Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Sean Jansen wins try of the round for his opening try against Lyon

I'd agree about Aungier. But for Oli Jager he might have been in the conversation for that training slot callup. Like it or not Jager was very likely to be brought in after Munster bringing him back from NZ.

I also think his recent lack of minutes might hurt him too. Only 40 mins across the Christmas interpros, then falling ill when he was likely to get 60+ minutes against Lyon. He could have put down a big marker in France by locking down the scrum.

Disappointed for Prendergast. It's hard to shine in an underperforming side. He has time on his side.

I don't get Timoneys inclusion. I like him as a player but I'd happily have Hodnet, Prendergast, Connors, Ahern, Penny, Deegan or Combes in there ahead of him. No disrespect intended, Timoney is decent enough and won't let anyone down but can't help feeling there's a touch of politics in that one.

Otherwise a fairly predictable selection.

On Aungier, let's remember that Salanoa was the next man in before Jager arrived and if anyone suggested we let Aungier go and sign Salanoa I'd think they were proper nuts. Aungier should be very close to that panelist 🙄 set up imo

https://www.google.com/search?q=definition+of+underperforming&oq=definition+of+underperforming+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIKCAEQABgPGBYYHjIICAIQABgWGB4yCAgDEAAYFhgeMgwIBBAAGAoYDxgWGB4yDQgFEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgGEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgHEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgIEAAYhgMYgAQYigXSAQg5NzYzajBqN6gCALACAA&client=ms-android-oppo-rvo3&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8&chrome_dse_attribution=1#sbfbu=1&pi=definition%20of%20underperforming

"Many players play so poorly" is that not what underperforming is? If those many players played less poorly then we wouldn't be underperforming 😁

I agree on a NIQ loosehead and 10 but with both JJ and Jack still under contract it's hard to see another coming in. I don't think either 10s are good enough for starters but either could be kept as back up next season. Harry Byrne would be a fantastic option but he has gotten in to the Irish squad where he is so I doubt he is an option. Tector would be a good pick up. What's the story with West ? Would be nice to see what level he is at. Fullback needed too as TOH seems to be picking up a lot of injuries. He started the season well which is a shame.

It's great to see Tiernan back fit. He may be at the tail end of his career but our backfield is much better managed when he's on the pitch.

Niall Murray finally gets a start too. He'll be trying to impose himself on the game and prove to the coaches that he's been underused this season.

Tierney-Martin has had injury issues, at the moment something with the neck which has kept him out last week and this.

McElroy has just worked out well, and in some weird way, this is not a huge surprise. It's ironic that he was to come to Connacht years ago, opted for Saracens, got dropped from the Irish U20s as a result - a lot of drama. And then he ends up back here with us after all. Is ait an mac an saol.

The player who has actually suffered in this scenario though is Eoin de Buitléar, he signed a pro contract last year and has had a grand total of fifteen minutes this season...

Good few changes again this week, good to see Niall Murray getting an opportunity and Tiernan back should help shore up the back field cover a bit.

Few strange calls for me besides. I know we don't see the full list of knocks etc but Thornbury I thought we might see involved again after being brought back in over the Christmas period and Farrell again who for me is by far our best 13 plays a game and then seems to not be in the squad for the next game, maybe he is carrying injuries too. I don't know offhand but Id wager we have had an awful lot of different pairings in the center this season.

Yeah jettisoned was too strong a word. My point was more that the long contract indicates to me that he is or was extremely highly rated by the coaching staff, and even the fact that he is sharing minutes with a short term signing is notable. When the decision was made to release Delahunt, the plan would have been for DTM to take his place in the depth chart, as the McElroy deal was not completed until much later. Of course there is always the chance for a player to increase their standing through particularly impressive performances, for example I doubt any depth chart would have projected Cian Prendergast to become a starter while still in the academy. I don't think that's happened here though, to my eye McElroy has been decent but not a standout. I do like his abrasiveness but his darts are some way below the required standard.

It's not a big deal, just something I would note as what I'd interpret as a wider pattern of odd selections, along with the banishment of Matthew Burke, release of Shane Delahunt, non-selection of Niall Murray, and constant rotation in the back row, at out half, and on the wing. I feel like we rotate to the point that we don't have an identifiable first choice team or depth chart.

How many different pairings have we had this season at centre

He's been mentioned in another couple of posts since but I'll just quote this one.

DTM picked up a neck injury during the warmup in Lyon. Given that we have both McElroy and Heff fit I don't see any reason to risk a reoccurance six days later.

If it wasn't for that DTM would have 50-60 mins against Lyon and a decent chance of benching this week.

Niall Murray is a strange one. It seems that they're pushing Daragh at Niall's expense.

Is there any movement on the Sportsground redevelopment? I remember read early last month they got another 10m & it were targeting 25/26 season for the new stand.