Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

With lawlor and friend going I’d be surprised if Carolan isn’t in line for a return. Don’t know how that dynamic would work with Wilkins staying on though.

Think a director of rugby figure would also come in. Could Wilkins be that man with Nigel head coach or the other way around? Either way I’d want Nigel leading the attack

Incorrect. Player negotiations have been ongoing since December just like every other year just haven’t been made public. Would assume they are looking at potential coaches and may well promote from within as they did with lawlor and Tucker previously

My apologies. I read one of your earlier posts and assumed there hadn't been any negotiation with players as of yet. Would you think 2 new coaches will join to replace the 2 leaving or will their be double jobbing ?

No worries. Typically connacht haven’t had a DOR type of role so will definitely depend on what type of coach Wilkins sees himself as, he may bring in another defence coach but I don’t see it personally. Would expect to see mark sexton step up from academy to skills/backs coach, hear good things about him but may not be ready to lead an attack yet so will be interesting to see if they go elsewhere for an attack/backs coach or do both. Personally would love to see them get someone a bit more experienced, everyone seems to be a bit on the younger side of their coaching careers thus far

The fact that Wilkins is making public statements like that offer a small bit of hope it’s not a foregone conclusion. At the very least Connacht need to have an open process and hold interviews.

I'd be very surprised if its not Wilkins; he's well thought of has had a year as "head coach" and has made clear he's looking to have a conversation about the head role.

We need to realistic about who we could attract as head coach/dor. We have a limited budget and the restrictions that come with the Irish setup can be off putting to some coaches (not able to recruit their own players).

I'd take Wilkins as head coach/dor if we could get in an experienced attack coach.

Finger injury less severe than feared- available for selection I believe

Agreed. Maybe Masterson and Bundee (what is going on there). Marmion needs game time as was obvious from last weekend. Same for DTM. Tom Daly to out half? My wish. Every time he has been there he has done most well. And then maybe full back can be given to one of the kids

Absolutely, the kind of appointment Connacht should aspire to. Obviously no guarantee he would be interested but after his last job, some chance he might welcome the stability (Kieran Keane aside) a job like Connacht would offer. With there being some financial struggles in most places bar France it seems makes it a small bit more possible too.

Would love to see the forde-Farrell partnership develop a bit more over the next two weeks. Play then one week and Bundee-Ralston the other.

I would assume they’ll go slightly stronger overall this week to secure the bonus point win and qualify for the knockout stages.

If the IRFU could stretch I think he'd go for it. He must feel hard done by after Wales and prob sill has "some stuff in the basement" - Rocky.

What would be the salary? 250-75k?

15. Mack Hansen (22)

14. John Porch (71)

13. Byron Ralston (10)

12. Cathal Forde (5)

11. Alex Wootton (38)

10. Jack Carty (189) (C)

9. Colm Reilly (15)

1. Peter Dooley (11)

2. Dave Heffernan (176)

3. Finlay Bealham (183)

4. Josh Murphy (9)

5. Niall Murray (46)

6. Cian Prendergast (38)

7. Conor Oliver (52)

8. Jarrad Butler (105)

Replacements

16. Dylan Tierney-Martin (13)

17. Jordan Duggan (32)

18. Jack Aungier (41)

19. Leva Fifita (20)

20. Ciaran Booth (3)

21. Kieran Marmion (221)

22. Tom Daly (69)

23. Conor Fitzgerald (61)

Would have like to see either Illo or Burke get in. When did bundee play last ? Irish squad to be named next Thursday.

Burke just back from injury this week, would expect to see illo next week

If Bundee Aki is fit, he'll be named in the Ireland squad next week. Simple as.

That man is criminally underrated by Irish fans. He's been pivotal to so many of the huge results we've had over the last 5 years. People won't fully appreciate him until he's gone.