Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

The prospect of the likes of the Murrays working with Fardy and Cian Prendergast with Muldoon is very exciting.

The one game I've watched here (Old Glory), it was AIL level.

Pretty average. Players coming to the end of their careers and those not offered contracts sort of level.

Heard Dave Kearney, Adam Byrne, Nick McCarthy (Leinster) and Cian Kelleher (Ex Leinster, Connacht) are all going to the same team in the States after not being offered extensions on their current contracts.

Yes, think releasing him was a mistake. At the time it was argued that we'd be fine, we have Robb and Sam Arnold etc.

Two years later those two are gone and we're still auditioning for a backup to Farrell at 13, with Ralston, Bolton etc. Meanwhile SOB has been starting for Exeter in the Champions Cup... We developed him in the academy for other teams' benefit.

Nearly positive he actually signed his Exeter deal very early into his final season with Connacht and the reason why he didn't play as much as he could've in his last season here (until we had an injury crisis) was because he was on the way out. There's no way Connacht could match even a squad role salary at Exeter.

I don't know when exactly he signed his deal but he only made his debut in December of that year. So Exeter didn't have that long to observe him. His performances from March onwards made an impression on me.

Mistakes get made, it's part of rugby, look at how Leinster let Tadhg Beirne get away. SOB isn't that level of loss, and it's yet to be seen how he fares at Munster, but there was a bit of debate here at the time. I was just flummoxed by the fact that we'd invested three years in the guy, started seeing the results of that and then.... gone. Usually this happens because the player doesn't evolve the meet the requirements of the senior game, but in this instance that was not the case.

Once there's an English club sniffing about it's tough for a side like Connacht to compete financially (although English clubs seem to be in huge trouble currently and that money bubble could be bursting really soon). I'd say they could've easily made an offer that was turned down. It makes things a lot trickier when it's a lad like O'Brien who was never really within an Irish cap who could be looking at going from academy wages to nearly six figures. Their agents have the game well sussed these days.

For all of us Connacht fans we have a long day next Saturday. My opinion is I would love it to come down to the last game even if my heart will be in my mouth

Oh no. Please Munster. You prob won't win but please keep Sharks within a 19-point margin.

I'd be more optimistic/convinced we deserve what we will have anyway if a double BP is needed and not a must-win

Alistair Dickenson talking to the Scotsman. I like what I'm reading

“The headache that Franco’s got is selection because the strength in depth we’ve got is great, so we can afford to rotate and still have a great team,” said Dickinson. “In yesteryear that was probably the Achilles heel of Scottish rugby, having that strength of depth at club level as well as international. For us, we’ve got loads of great guys to choose from who are playing confident rugby. The boys have worked hard but they are fitter, which helps, plus playing winning rugby helps with morale and that helps get you through. The boys are a lot better conditioned this year than last, we’ve had a little bit of luck with injuries, and that ability to rotate keeps people fresh – because if you keep chucking the same boys out there then they are going to burst at some point. To be fair to the players, they have taken that hard work and just lapped it up.”

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-union/glasgow-warriors-biggest-problem-could-be-who-to-leave-out-as-they-gear-up-for-knockout-finale-4108924

He'd have easily gotten double digit Ireland caps but for that broken arm vs NZ.

If I recall correctly, that was the game Heaslip made the absolute clown move of kneeing McCaw to get sent off.

In fairness we have 4 great options in the 2nd row. Darragh is probably just a bit behind his brother, Dowling and Josh Murphy at the minute. Good options no matter which 3 you pick for any game

Bundee and Mack out due to illness 🤒

Aki and Hansen out due to illness. Butler injured. Kilgallen pretty unfortunate to lose his spot imo.

15. Tiernan O’Halloran (219)

14. John Porch (77)

13. Tom Farrell (96)

12. Cathal Forde (12)

11. Byron Ralston (12)

10. Jack Carty (192) (C)

9. Caolin Blade (167)

1. Denis Buckley (225)

2. Dylan Tierney-Martin (21)

3. Finlay Bealham (186)

4. Oisín Dowling (41)

5. Niall Murray (53)

6. Josh Murphy (15)

7. Conor Oliver (60)

8. Cian Prendergast (44)

16. Eoin de Buitléar (2)

17. Peter Dooley (17)

18. Sam Illo (10)

19. Darragh Murray (8)

20. Shamus Hurley-Langton (16)

21. Kieran Marmion (226)

22. Tom Daly (74)

23. Shane Jennings (3)