Connacht Squad 2017-2018

RoadRunnerR1 wrote: Is he definitely signing or is this just a rumor. Haven't seen it announced on any news site,

Big fat rumour at the moment.

salmson wrote:
Big fat rumour at the moment.

Rumour like that?
i.ytimg.com/vi/eef7ANMci0g/hqdefault.jpg

Think you should cut down on the kebabs connachta

Conn Not 65 wrote: Think you should cut down on the kebabs connachta

I'm so jealous of Rodney/Dominic, I try my best

RoadRunnerR1 wrote: Is he definitely signing or is this just a rumor. Haven't seen it announced on any news site,

Everything is a rumour until it's on the official Connacht website

Mark Mostyn wrote:

RoadRunnerR1 wrote: Is he definitely signing or is this just a rumor. Haven't seen it announced on any news site,

Everything is a rumour until it's on the official Connacht website

Or as usual, on the departure club website, like Keane, Farrell etc.

www.the42.ie/denis-coulson-connacht-gren...fer-3274223-Mar2017/

This looks like a shrewd signing in an area where we need a bit of depth. We haven't seen Soroka yet due to injury unfortunately. Presume he'll be given a contract to see what he can do. We've McCoy too who we haven't seen much of but who managed to hold his own last Friday and has the right age profile.

Not sure what's the story with Ronan Loughney or JP Cooney. Both have been loyal servants but I'd imagine one or both may depart at the end of the season.

Ivan Soroka came off the bench for Clontarf at the weekend .. Got about 15/20 minutes .. Wasn't there just read up on it on the Irish rugby website

A prop called Denis? Yep, I'm very excited by this signing.

Borders no.2 wrote: This looks like a shrewd signing in an area where we need a bit of depth. We haven't seen Soroka yet due to injury unfortunately. Presume he'll be given a contract to see what he can do. We've McCoy too who we haven't seen much of but who managed to hold his own last Friday and has the right age profile.

Not sure what's the story with Ronan Loughney or JP Cooney. Both have been loyal servants but I'd imagine one or both may depart at the end of the season.

I'd keep Cooney because he played more this season on both sides, did ok, and is still young

Just a personal feeling, but I've never been impressed with Cooney. He struggles to impose himself in games.

Loughney at least has great experience although he seems to be losing some scrummaging power.

Darragh wrote: Just a personal feeling, but I've never been impressed with Cooney. He struggles to impose himself in games.

Loughney at least has great experience although he seems to be losing some scrummaging power.

He'll be 27 in May and has nearly 50 caps so can't really be considered a prospect. But if we have 3 senior looseheads 3 tightheads he would be a good cheap option to cover both sides

I think the myth of a prop that can successfully alternate between TH and LH and vice versa is almost up there with the unicorn. To have any chance of making the knockout stages in Europe and competing to win or at least make the playoffs in the Pro12 every squad needs 3 good LH's and 3 good TH's with decent injury cover coming from the academy/Developement contracts. I think we have that at TH for next year with Bealham, Carey & Robertson McCoy. That could probably mean Saba on a one year developement contract with Conan O'Donnell year 3 of the academy. But we're still missing a LH and I don't know who is promising in terms of the academy/Developement contracts in terms of LH. Soroka has been really unlucky with injuries not to have been able to start once this season. Online video is the only thing to go on but he looks like he has great potential and is probably deserving of a one year developement contract to show what he can do. This still leaves one senior squad LH position to be filled. The only way I can see JP Cooney staying is if he forgets about alternating sides and shows he's good enough to make the grade at LH.

We started the season with 7 senior props (Denis, Finlay, Loughs, Carey, JP, Robertson-McCoy, Soroka) so if we do similar next year it makes sense that at least one be an ambi-prop. I don't think dual sided props are that rare, they were everywhere until an 8th sub was introduced, and with uncontested scrums meaning you lose a man I reckon they're coming back into fashion. We have 2 (Loughs, Finlay) who have propped both sides to great effect, Michael Bent has done so quite well for Leinster after a shaky start, and there are plenty more like the Franks brothers around the world.

salmson wrote: We started the season with 7 senior props (Denis, Finlay, Loughs, Carey, JP, Robertson-McCoy, Soroka) so if we do similar next year it makes sense that at least one be an ambi-prop. I don't think dual sided props are that rare, they were everywhere until an 8th sub was introduced, and with uncontested scrums meaning you lose a man

Mark Mostyn wrote:
He'll be 27 in May and has nearly 50 caps so can't really be considered a prospect. But if we have 3 senior looseheads 3 tightheads he would be a good cheap option to cover both sides

100% agree