Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Conor Fitz signed a contract renewal in the spring, almost certainly for two years. TOH had a one year contract extension, he will retire, so the big question is will Porch will renew. Wootton's contract is up in the summer, but although he hasn't played much rugby this season, he has been a very effective try scorer in the past.

In the forwards DRMc was a stopgap renewal due to the province's inability to sign anyone else. We need another TH, I would imagine he will be trade in unless he makes huge progress.

Like last year, I think our best recruitment opportunities will be connected to the situation in terms of game time at Leinster, that's where there are players who are wiling to take Connacht wages for the opportunity to make a national squad.

Until Hawkshaw arrived, place kicks at Connacht have been the jurisdiction of Carty, Fitzgerald, and, occasionally, Tom Daly. Elisaatwar's 2023 campaign for Tom Daly at outhalf is likely inspired by the one game he played there in 2020 IIRC against Edinburgh. He was effective, kicked well out of the hand and took his points from the ground as well.

Nobody can deny that Carty has been having a 'mare this season from the tee, and has been unacceptably inconsistent kicking from the hand. Unlike Elisaatwar, I believe he can do better in the latter department, but I do think he needs to be relieved of goal kicking duties.

Lets take out the hyperbole. I won't say Carty is an amazing outhalf. He is also not a terrible outhalf.

If you discount kicking he is an average starting option for a midtable team. Deeply flawed but quiet capable in some respects. As a goalkicker he is one of the worst first choice goalkickers in the league.

I don't think he's holding Connacht back but equally he's not the OH they need to bring them forward to where they want to be.

If Connacht are serious about being in URC playoffs on a regular basis, then they need someone else, if not to replace Carty then certainly to compete with him.

There's an awful lot of talent in Jack Carty. I wouldn't be writing him off. I'd like to see him have some competition alright but he's quality when on form.

It’s an Internet forum nobody here’s opinions are affecting Connacht rugby and their selections

So your saying Jack no longer knows how to mess with the oppositions defensive line and it's now a coaching issue when he did know how to do it in the past.

Every game is lateral these days. How is a back 3 to win at that carry on. But it's the coaching direction versus the individual showing no initiative?

I think if there is an offer from outside of Ireland. Then they can offer more.

With Healy though Edinburgh may be able to offer more than just money.

At the risk of stating the obvious, the money at connacht is almost always going to be worse, but this is compensated for by the opportunity to play and ultimately break into the national team. For players who grew up in Ireland that ambition is what defines their career. Healy appears to have been bounced to number three, and may fancy a move which could make him number two. PErdsonally, I'm not red hot on him, but given the discussion above he would appear like the most reasonable player to approach if Connacht want to chase another 10. And he has a massive boot.

In terms of recruitment, one thing that has pleased me about connacht this season is that we have fulfilled our end of the bargain tot he Leinster players who moved during the summer. Dooley, Murphy, Byrne and Hawkshaw are all getting opportunities, which shows the undecided that they will get is a real return if they head west.

I can see Bundee moving on. He's 33? He won't be in the Ireland plans after the world cup. He likely won't get a central contract. France may be an option?

I'd imagine Bundee has already been offered a one year extension to lock him down for a potential World Cup slot. As good as McCloskey is, Farrell and Co have their favourites and Bundee is absolutely one of them.

May mean nothing at all but Bundee has been posting a lot of stuff the last few days from Toulouse.

Could just be coincidence as he's close with Pita Akhi, Jerome Kaino and Tim Nanai-Williams who are all there, but if there's no central contract on offer tough to begrudge the guy making one last big contract after he's given so much to Connacht rugby.