Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Does anyone know who coaches goalkicking in Connacht.

They need to find an answer at goalkicking time.

The URC website has Carty at 62% (they don't give kicking % for any other Connacht players) on the main stats page. I don't know if they have other players kicking percentages elsewhere.

A few years ago Carty was at 79% so he can do better. At the time Connacht didn't have a goal kicking coach. Richie Murphy (the Ireland skills coach at the time) came down once a week outside international windows.

In truth there was a lot more than goal kicking at fault last night. And I know you know that.

True but that doesn't mean its not a general fault that needs to be called out.

79% isn't great but its decent and it was his best season afaik.

Not everyone needs to be an international class kicker. Just a decent professional.

If he can get back to 79% its a massive improvement from 62% so far this season.

It was reported at the time that it was.

Its fine not to be a top level kicker but 62% is unacceptable. Get above 70% again and Connacht will be getting more points.

If not figure out who would be a better kicking option. If Hawkshaw is playing center I'd have him kicking ahead of Carty (he isn't a great kicker either mind you). Blade has done some kicking. I've no idea how good he is but let him fight for the tee.

Not making excuses for his kicking, and you could see how disappointed he was with the last the other eve (and the earlier miss was the killer, get that and the last kick is a little easier as the draw is secure). But I don't think Jack is at 100%. He seemed off in the match. He's always prone to the odd blunder but he got caught out with that wide pass that was intercepted (but did super to make the tackle), missed touch again and kicked badly out of hand in general, and the missed conversion. He didn't seem himself.

When you say top level you mean what exactly.. Connacht are a mid table team. He is very inconsistent as many outhalves at his level are

Happy Christmas to all. While I provide my painful opinion it's only because I wish for better. It is never about a team member but it does come down to team member when the team is weakened by such a person.

Have a good Christmas folks and let's provide new ideas in 2023. At the end of the day this is a forum of opinions. I'm still standing behind my idea of Tom Daly at out half as my wish for 2023.

We have to be indulgent and not forget Friend and co have build for the future

if we consider a player is mature around 25 y-o, you've a full-team just about proving itself

Duggan/Tierney/Aungier/N.Murray/Dowling/Prendergast/SHL/Masterson/C.Reilly/C.Fitz/Hawkshaw/Bolton/Ralston/Kilgallen/McNulty

+ another full-team pushing behind

Vermeulen/DeBuitlear/Illo+Barrent/D.Murray/J.Forde/Booth/McCormack/D.Byrne/Devine+W.Reilly/West/C.Forde/J.Devine/O'Connor/Jennings/Mullins

ALL 30 players have between 9 and 15 years of carreer in front of them

if half of them turn good, we have a very decent base!

Yep, corrected

Fitz is still 25 only

how do you estimate Bryan Walsh?heis current Ireland U18 clubsand near7 feet tall lock in connacht.

he played on the match vs italy u 18 at november as a starter.

I expect him in near future resentative to ireland.

Is it too early?

Disappointing performance against ulster, I suppose good for morale to chase the game down in the last 10 but probably papers over how second best we were for most of the game.

At this point of the season I'd say our set piece is good, our defence is decent but our maul defence, basic skills, attack and kicking game are really struggling.

Imo we are less than the sum of our parts.

We usually begin to hear some contract talk around now, what additions will be required to step it up to HC participants next year?

What positions do we need to add to?

Imo it's 15, 10 and 8 with Joyce joining for 2nd row we should be good there.

I'd be interested in JJ Hanrahan for 10. No idea for 15 and 8

I'm always more interested in who might be good to bring in as opposed to who might go. The coaches know who to let go and most of us can hazard a decent guess based on game time, age, players ahead etc who might be in the maybe not zone.

I'm surprised to see Fitzgerald on your list, as a squad filler he's done a great job this year. He may never be a first choice but he's a solid 3rd choice 10 and back up 23 or 15 with good kicking ability.

If you are looking to sign a new 10 or 15 (let alone both) the role for Fitzgerald narrows. He goes from solid 3rd choice 10 to too expensive 4th choice 10.

If theres a signing at 10 and Fitzgerald's contract is up I think Fitzgerald might be in the same position Ronan O'Loughlin was in Leinster last summer. He will be offered a contract that doesn't meet his value and will choose to move on.

If theres not a signing at 10 it makes sense to keep him.

Certainly hasn't had a great year alright but is highly unlikely to be going anywhere as captain and starting 10. I'd like to see us bring in someone who can challenge not someone who can support. Think we didn't succeed with that this year. We ended up with lots of 12's

Forde, Hawkshaw, Daly all looking like good 12's but none of putting pressure on 10 even with Jack struggling a bit.

By the way I think Jack is playing pretty well defensively and in terms of distribution but his kicking in play and from the tee is way off.