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Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

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    #6122
    Lucas44
    Registered Users Posts: 379 ✭✭Lucas44


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119339860#Comment_119339860

    Going to look something like this:

    harry west - 10

    john Devine - 12

    fiachna barrett - prop

    oisin michel - prop

    daniel hawkshaw - 12/13

    shane Mallon - back 3

    not sure if Matthew Devine and Hubert Gilvarry are in year 2 of academy but if not add them to the the year 1 list



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    #6123
    realhorrorshow
    Registered Users Posts: 1,982 ✭✭✭realhorrorshow


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119341870#Comment_119341870

    Barrett's conversion to prop must be going well if he's getting an academy place after not even one full season, he was playing lock/backrow for the Eagles at the start of the season iirc.



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    #6124
    connachta
    Registered Users Posts: 7,965 ✭✭✭connachta


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119341928#Comment_119341928

    He's proping now, really?

    Hope he'll keep playing lock, with Fifita/Dowling/Thornbury and Murrays only, we may even need him once on the bench when J.Murphy will be busy at 6 for Prendergast (Irish squad gatherings and rests)



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    #6125
    stephen_n
    Registered Users Posts: 12,920 ✭✭✭✭stephen_n


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119343457#Comment_119343457

    No offense to Prendergast but how much involvement do you think he will have in squads? Wider gatherings maybe but he won’t be that involved in the 6N squad and maybe involved in the AI’s but that’s far from sure. This is a fairly enlarged squad for this tour.



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    #6126
    Dubinusa
    Registered Users Posts: 8,581 ✭✭✭Dubinusa


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119343655#Comment_119343655

    Prendergast didn't make a case in Nz . He will ger there, I think.



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    #6127
    freyners
    Registered Users Posts: 4,300 ✭✭✭freyners



    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119343655#Comment_119343655

    Irish back row is a murders row of competition and at best his 4th choice at 6 behind Doris pom and players like beirne who cover there. I think to his credit he hasn't looked out of place in the maori games, yellow aside. On him to pick it up now if he wants to be in the next squad but he has all the raw tools to get there. Attitude seems to be spot on too



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    #6128
    realhorrorshow
    Registered Users Posts: 1,982 ✭✭✭realhorrorshow


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119343457#Comment_119343457

    Yep, Barrett has converted to tighthead.



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    #6129
    freyners
    Registered Users Posts: 4,300 ✭✭✭freyners


    Big experience for the lads on your tonight and over the last few weeks. Hopefully see more move up soon



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    #6130
    Wegians89
    Registered Users Posts: 3,450 ✭✭✭Wegians89


    Connacht players I think could push for international squads with big season next year:

    Dooley, Thornbury, prendergast (needs to push to another level), Forde And Adam Byrne.

    these would all just be for extend squad spots. Think Forde could be a breakout player in Irish rugby this season. 10/12, left footed, will see plenty of game time in challenge cup



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    #6131
    Zeugnis
    Registered Users Posts: 755 ✭✭✭Zeugnis


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119351981#Comment_119351981

    Think there's a few others in order of probability:

    Murray, Blade, Marmion

    Oliver, Boyle (the back row is possibly the toughest position from the pov of competition)

    A long shot would be Aungier, TH is a position where there is a hunt for depth and he's going to get a lot of minutes. Marty Moore has injury issues, Ryan is gone from Munster, that leaves Knox, Clarkson, Salanoa and Abdeladze, and the latter two has been regularly injured. JA will need to make giant steps, but the opportunity is there.

    A year ago, I would have had Daly and Farrell on the list, but midfield looks pretty locked down, and they both had a season strewn with serious defensive errors.



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    #6132
    Wegians89
    Registered Users Posts: 3,450 ✭✭✭Wegians89


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119353592#Comment_119353592

    Completely forgot about Murray, I’d add him in too.

    feel Oliver and boyle have too big of a challenge to get in, with the competition in the back row.

    Aungier is a far way off. He’s a penalty machine



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    #6133
    Zeugnis
    Registered Users Posts: 755 ✭✭✭Zeugnis


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119353978#Comment_119353978

    I basically agree regarding Aungier, but with the obvious concerns about Moore's health, there are no stand outs below O'Toole. If this year won't motivate him to address his issues, nothing will.

    In the back row, Ireland have crazy depth. But Oliver had a really fantastic season, and could get significantly better. JVDF has demonstrated that it's possible to make major improvements to your game even as you mature. Oliver could sharpen his work as receiver and take it up a gear - just like JVDF has. He's good on the ground and I love the controlled fight in him.

    It's pretty academic, but how far ahead of him do you think Timoney is? Then there's JOD in Munster where Kendellen and Hodnett are coming through at 7 as well.



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    #6134
    Wegians89
    Registered Users Posts: 3,450 ✭✭✭Wegians89


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119354115#Comment_119354115

    Timoney is probably a fair bit a head of him, especially as he can cover 6 and 8. He’s an absolute unit too.

    Oliver lack the size necessary to cover 6 and 8 and puts Him at a disadvantage to making squads. As an out and out 7 Oliver wouldn’t be far off if not already better than timoney but over all it’d be very hard to break in with out the versatility



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    #6135
    Zeugnis
    Registered Users Posts: 755 ✭✭✭Zeugnis


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119354173#Comment_119354173

    Fair points.

    A player I forgot about at 7 is Scott Penny, similar size to Oliver .



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    #6136
    realhorrorshow
    Registered Users Posts: 1,982 ✭✭✭realhorrorshow


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119354115#Comment_119354115

    I imagine Oliver is quite a bit off Timoney in Andy Farrell's eyes. Obviously I have no clue what he's thinking but I think it's pretty clear that Farrell will pick bigger, dynamic forwards where possible (see Loughman over O'Sullivan/Wycherly, Heffernan over Scannell, O'Toole over Moore, Treadwell over Molony, etc.).

    I think that Oliver has been the form openside in Ireland outside of the squad that went to NZ, but tbh Connors would probably leapfrog him if fit. I could even imagine Farrell preferring Penny, despite being a similar size he is extremely powerful



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    #6137
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119354381#Comment_119354381

    Connors would absolutely leap frog him if fit; people forget just how good Connors' stint was in a green shirt prior to his injury. Connors brings elite size to a back row as well at c. 6ft 4.5 or so.



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    #6138
    Zeugnis
    Registered Users Posts: 755 ✭✭✭Zeugnis


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119354449#Comment_119354449

    Any idea as to how Connors' recovery is progressing? He's played very little rugby the last two seasons.



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    #6139
    Wegians89
    Registered Users Posts: 3,450 ✭✭✭Wegians89


    I’m starting to get very excited for next season now. Some serious players brought in. Some very decent performances not not backed up by results last year made things look worse than they were.

    If you’d come away with home and away Wins against Leicester you’d forgive the hammering Edinburgh dished out a lot easier.

    Some exciting young talent coming through too. All looking good



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    #6140
    realhorrorshow
    Registered Users Posts: 1,982 ✭✭✭realhorrorshow


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119360251#Comment_119360251

    New S&C coach too tight? Our points difference was in the last 20 mins was among the worst in the league last year. If we can improve that, along with our discipline, and the natural development of the young players we've given game time too, we should have the foundations of a decent season in place.



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    #6141
    Wegians89
    Registered Users Posts: 3,450 ✭✭✭Wegians89


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119360389#Comment_119360389

    Yeah former limerick hurling s and c, limerick have stood out in s and c Over the last few seasons. Different sports but he’s had a year with ulster (they were decent last year too)



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    #6142
    eastcoastclan
    Registered Users Posts: 12 ✭eastcoastclan


    Any idea when European fixtures will be announced ? Eager to start planning an away trip.



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    #6143
    realhorrorshow
    Registered Users Posts: 1,982 ✭✭✭realhorrorshow


    Connacht academy 22-23


    Year 1

    Matthew Devine – Scrum-Half

    John Devine – Centre

    Daniel Hawkshaw – Centre

    Shane Mallon – Centre

    Oisin Michel – Prop

    Harry West – Out-Half


    Year 2

    Hubert Gilvarry – Scrum-Half

    Josh O’Connor – Back Three

    Will Reilly – Scrum-Half

    Bart Vermeulen – Prop


    Year 3

    Eoin de Buitléar – Hooker

    Donnacha Byrne – Back Row

    Charlie Ward – Prop



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    #6144
    Zeugnis
    Registered Users Posts: 755 ✭✭✭Zeugnis


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119371490#Comment_119371490

    The relevant weekends are listed here:

    https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/1550178833512398848



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    #6145
    realhorrorshow
    Registered Users Posts: 1,982 ✭✭✭realhorrorshow


    Loosehead


    Denis Buckley (32) - Signed contract in 2021

    Matthew Burke (25) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

    Peter Dooley (28) - Signed contract in 2022

    Jordan Duggan (24) - Signed contract in 2021


    Oisin Michel (20) - Academy year 1

    Bart Vermeulen (?) - Academy year 2

    Charlie Ward (22) - Academy year 3


    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

    Dominic Robertson-McCoy (28) - Signed 1 year contract in 2022


    Hooker


    Shane Delahunt (28) - Signed contract in 2021

    Dave Heffernan (31) - Signed contract in 2021

    Dylan Tierney-Martin (23) - Signed 1 year contract in 2022


    Eoin De Buitléar (20) - Academy year 3


    Lock


    Oisin Dowling (25) - Signed contract in 2022

    Leva Fifita (33) - Signed contract in 2021

    Darragh Murray (21) - Signed contract in 2022

    Niall Murray (22) - Signed contract in 2021

    Gavin Thornbury (28) - Signed contract in 2021


    Back row


    Ciaran Booth (22) - Signed contract in 2022

    Paul Boyle (25) - Signed contract in 2021

    Jarrad Butler (31) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

    Shamus Hurley-Langton (22) - Signed contract in 2022

    Sean Masterson (24) - Signed contract in 2021

    Oisin McCormack (21) - Signed contract in 2022

    Josh Murphy (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

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

    Cian Prendergast (22) - Signed 3 year contract in 2022


    Donnacha Byrne (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


    Matthew Devine (20) - Academy year 1

    Hubert Gilvarry (u22) - Academy year 2

    Will Reilly (u22) - Academy year 2


    Outhalf


    Jack Carty (30) - Signed 3 year contract in 2022

    Conor Fitzgerald (24) - Signed contract in 2021

    Cathal Forde (20) - Signed contract in 2022


    Harry West (u20) - Academy year 1


    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

    David Hawkshaw (23) - Signed contract in 2022

    Shane Jennings (21) - Signed contract in 2022


    John Devine (u20) - Academy year 1

    Daniel Hawkshaw (20) - Academy year 1


    Back 3


    Adam Byrne (27) - Signed contract in 2022

    Mack Hansen (24) - Signed 3 year contract in 2022

    Diarmuid Kilgallen (22) - Signed contract in 2022

    Oran McNulty (22) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

    Tiernan O'Halloran (31) - Signed 1 year contract in 2022

    John Porch (28) - Signed 1 year contract in 2022

    Byron Ralston (22) - Signed contract in 2022

    Alex Wootton (28) - Signed contract in 2021


    Shane Mallon (20) - Academy year 1

    Josh O'Connor (21) - Academy year 2


    *ages as at 01/09/2022



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    #6146
    EachSmallChime
    Registered Users Posts: 195 ✭✭EachSmallChime


    Quinn Roux has moved to Bath

    https://twitter.com/BathRugby/status/1552322940116602883



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    #6147
    realhorrorshow
    Registered Users Posts: 1,982 ✭✭✭realhorrorshow


    https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/62312299

    Absolutely brutal first five fixtures.



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    #6148
    ShineyShiney
    Registered Users Posts: 330 ✭✭ShineyShiney


    Awful fixture list



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    #6149
    testtech05
    Registered Users Posts: 2,128 ✭✭✭testtech05


    Arguably the 5 strongest teams in the URC, our points total wont be pretty after that start I would fear.



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    #6150
    Utopia Parkway
    Registered Users Posts: 17,341 ✭✭✭✭Utopia Parkway


    Ulster A

    Stormers A

    Bulls A

    Munster H

    Leinster H


    OUCH! Potential for a very nasty start to the season and suddenly you are playing catch up from the very beginning.



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    #6151
    BrokenMan
    Registered Users Posts: 1,688 ✭✭✭BrokenMan


    All interpos done by the end if the year as well. That's brutal.



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