would be a back row who loves winning turnover ball on the ground, think we've all noticed that lack this season. Lucky we have Thornbury.

What do you think of McAlister? Imo he was really good early season. I'd have him as a more rounded player than Buckley, solid scrum, good defence, decent carrier. Not sure why he's on the outside.

Do you not rate Duggan? I'd be very happy with his development this year.

Zeugnis

ShineyShiney wrote: »

What do you think of McAlister? Imo he was really good early season. I'd have him as a more rounded player than Buckley, solid scrum, good defence, decent carrier. Not sure why he's on the outside.

Do you not rate Duggan? I'd be very happy with his development this year.

Well I thought the consensus was that McAllister was gone, but yes I agree, he's been ok and I'm a little surprised he's being picked on. My worries have mostly been about Buckley - I've seen him shaking his head too often after giving up another scrum penalty.


Duggan has been stellar in my view (and I like Aungier at TH as well). But the thing about props is that you need a few of them. So, I'd like three Jordan Duggans please...

FACECUTTR

McCallister has been decent when he has been fit but not excellent. Id imagine he was signed on a decent wedge of cash too and the return is not there unfortunately. Buckley gets flogged but as mentioned before he does get penalised quite a bit at scrum time. Duggan looks very good and looks like he could take the starting spot very soon. In all fairness we could do with a LH and a hooker especially if heffernan is away.