Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

"Connacht have made enquiries about signing Sam Prendergast on loan for next season but with Leinster reluctant to acquiesce a decision now rests with the IRFU and the player."

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/2024/05/21/connacht-look-to-sign-sam-prendergast-on-loan-from-leinster/

Thornley reporting it means this could be real.

Normally, i'd say a loan deal at this stage of his career is simply a bad deal for connacht as its more of a dev stage than a production stage. However, with his family connection, maybe a year to convince him could work.

Especially, if next year is the last year of his current deal. No one outside leinster, the player, his agent and the irfu would know that though.

I'm very much for this. As they say in the movies: let's see what the kid has

I think the move would suit everyone, most of all him, but will believe it when I see it. He'll certainly learn how tough pro rugby can be playing with us!

One thing I noted from the weekend; Stormers can be very pleased with how they conducted themselves both on and off the pitch. Loads of them stayed around to clap off the leaving players and Manie Libbock, in particular, was happy to have pictures and chats with anyone who wanted it and I've seen plenty of lesser players being too big time to act the same way, plenty of them irish too.

It basically depends on his contract status. If next year is his last year, you get an entire year to pitch him on in staying at comnacht. If its not, yea i'd pass.

It's very obvious we need an out half and even for a year Prendergast would obviously improve us but if I was Leinster I wouldn't be placing the development of a future Irish 10 in the hands of Pete Wilkins. Prendergast really should be backing himself for a proper breakthrough at Leinster next year.

The statement released last week seemed to indicate the 43 man squad was the finalised squad for 24/25.

Maybe they're hoping the young lads in the academy will step up at 10 which would be incredibly risky given their lack of senior experience and lack of experience of those around them. Throwing them into a struggling side short of leadership and ideas is a surefire way to stymie their growth.

It could be all paper talk on Prendergast but either way the recruitment process looks more and more haphazard as it plays out.

I can assure you, as a Leinster fan with Ross Byrne at 10 the week of a champions cup final, nobody at leinster wants Sam Prendergast to learn to sit in the pocket and play like Ross. That's a major part of what limits Ross.

I'm ambivalent about Prendergast going to Connacht for a year. Generally I'd be fine with it. He'd get more minutes and far more responsibility at Connacht next season than leinster. And Connacht needs cover since JJ's knee injury. So it could make a lot of sense for both teams.

I'd be concerned that the coaching wouldn't be as good (not bad, just not as good).

We'd want him back at the end of the tear so don't get any ideas about waving contracts at him…

If it worked out it could set a good precedent of short term loaning players between provinces in times of need, to strengthen the provinces and Ireland. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

I think we agree the way Ross came through he was going to be limited in the way he plays… He was mainly used for the URC fodder teams, Leinster 2nd string need not get out of 3rd gear…

Sam at Connacht would get a full blooded introduction to professional rugby… He would have to grasp the first string jersey (which he good enough to do) lead a team… Something I think Frawley should been sent to do on maybe a two year loan previously.

As for coaching, generally (i.e. before this season) I would say the care and attention Connacht makes with players is actually higher than in Leinster. They have to get you performing because there might be no one else. More weeks as being the starting position gives you more time invested in you… You are constantly learning how to be a starter (big for 10s)..

This season's coaching ticket seemed to struggle a bit, inconsistent selection, player's seemed to struggle to know what each are doing, attack which lacked direction, lost 3-4 games in the last play of the game, forwards are not at the same standard as last year… Defence has been good for long periods and then just falls apart at times (collective lack knowing what to do). Discipline is the best in the league.

Team has seemed to lost a step in the last year, we expect better.

One thing Sam will be coming into, is a young side… Connacht have a number of young players coming into their backline..

IIt's Not when the loan gets prendetgqst more game time. Hawkshead is irrelevant to this discussion. They would not be losing him because Connacht are anything dudinusa. Connacht need someone because of long term injury to a senior 10 and prendergast needs lot of game time and a move would help that

Are there any rumours out there about how long his leinster contract is?

If both expire at same time it gets very interesting.

Yea, if it doesn't, leinster should offer him an extension now anyway.

Yes the biggest advantage of the move would be the full blooded game experience.

And I'm excited about that you have exciting young lads coming through O' Reily, Forde, Jennings and Gavin. I love that for Connacht. I'd probably like Prendergast to play with some experienced tacticians too though.

I can tell by the cut of you you're thinking you can entice him to stay beyond a year. Be honest

He's got all the qualities needed. My guess is Carty gets lessions on his arse from riding the bench.

What's Prendergast going to learn from the Connacht coaching set up? They're clueless. What was Hawkshaw signed for? Is Naughton invisible?

Carty will be out of contract in 2025 and you have to imagine if he wasn't renewed that you'd be saving serious wages from there immediately. The urgency to even bring in Prendergast is because of how badly he's been playing for 2 seasons (being generous to him).

I'd see Prendergast only leaving Leinster temporarily and they'd surely roll out all the stops to make sure he was offered an extension before any loan. But that's not to say Connacht couldn't put potential Carty wages into signing a first choice outhalf. Carty getting a 3 year deal a couple of years back was insanity from Ruane and co.

I noticed that also. They came around to all the traveling fans and took pictures with them. Nice touch. We went in for dinner in the Huntsman before the game and I was really surprised to see how many SA folks were there. Good for them. I liked that