Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Former Former Former · 21-10-2021 12:43pm

I think the reality is that most guys who have a starting spot at a province are very unlikely to leave Ireland. I'm not sure how many such players have actually upped sticks and left because they weren't getting international caps.

Zeugnis · 21-10-2021 12:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118052680#Comment_118052680

Should that happen, based on recent squad decisions AF will call up Billy Burns or Harry Byrne.

It's a tiring mantra, but Jack does need to show more consistency to overtake the other candidates. Obviously his time to execute will hinge on the Connacht pack, so his prospects are not solely a matter of individual performance. He left Carberry in the shade last weekend and has the chance to do the same with Burns on Saturday.

Zeugnis · 21-10-2021 12:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118052749#Comment_118052749

Where is he going to go? Caolin should be in line for further caps and is only twenty-seven, he won't want to leave the country. Leinster might be interested in him, but there would be ructions were that to happen.

Bealham is the one I worry about. He only signed a one year contract and is playing well in a very lucrative position. Hopefully the jockeying among the Leinster props opens up further opportunities for him on the Irish team, that would increase the chances of retaining him.

SqueakyKneecap · 21-10-2021 12:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118052835#Comment_118052835

Blade has Murray, Park, Casey and potentially Doak (who looks real deal good) ahead of him now. He'll get better money elsewhere too.

Zeugnis · 21-10-2021 1:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118052841#Comment_118052841

Murray is thirty-two and has been cruising on reputation, notwithstanding his Lions' selection. JGP benefits from the Leinster platform to show his wares but what aspects of his game are better? Casey? Hype, excitement, call it what you will, it's premature. Of the competition I would rate Doak highest, but it's early for him as well. And there'll be injuries. CB should stick around.

Lost Ormond · 21-10-2021 1:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118052970#Comment_118052970

If Murray was cruising on reputation he wouldnt have been selected for the Lions and certainly not got 3 more test caps for them.

Would agree about JGP. Dont see Blade leaving but i wouldnt be so sure on rating Doak highest regardless of how well he's done so far. He's still barely played for Ulster.

Utopia Parkway · 21-10-2021 2:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118052634#Comment_118052634

Will be in France next season I feel. There was interest last year before he signed a 1 year extension. Ireland door probably shut for him now.

Joe Don Dante · 21-10-2021 2:31pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118052348#Comment_118052348

I'm looking forward to it, a few pints in Dublin, handy bus to and from aviva 👍

Zeugnis · 21-10-2021 3:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118053018#Comment_118053018

I won't try and persuade you but I did acknowledge his Lions selection and Gatland clearly holds him in high regard. I compare Murray's recent performances to those of 2018 and earlier and feel he's a shadow of what he was, despite some recent improvement.

Redo91 · 21-10-2021 6:06pm

The 42 have reported that the crowd is estimated to be between 6-8,000. Said initial projections were for 30,000. Would love to have some of what they were smoking to come up with that figure. Was never going to get close to that.

Lost Ormond · 21-10-2021 8:36pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118054393#Comment_118054393

Assume thought a lot/all who attend all the time in Sportsground would travel over, few more may travel to see Connacht play in Aviva where they havent played much before and then the Dublin crowd as well as its easier to get to Dublin from Belfast than Galway

Redo91 · 21-10-2021 10:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118054997#Comment_118054997

I think they judged it badly with the regulars in particular. I’ve had a season ticket for years and know plenty others in the same boat and off the top of my head I only know 2 that are going up. I don’t see the appeal in travelling over 2 hours to a game that I could have gotten to in 30 mins if it was in the SG. Also don’t get the novelty of seeing us play in the Aviva when we haven’t actually earned it. Would be different if it was a champions cup QF against Leinster or something.

I just think an email to season ticket/Club 1885 members would have given the idea of how it would go down rather than just consulting the Clan. Makes matters worse that this would have been our first game in over 18 months with a full house at the SG.

SqueakyKneecap · 22-10-2021 7:53am

6-8000 expected attendance is an absolute embarrassment for the branch. There's some key figures that have been shown to be well out of touch.

RonnieL · 22-10-2021 9:23am

Yes, while I kind of get why they thought it might be a good idea, it was obvious to me and many others the moment it was announced that it was a bad call. The fact they kept going on about how they consulted "the clan" when it was announced was like a pre-emptive move to throw whoever they consulted under the bus, sensing that there was a fair chance it was going to go down like a lead balloon. It would be good if the branch acknowledged their mistake, and "owned it" to borrow a phrase from Andy Friend.

I actually think there will be more than 8000 at the game on the day, but a fair chunk of them will be on freebies, or discounted tickets, so revenue wise we'll probably never know what it amounts to. What is clear is the vast majority of the people there will have spent a relative fortune in order to attend, very little of which will benefit the club, or any business within the province (transport, accommodation, food, drink etc).

Fingers crossed we get the win - which would go a long way. Willie Ruane and co. will be praying we don't get badly beaten, or the decision will come under even more scrutiny.

testtech05 · 22-10-2021 9:48am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118055460#Comment_118055460

Exact same situation here of the 3 of us who have had ST for 8-10 years each only 1 of us is going.

The other 2 of us can't make due to other family commitments but had the game been in the sports ground we would have been able to go! I think it could be a similar case for a lot of us who can't make time for the journey to/from Dublin.

I really hope we can get a win and avoid being made very foolish by giving up home advantage for what looks like being little financial gain! Maybe if the weather is nice in Dublin tomorrow it might pad the numbers a bit too!

KBurke85 · 22-10-2021 11:57am

Team named.

Bundee out with a slight knee problem expected to be fit for Irish duty

CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS ULSTER RUGBY

Saturday 23rd October, Aviva Stadium @ 17:15

Number/Name/Caps

15. Tiernan O’Halloran (194)

14. John Porch (43)

13. Sammy Arnold (20)

12. Tom Daly (52)

11. Mack Hansen (4)

10. Jack Carty (163) (C)

9. Kieran Marmion (190)

1. Matthew Burke (27)

2. Dave Heffernan (148)

3. Finlay Bealham (163)

4. Niall Murray (20)

5. Ultan Dillane (118)

6. Eoghan Masterson (112)

7. Conor Oliver (24)

8. Paul Boyle (61)

16. Shane Delahunt (104)

17. Jordan Duggan (16)

18. Jack Aungier (17)

19. Oisín Dowling (10)

20. Jarrad Butler (77)

21. Caolin Blade (134)

22. Conor Fitzgerald (38)

23. Diarmuid Kilgallen (2)

realhorrorshow · 22-10-2021 12:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118057057#Comment_118057057

Would like to see Porch back at 15 and Boyle and Papali'i at 6 and 8 respectively. Kilgallen must be training well, nice show of faith for him to make the squad ahead of the likes of Bolton, McNulty, Sullivan, Healy, etc.

Zeugnis · 22-10-2021 12:12pm

That's lousy news on Bundee. We look so depleted, don't have a good feeling about this.

Surprised that Papa Leahy isn't in the squad, is he on the naughty step for poor handling last week or did he pick up an injury as well?

ClanofLams · 22-10-2021 12:20pm

Not very confident here either. Maybe they are doing damage limitation with the 6-8k estimate and know it will “exceed” expectations with ten k showing up but it wouldn’t shock me if there was 5k at it.

Will look like utterly ridiculous decision if that happens.

Bazzo · 22-10-2021 1:25pm

Bundee out with a knee injury. Hope it's nothing serious, last week showed us what we're missing without him...

Oops, just saw it was mentioned above, page hadn't refreshed for me.

Former Coach · 22-10-2021 10:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118052789#Comment_118052789

Reality is that Jack will leave for a decent payday in UK or France if he isn’t getting a look-in with Ireland. Couldn’t blame him really, although we don’t have somebody at his level to slot in if he does leave!