Connacht 2021/22

[dropkick]

Adamson calling a high tackle for what was very clearly not despite having the advantage of a number of replays.

Didn't see the match but he's a poor ref. Melts under pressure.


I have been very impressed by the Georgian ref so far.

Best Scottish ref is Hollie Davidson

Best to look at anyway.

[Dexter]

Adamson calling a high tackle for what was very clearly not despite having the advantage of a number of replays.

Didn't see the match but he's a poor ref. Melts under pressure.


I have been very impressed by the Georgian ref so far.

Best Scottish ref is Hollie Davidson

It's a very low bar.

[Morf]

Adamson calling a high tackle for what was very clearly not despite having the advantage of a number of replays.

Didn't see the match but he's a poor ref. Melts under pressure.


I have been very impressed by the Georgian ref so far.

Best Scottish ref is Hollie Davidson

She's had a few shaky moments on her technical application of the laws but seems to have a good feel for the game.

[the spoofer]

Didn't see the match but he's a poor ref. Melts under pressure.


I have been very impressed by the Georgian ref so far.

Best Scottish ref is Hollie Davidson

It's a very low bar.

We aren’t in a great position to talk!

[Dexter]

Best Scottish ref is Hollie Davidson

It's a very low bar.

We aren’t in a great position to talk!

Ha yeah very true!

[sunshiner1]

Buccs have returned to AIL 1B. That will be a help to the Connacht academy with players next year been able to get a higher level of team to play against.

[ronk]

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-r ... players-4/

[sunshiner1]

OUT: Greg McGrath (Tighthead, TBC), Dominic Robertson-McCoy (Tighthead, TBC), Tietie Tuimauga (Tighthead, Colomiers), Jonny Murphy (Hooker, TBC), Ultan Dillane (Lock, La Rochelle), Eoghan Masterson (Back row, TBC), Abraham Papali'i (Back row, Brive), Sammy Arnold (Centre, Brive), Peter Robb (Centre, TBC), Matt Healy (Back 3, retiring), Ben O'Donnell (Back 3, TBC), Peter Sullivan (Back 3, TBC)

Surprised and dismayed he is leaving. Wondering if he's off to Scotland? Also three TH's?!? WTF is Friend thinking. There is none in the academy and Illo is now third choice with minutes of senior gametime.

[betty swallocks]

OUT: Greg McGrath (Tighthead, TBC), Dominic Robertson-McCoy (Tighthead, TBC), Tietie Tuimauga (Tighthead, Colomiers), Jonny Murphy (Hooker, TBC), Ultan Dillane (Lock, La Rochelle), Eoghan Masterson (Back row, TBC), Abraham Papali'i (Back row, Brive), Sammy Arnold (Centre, Brive), Peter Robb (Centre, TBC), Matt Healy (Back 3, retiring), Ben O'Donnell (Back 3, TBC), Peter Sullivan (Back 3, TBC)

Surprised and dismayed he is leaving. Wondering if he's off to Scotland? Also three TH's?!? WTF is Friend thinking. There is none in the academy and Illo is now third choice with minutes of senior gametime.

There is one more signing in the works apparently, which is likely to be a TH.

[mildlyinterested]

Mack Hanses staying until 2025.

[Keith]

OUT: Greg McGrath (Tighthead, TBC), Dominic Robertson-McCoy (Tighthead, TBC), Tietie Tuimauga (Tighthead, Colomiers), Jonny Murphy (Hooker, TBC), Ultan Dillane (Lock, La Rochelle), Eoghan Masterson (Back row, TBC), Abraham Papali'i (Back row, Brive), Sammy Arnold (Centre, Brive), Peter Robb (Centre, TBC), Matt Healy (Back 3, retiring), Ben O'Donnell (Back 3, TBC), Peter Sullivan (Back 3, TBC)

Surprised and dismayed he is leaving. Wondering if he's off to Scotland? Also three TH's?!? WTF is Friend thinking. There is none in the academy and Illo is now third choice with minutes of senior gametime.

There is one more signing in the works apparently, which is likely to be a TH.

Surely there will be more than just one TH signing. Could be worth looking at Ben Griffin, who I thought looked good in both the AIL final and the game against Leinster A, along with a more experienced option.

[blockhead]

16 Leinster boys in the 44 man Connacht squad announced for next season

[sunshiner1]

by betty swallocks » May 11th, 2022, 12:06 pm


There is one more signing in the works apparently, which is likely to be a TH.

I saw that. I also saw that they are combing through the market which makes me believe they have no one lined up or whoever they did fell through. You can see on the boards a lot of people are getting frustrated with Friend and I can't blame them. I understand that the budget has been slashed but some of his signings/letting go are hard to understand.

[dropkick]

by betty swallocks » May 11th, 2022, 12:06 pm


There is one more signing in the works apparently, which is likely to be a TH.

I saw that. I also saw that they are combing through the market which makes me believe they have no one lined up or whoever they did fell through. You can see on the boards a lot of people are getting frustrated with Friend and I can't blame them. I understand that the budget has been slashed but some of his signings/letting go are hard to understand.

I can understand what friend is doing. Most of those released are fringe players. He has to gamble on youth and unknowns to hope to find quality.

[sunshiner1]

Connacht 22 Zebre 20 - Someone desperately needs to teach Alex Wootton how to defend because he cost Connacht two trys today.

[berliner]

Connacht 22 Zebre 20 - Someone desperately needs to teach Alex Wootton how to defend because he cost Connacht two trys today.

with Adam Byrne's arrival, things are going to get a lot more competitive in the back three. Porch will be free to play more at fullback (also covered by McNulty and TOH). Hansen may also get more games at 15, but otherwise the 11 jersey is his. Unless Alex tightens his defence, he's only going to start occasionally. Hopefully that will motivate him, he's a great finisher, but his effort level defensively wasn't ok.

[leinster155]

by betty swallocks » May 11th, 2022, 12:06 pm


There is one more signing in the works apparently, which is likely to be a TH.

I saw that. I also saw that they are combing through the market which makes me believe they have no one lined up or whoever they did fell through. You can see on the boards a lot of people are getting frustrated with Friend and I can't blame them. I understand that the budget has been slashed but some of his signings/letting go are hard to understand.

I can understand what friend is doing. Most of those released are fringe players. He has to gamble on youth and unknowns to hope to find quality.

I have been keeping an eye on connacht and their underage/ academy/sub academy. This time last year they had roughly 8 players in the sub academy. All have been cut since. I have heard that they gave academy contracts to two u19 players from last year. Harry West ( Outhalf) and John Devine ( centre). Two stand outs from last years u19 interpro series. These two by passing sub academy. So they are producing players who they have faith in and thats great to see, pity they cant produce at the rate of other provinces. But still no TH in sight in sub/academy.

[sunshiner1]

Eoghan Masterson off to Aurillac in France. 2 year deal with the option of a 3rd

[berliner]

Eoghan Masterson off to Aurillac in France. 2 year deal with the option of a 3rd

Fantastic news. Of those departing, Masterson was the one who i felt had been most hard done by.

Elsewhere, the absence of any news regarding a TH prop is a bit worrying, particularly given the fact that Ulster have just signed an NIQ.

[Morf]

A loan coming Connact's way perhaps?