Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

salmocab · 12-03-2023 10:01pm

Not sure why it’s in this thread but Murray did grand today in difficult circumstances, he’ll get another cap in 6 days time and go to the World Cup.

RonnieL · 12-03-2023 10:33pm

Any chance of Heff getting the nod for a bench spot against England or is he completely out of the picture?

SqueakyKneecap · 12-03-2023 11:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120351146#Comment_120351146

This Stewart lad from Ulster seems to have been training with the squad more recently but I'd still have a feeling that Heffernan could bench if Herring starts. That being said they backed Tom O'Toole so they don't have an issue giving young lads a chance in the front row.

Wegians89 · 12-03-2023 11:14pm

O’Toole has been around the squad for ages though. Stewart has what a week or two? And on top of that I think heff was injured when Stewart got the call up?

RonnieL · 12-03-2023 11:25pm

Heff had been injured, but back now, and he'd be more familiar with the calls. Would be some game to get drafted in for!

realhorrorshow · 13-03-2023 7:56pm

Loosehead

Denis Buckley (33) - Signed 2 + 1 year contract in 2023

Matthew Burke (26) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Peter Dooley (29) - Signed contract in 2022

Jordan Duggan (25) - Signed 1 year contract in 2023

Oisin Michel (21) - Academy year 1

Charlie Ward (23) - Academy year 3

Tighthead

Jack Aungier (24) - Signed contract in 2022

Finlay Bealham (31) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Sam Illo (22) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Dominic Robertson-McCoy (29) - Signed 1 year contract in 2022

Hooker

Eoin De Buitléar (21) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Shane Delahunt (29) - Signed contract in 2021

Dave Heffernan (32) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Dylan Tierney-Martin (24) - Signed 3 year contract in 2023

Lock

Oisin Dowling (26) - Signed contract in 2022

Leva Fifita (34) - Signed contract in 2021

Joe Joyce (29) - Signed contract in 2023

Josh Murphy (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Darragh Murray (22) - Signed contract in 2022

Niall Murray (23) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Gavin Thornbury (29) - Signed 1 year contract in 2023

Back row

Ciaran Booth (23) - Signed contract in 2022

Paul Boyle (26) - Signed contract in 2021

Jarrad Butler (32) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Shamus Hurley-Langton (23) - Signed contract in 2022

Sean Jansen (24) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Sean Masterson (25) - Signed contract in 2021

Oisin McCormack (22) - Signed contract in 2022

Conor Oliver (27) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Cian Prendergast (23) - Signed 3 year contract in 2022

Donnacha Byrne (22) - Academy year 3

John Forde (20) - Academy year 1

Scrumhalf

Caolin Blade (29) - Signed 3 year contract in 2023

Colm Reilly (24) - Signed contract in 2021

Matthew Devine (21) - Academy year 1

Will Reilly (22) - Academy year 2

Outhalf

Jack Carty (31) - Signed 3 year contract in 2022

Conor Fitzgerald (25) - Signed contract in 2021

Harry West (20) - Academy year 1

Centre

Bundee Aki (33) - Signed 3 year central contract in 2020

Shayne Bolton (23) - Signed contract in 2021

Tom Daly (30) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Tom Farrell (29) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Cathal Forde (21) - Signed contract in 2022

David Hawkshaw (24) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Byron Ralston (23) - Signed contract in 2022

John Devine (19) - Academy year 1

Hugh Gavin (19) - Academy year 1

Daniel Hawkshaw (21) - Academy year 1

Back 3

Adam Byrne (28) - Signed contract in 2022

Mack Hansen (25) - Signed 3 year contract in 2022

Shane Jennings (22) - Signed contract in 2022

Diarmuid Kilgallen (23) - Signed contract in 2022

Oran McNulty (23) - Signed 2 year contract in 2022

Tiernan O'Halloran (32) - Signed 1 year contract in 2022

John Porch (29) - Signed 2 year contract in 2023

Shane Mallon (21) - Academy year 1

Chay Mullins (21) - Academy year 1

Josh O'Connor (22) - Academy year 2

*ages as at 01/09/2023

IN: Joe Joyce (Lock, Bristol Bears), Sean Jansen (back row, Leicester Tigers)

OUT: Grant Stewart (Hooker, TBC), Kieran Marmion (scrum half, Bristol Bears), Alex Wootton (back 3, retiring)

tintedgreenglasses2016 · 13-03-2023 9:39pm

any idea what contract Adam Byrne signed. if he gets a run of games he could be a great signing. guess there will be no further signing this year which would suggest all players contracts will be renewed for next year. any mention of where Delahunt is going and if Bundee will stay

stephen_n · 13-03-2023 9:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120355248#Comment_120355248

That’s a rather enormous “if”. Adam Byrne has not managed much of a run of games in over 4 years. It was a gamble for Connacht to sign him and one that hasn’t paid off. Great player but permanently injured.

14-03-2023 3:40am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120355248#Comment_120355248

My understanding is that only one year was guaranteed for Byrne. We've struggled to keep him fit for more than a few weeks in a row, and it hasn't just been one injury. He'd be a great signing if we could get him on the pitch but I'd worry that he's missed his chance to prove it.

No update on Delahunt so far.

I don't think we'll hear much else about the Bundee situation. The official line remains that he's contracted for the 23/24 season. My hope is that we'll see him pop up in a match day squad shortly after the 6N. That'll be a first sign that they've sat down and started sorting it out privately inside the changing rooms, just as should have been done months ago.

KBurke85 · 14-03-2023 11:30am

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/news/sevens-star-andrew-smith-joins-connacht-rugby/bp2484/

Wegians89 · 14-03-2023 12:50pm

Good signing, would hope he’s big the only back 3 player coming in though. Need a first choice 15 as well

typhoony · 14-03-2023 1:45pm

Very good signing, he's been a slow burner since his u20's days, flourishing on the 7's circuit, could be another Hugo Keenan

FACECUTTR · 14-03-2023 2:34pm

I like the Jansen and Smith signings. Depth at 8 now which was needed. Full back and TH and we are looking good. I'd be happy enough with McCoy staying on.

macslash · 14-03-2023 8:24pm

How many more are we thinking? If Delahunt is released, it's been rumoured that Moore from Ulster will be joining. I wonder will there be more. Also hope we hear more about whether Adam Byrne stays on. Personally would like to see him give it another year anyway.

connachta · 14-03-2023 8:36pm

TOH may be in his last months too...

But we need mainly a 10 now. a 10!

FACECUTTR · 14-03-2023 8:38pm

Forgot about the Delahunt rumour. Moore will get plenty of gametime if he arrives.

Wegians89 · 14-03-2023 8:51pm

I’d be looking at a hooker, 10 and 15 to come in still. Moore and say a tector could be relatively cheap options at 2 and 10 and then bring in a 15 from the southern hemisphere

macslash · 14-03-2023 9:12pm

We'll have an NIQ spot with Leva leaving won't we? Who else is NIQ? Porchy, SHL. Anyone else? Butler isn't any more is I don't think. I suppose just because we can doesn't mean we will sign an NIQ..

macslash · 14-03-2023 9:14pm

I also feel Smith can cover full back. Although I imagine he's more of a Alex W replacement

tintedgreenglasses2016 · 14-03-2023 11:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120359050#Comment_120359050

Looks like TOH has more life in him than expected

FACECUTTR · 15-03-2023 12:36am

Not the first time his performances improved around contract renewal. If he could continue to play like that a 15 would not be needed.

Wegians89 · 15-03-2023 12:42am

Thought Bolton looked good on the wing against the dragons, wonder if he’ll be kept around.

15-03-2023 12:55am

The coaching team need a plan for full-back. If it doesn't include another new recruit then I think finding a suitable deal with TOH will be the next best option. He's only 32 and if he can stay fit he's still the best full-back we have by a distance. No one else we've tried there has been able to cover the backfield or organise the back three nearly as well as him.

Definitely not a long term solution but until we get the backline playing a consistent mature game plan we need someone experienced back there.

kita99 · 15-03-2023 6:45am

At first, watch next week game against Edinburugh. I am afraid that Andy Friend take some initiative to place Butler at No8. He never wins on Mata.

connachta · 15-03-2023 7:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120360044#Comment_120360044

Mullins seems promising and may be the plan introduced slowly with TOH still there next season

tintedgreenglasses2016 · 15-03-2023 8:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120360008#Comment_120360008

That is so untrue. His performance was muck around the time he got his extension last year. His performance level has been so much better this year. So that's just a rubbish comment

FACECUTTR · 16-03-2023 10:06am

He was playing poorly in 2018/2019 but then improved and got a contract in late 2019. Same this time around. Has not been good until recently in all fairness. When he is focused he is absolutely fantastic and really adds a huge amount to the team. He is an excellent attacker and organises the back 3 well. I'm not having a go at him.

FACECUTTR · 16-03-2023 1:27pm

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/

Another backrow in.

Wegians89 · 16-03-2023 1:33pm

Second row and back Row depth something like this now:

N Murray Murphy D Murray

Thornbury Joyce Dowling

Prendergast Butler Booth

Oliver SHL McCormack

Boyle Jansen SOB

SqueakyKneecap · 16-03-2023 1:44pm

Is this SOB 4.O or am I forgetting an SOB in between?

Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

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