Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

I think you miss my point completely. His lack of performance is his petulance

Then why single Bundee out? Everyone else bar Prendergast didn’t preform either.

Bundee was pretty dreadful for Connacht last season and it Was pretty well documented that there was issues with the coaching staff. There’s a completely new coaching staff bar Wilkins who signed off on a new contract for Bundee.

Im gonna guess that the off field issues last year have been resolved. Bundee is Connachts best ever player. No way should he be written off after one game where the whole team was dreadful.

I am going to so so so strongly suggest that the off field issues with Bundee, which have been ongoing far too long, are in no way resolved and are causing a major rift within the camp. But what would I know😀

Interesting seeing Dylan Tierney Martin playing for Garryowen yesterday

Afaik senior provincial players can't play AIL 2A or lower.

That loss without bonus points, and so many bonus points elsewhere in our group, means that Europe is effectively over for us.

Watching the other games I was reminded of the old poker saying:

If you can't spot the sucker in your first 10 minutes at the table then it's you

And all of the other teams in our group look better than us and even 2 wins may not be enough. The reduced number of games prem clubs are playing and the increase depth of talent in France means we're up against it. That doesn't mean our performance against Bordeaux is OK, or that we can't compete, it just means we have to be in top form to even be in the mix and we were far from that on Friday.

Watching the Sale Stade game now; the French are not waving the white flag at these away games anymore, which is great for the competition if not us.

Correct

I watched world 7's SF in Cape Town. Ireland was beaten by Argentina(19-26). After it, they was beaten by Fiji(7-14),so they were in 4th place. In the SF, Jennings(starter) and Mullins(off the bench) both stood out. Mullins got 2 tries in the short time. They both maybe will be regular members at Paris olympics. I hope to them retturn to Connacht 15th after Olympic games (next summer). They looked better than Smith and Mcnamara at the SF. Both two has big size with power, speed and agility enough. Maybe Connacht will get strongest backs in 4 provinces. 9 Devine, Blade 10 ,Forde, Hawkshaw 11Kilgallen, Smith 12 Jennings, Daly 13 Farrel, Bolton !4 Porch, Ralston 15 Mullins, McNulty (O'Connor) and Hansen (some place) I cannot wait their playing.

Haven’t seen the 7s this year but good to hear Jennings and Mullins impressing. Expecting them both to be important for Connacht moving forward. TBH wouldn’t be surprised to see Jennings involved over the next few weeks with Mack, TOH and Cordero out injured.

Just on Smith and McNamara last season, Smith looked class at 7s. There’s a lot of potential with him in 15s. He still looks very raw but give him a year or two to adjust.

I have a feeling Farrell is injured. Would certainly have been involved the last few weeks if he wasn’t.

Id nearly go 10 Carty 12 Bundee 13 Forde this week and give Forde the kicking tee.

Really don't understand how anyone can realistically think Connacht can beat Saracens away from home. Both sides will be smarting after last weekend but it would be a gigantic leap of faith to see Connacht overturn the English champions on their own patch.

Completely disagree with this. Bordeaux were very good, and much better than most expected them to be, but Connacht had so many visits to their 22 throughout the game and only came away with 5 points. Poor lineout throws, poor mauls, lack of set-piece moves all contributed to Connacht's lack of scores here. An in-form Connacht team scores at least two more tries. They may still have lost but it would have been a much closer game. Also, team selection! Carty would have been a way better choice to play 10. Much better kicker from hand and would have kicked more than Hanrahan did. Anyway, the manner of the loss is what has people most upset. The team are devoid of confidence and that speaks volumes about the coaching staff.

So Donnacha Callaghan laying into Connacht for losing to a French side which came fully stacked to the Sportsground, meanwhile Munster draw against a half-stacked Bayonne team. Not sure which performance was worse.

They don't need to beat Saracens away. Bonus points will do. Four tries and finish within seven points will do.

I know that'll be very difficult but it's what they have to aim for.

If we pick JJ or Jack for next game then what have we learnt. Only what we already know. And what we know is that neither are leading us anywhere. Which is why I just simply am at a loss when I witness comments that suggest we play Jack vs Sarries. What is the point? What will this achieve that we don't already know? It's just completely pointless.