Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Wegians89 · 07-01-2022 11:18am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118431680#Comment_118431680

His Instagram story mentioned he had a few days left isolating

b.gud · 07-01-2022 11:21am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118431889#Comment_118431889

Cheers had actually just seen that and was coming back to reply to my own message. Hopefully he has a speedy recovery

RonnieL · 07-01-2022 11:23am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118431680#Comment_118431680

The source is presumably Jack's instagram stories from yesterday. He said "isolation for another few days", and did a Q&A. Maybe he's just a close contact?

Regarding the injury, someone asked how his lip was and he replied with a fairly gruesome photo, but said "all good, it's healed up pretty quickly. I had forgotten my gum shield so karma got me."

ElisaAtWar · 07-01-2022 9:37pm

So I see that McGinty is on his way to Bristol next season I was torn between Pat Lams Bristol vs Sale Sharks tonight. With AJ moving all 😊

ElisaAtWar · 07-01-2022 9:37pm

Wish he were going back to Connacht

jimdemp · 09-01-2022 8:49pm

Seen on the indo that Connacht expect to start the redevelopment of the sportground in the summer. Also stated Copeland got 190k from his connacht contract.

FACECUTTR · 11-01-2022 11:47pm

Hansen out of the Leicester game. Reoccurring calf injury. Carty fit.

Zeugnis · 12-01-2022 12:40pm

I see that the injury update confirmed that Gavin Thornbury had surgery on his shoulder and will be back in February. He will have been out for longer than Buckley who is expected to be ready late this month. Thankfully at both lock and loosehead there were players able who stepped up and have progressed enormously as a result. Burke and Dowling's stock have certainly risen, Duggan and Murray have done well too but they already had recognition.

SqueakyKneecap · 12-01-2022 12:56pm

Burke deserves massive credit for sure. Really stood up.

realhorrorshow · 12-01-2022 2:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118460539#Comment_118460539

Couldn't agree more. Amazing what a run of games can do for a player.

EachSmallChime · 12-01-2022 4:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118458683#Comment_118458683

Hansen is a loss but we're actually fairly well stocked in back 3 players.

With all due respect to Conor Fitz, it's essential Jack plays well if we want to win.

Zeugnis · 12-01-2022 5:52pm

Hopefully Wootton has recovered from whatever resulted in him missing the Munster game. And is Healy available for selection or injured? Haven't heard from him in a while. I thought Oran McNulty looked good in his recent starts.

Where do people see the competition for full back? Tiernan is back in as incumbent, Porchy started most of the games there last season while TOH was injured. I'd like to see Hansen there at some point.

jimdemp · 12-01-2022 5:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118462501#Comment_118462501

He didnt look himself against Munster probably should not have played seemed very leggy. Hopefully its just a just a calf injury.

TRC10 · 12-01-2022 8:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118462887#Comment_118462887

Re: Hansen, I completely agree. I'd love to see him at 15.

He's such a classy footballer and he could much more influence in attack from full back. He looked pretty class in the few clips I saw of him at 15 for the Brumbies.

Really like the look of McNulty but I see him as more of a winger long term.

FACECUTTR · 12-01-2022 10:01pm

I'm wondering if Hansen was fully fit against Munster. Id have TOH 15 Wootton and Porch with McNulty 23.

Bazzo · 13-01-2022 4:59pm

Two year extensions for Farrell, Oliver, McNulty

One year for Blade & Tierney-Martin

Iompair · 13-01-2022 6:07pm

Good to hear some more contracts coming in. Hopefully we'll not lose any more front line players.

SqueakyKneecap · 13-01-2022 8:38pm

Oliver has been a fantastic signing.

realhorrorshow · 13-01-2022 8:44pm

Loosehead

Denis Buckley (32) - Signed contract in 2021

Matthew Burke (25) - Signed contract in 2021

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

Niall Murray (22) - Signed contract in 2021

Gavin Thornbury (28) - Signed contract in 2021

Darragh Murray (21) - Academy year 2

Back row

Paul Boyle (25) - Signed contract in 2021

Jarrad Butler (31) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020

Eoghan Masterson (29) - Signed contract in 2021

Sean Masterson (24) - Signed contract in 2021

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

Cian Prendergast (22) - Signed contract in 2021

Ciaran Booth (22) - Academy year 2

Donnacha Byrne (21) - Academy year 2

Oisin McCormack (21) - Academy year 3

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) - Academy year 2

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

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

Shane Jennings (21) - Academy year 3

Back 3

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

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

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 contract in 2021

Peter Sullivan (24) - Signed contract in 2021

Alex Wootton (28) - Signed contract in 2021

Diarmuid Kilgallen (22) - Academy year 2

Josh O'Connor (21) - Academy year 1

IN:

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

*ages as at 01/09/2022

CMcsporty · 13-01-2022 9:24pm

Is Fifita injured allot or just not getting in the team?

stephen_n · 14-01-2022 7:29am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118469826#Comment_118469826

Wonder was it Blades decision to go for a one year. I would have thought Connacht would be keen to sign him for longer.

Bazzo · 14-01-2022 8:59am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118471942#Comment_118471942

Almost definitely.

Carty opted for one year before getting his most recent big 3 year contract, it can be a good move for valuable players.

Zeugnis · 14-01-2022 12:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118468625#Comment_118468625

Very good news. Fingers crossed Tom Farrell goes uninjured as he's classy and will be critical - with Arnold's departure we lose experience in midfield (although Bolton has looked good and Forde and Jennings are exciting too). Conor Oliver has really been a revelation this season in what had been a problem position for Connacht since Fainga'a's departure. He has a steely but controlled aggression, and is a good carrier in what is now a very dynamic back row (or will be once Boyle returns and we get to see him, Prendergast and Oliver together). Tierney-Martin we don't see a lot of but McNulty is doing well. Caolin? Enough said, I wouldn't swap our nines with another province. Hopefully a longer contract is agreed next year.

KBurke85 · 14-01-2022 12:57pm

CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS LEICESTER TIGERS

Saturday 15th January, 15:15 @ The Sportsground

Number/Name/Caps ( * denotes uncapped)

15. Tiernan O’Halloran (197)

14. John Porch (47)

13. Sammy Arnold (26)

12. Bundee Aki (114)

11. Matt Healy (150)

10. Jack Carty (169) (C)

9. Kieran Marmion (196)

1. Matthew Burke (33)

2. Shane Delahunt (110)

3. Finlay Bealham (168)

4. Oisín Dowling (14)

5. Niall Murray (24)

6. Cian Prendergast (18)

7. Conor Oliver (30)

8. Jarrad Butler (83)

Replacements

16. Dave Heffernan (153)

17. Tietie Tuimauga (2)

18. Jack Aungier (22)

19. Ultan Dillane (123)

20. Paul Boyle (63)

21. Caolin Blade (139)

22. Conor Fitzgerald (44)

23. Tom Farrell (67)

RonnieL · 14-01-2022 1:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118473421#Comment_118473421

That's such an exciting looking team - hopefully the weather is decent and they can give it a good rattle tomorrow.

RonnieL · 14-01-2022 1:21pm

https://connachttribune.ie/sportsground-revamp-to-begin-in-summer-no-talks-held-with-galway-utd-over-move/

serfboard · 14-01-2022 2:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118473624#Comment_118473624

IIRC, at the end of the previous match, the English commentator said that no other team, apart from Saracens, had pushed Leicester as hard at home this season.

Zzippy · 14-01-2022 4:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118474035#Comment_118474035

Leicester were completely dominant in the scrum, which was the difference between the teams. I'm not sure the second row we've picked tomorrow has the grunt to improve that, but let's see.

EachSmallChime · 14-01-2022 4:53pm

LEICESTER TIGERS:

15. Bryce Hegarty, 14. Freddie Steward, 13. Matt Scott, 12. Juan Pablo Socino, 11. Kini Murimurivalu, 10. Freddie Burns, 9. Richard Wigglesworth, 1. Ellis Genge (c), 2. Nic Dolly, 3. Joe Heyes, 4. Harry Wells, 5. Calum Green, 6. Ollie Chessum, 7. Tommy Reffell, 8. Jasper Wiese.

Replacements: 16. Charlie Clare, 17. James Whitcombe, 18. Nephi Leatigaga, 19. Tom Manz, 20. Francois van Wyk, 21. Jack van Poortvliet, 22. Dan Kelly, 23. Hosea Saumaki

This lineup doesn't seem as scary. At least the replacement front row are not as high quality as the last time and their second row replacement is an academy player.

dublin49 · 14-01-2022 4:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118475083#Comment_118475083

dont know why but scrum advantage tends to somewhat get neutralised by playing away,hope my theory holds up.

Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

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