I think this time last year it was a done deal, If Robbie isnt considering his options at the moment he would be a very silly man.

The landscape has changed completely and Leinster and Munster have regressed and I really cant see Leinster pulling themselves out of it with Cullen at the helm, no disrespect to Leo but giving him the reins of one of the top teams in Europe without ANY coaching experience was sheer madness.

Robbie can now go to Leinster and stagnate for the next few years and if Connacht keep going in the right direction he will look west on a regular basis and rue the fact that he is not a part of that journey.

Pat I would imagine picks his words carefully, and what im reading into this is that it is far from the done deal that we were led to believe. From the IRFU point of view its a PR nightmare if he goes and its a huge success story for them if he stays.

The tide is slowly turning in this story, 3 months ago id have said 90% gone, today id say its 50 - 50 with Robbie looking long and hard at staying with Connacht as being his best option.

There has definitely been almost a U-turn in the media's reporting of this since we beat Munster. I still think he'll go, it's always sounded to me like he wants to.

Diom wrote: The latest:
www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-...umours-34291383.html

That is very interesting.

Pat has dealt with this whole thing very well from start to finish, placing no public pressure on Robbie. These remarks are very carefully considered (it's not like he's flipped the lid and brought a laptop into a press conference or anything) and he wouldn't be saying this now if he didn't think there was a chance of influencing the outcome.

I also don't think it's possible that Pat could be completely out of the loop. Some of the goings on recently don't paint the IRFU in the greatest of lights, but they're not the FAI. A coach of Pat's quality couldn't be expected to stick around if Leinster and the IRFU had cut him out of dealings with his star player.

I'd go so far as to say that Pat might have been given the okay from on high to come out with this publicly.

I get the impression that this was always being driven by Robbie, and perhaps to lesser extent Leinster (and of course the media, but note the change in tone over the last two weeks).

I'd say the IRFU have always recognized the advantages of him staying at Connacht, and these have become even clearer over the last two or three months.

Similarly the potential disadvantages (PR nightmare, moving from what appears to be a better coaching setup, breaking up of what could potentially be a better center partnership, etc), have become clearer over the past few months.

For the first time in over a year I'm actually a tiny bit optimistic about holding on to him.

Please let this be done soon though.

The latest:
www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-...umours-34291383.html

Mate thinks that this is a sign of the supposed Leinster contract not being etched in blood. Personally I can think of two other scenarios that might explain it though;
1) Pat's not in the loop. It wouldn't surprise me that the IRFU connected media guys (aka the Dublin meeja) have more of an inside line than Pat.
2) Pat's playing an angle. Hoping to keep this highlighted so that the pressure stays on the IRFU to show their support for Connacht if the move goes through.

I'm very pessimistic to be honest. Years of supporting Connacht will do that to you. The ironic thing is that for once one of our stars is in a position to stay because of the rugby rather than the passion.
I will be absolutely thrilled if he decides to stay but the signs auger poorly.

CONN8 wrote: If the slyRFU are looking to the future then then they should keep RH in Connacht, the simple fact that having the best centre partnership in the country in 18 months with Robbie & Bundi and a possibility of a Connacht half back line of Marmion & Carty, that will show consistency in having 9,10,12, & 13 training and playing for the same province.

IRFU can't make him do anything - it's his choice. Don't want a bad -blood scenario like Faleau and WRU debacle. I'm still hopeful he will sign onto Connacht for another 2 Years but it is his call

What has annoyed me about the Transfer Saga is the narrative in the media from the get go has been "Wonder will he go Leinster".. Last year it was "will he move before his contract is up" and now it is "his contract is up end of this year - will he move on".

I vividly remember in the run up to our game against Leinster in the RDS last year the papers were talking about were remarks Cullen said (then just as a coach) about Henshaw;
"Look, he’d obviously be a great player for Leinster to be interested in, whether anything happens on that I don’t know.'"
I mean what a non statement - yet they felt was warranted of writing articles on it
So basically from the off media couldn't comprehend idea off a star player plying his trade out west. Extremely frustrating.

If the slyRFU are looking to the future then then they should keep RH in Connacht, the simple fact that having the best centre partnership in the country in 18 months with Robbie & Bundi and a possibility of a Connacht half back line of Marmion & Carty, that will show consistency in having 9,10,12, & 13 training and playing for the same province.

green13 wrote: www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/robbie-he...eed-to-win-1.2463779

Good read here.
Amazing and heartening how many commentators are in favour of Robbie staying with us, big change from the past attitudes of 'tough, get over it'.

That's only because we are doing so well in the pro 12, if it had been any other season they would not have said that. Winning and doing well is what brings support. They will be clamouring for PL to be the next Irish coach soon.

www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/robbie-he...eed-to-win-1.2463779

Good read here.
Amazing and heartening how many commentators are in favour of Robbie staying with us, big change from the past attitudes of 'tough, get over it'.

I hope RH stays, but if he leaves and its his own decision because that's what he wants, good luck to him and I hope it works out.

If he has to leave because that's what the IRFU want, that's just a massive kick in the nuts for Connacht from the IRFU.

Suggestions in today's Indo that next week is 2016 contract decision time with Nucifora meeting (among others). Let's hope all the hype and innuendo is ill-informed and Robbie does the right thing and signs for us for another two years.

Paul Wallace has a very interesting article on this same issue too, urging Robbie to stay with a club on the up.

Good positive articles from Alan Quinlan and Tony Ward in today's Indo, with Ward strongly suggesting to Robbie that he stays put. On the other hand Thornley in the IT suggests it's a done deal that Robbie goes to Leinster in the midst of an otherwise positive article on Marmion and Pat.

We have to start winning interpros. Would be a huge statement to win today. C'mon Connacht!

Not much to say that hasn't already been said (in a much more insightful and witty way than I could hope to have)! Special mention to Count Furlo, Evil G and Pinky.

Personally I think this appears to be very much media driven, I've already tweeted Off The Ball for their ridiculously biased comments this evening. Even Liam Toland who I've always liked was of the opinion that Leinster are the best outfit in Ireland thus Henshaw has to go there - the mind boggles!

I'm actually really surprised and disappointed that Axel would make comments about Henshaw, a player belonging to another team. Reminiscent of a Harry Redknapp interview.

Look, ultimately if he decides that he wants to move on then best of luck to the fella, he seems like a genuinely nice guy who has worked hard to get where he is and if he feels that he's best served moving somewhere else then that's his decision to make. I only hope the move is based on his motives and not anyone else's. I'll be bitterly disappointed as I'm sure almost every other Connacht fan will be but such is sporting life.

On a positive note, great news re Marmion, I honestly believe that we're blessed with potentially the top two scrum halves in Ireland in he and John Cooney.

Hi Robbie,

Since I'm sure you'll have a read of this at some stage, I'll dispense with the third person and talk to you mano a mano.
First of all, to clear the air, lets deal with the elephant in the room: your performance in the Citylink safety video was utter pants. There, I've said it. In your defence, of the four performers, you were given the worst line. Marmion had his coming out of the jacks gimmick to hide his woodenness and the other two are just naturals. We all know that there is a parallel universe where Jake Heenan is a Hollywood actor, and there is definitely a parallel universe where John Muldoon is a bus driver. But no excuses, you were rubbish.
When it comes to this Rugby playing lark though, it does seem you have something of a talent, and a marketable one at that. The suitors are lining up, as well they might. The lure of the East Coast with its crime rates and its water shortages has been too much to resist for many of your predecessors, and there are few who would begrudge you the opportunity to be compared to Brian O'Driscoll by every fan at every minute of every game.
Hanging about the West has its benefits though; the chance to play outside Sexton every week must be enticing but surely not so promising as the chance to work alongside Bundee Aki, your centre partner at the next two World Cups and a man who was barely off the plane before pledging his desire to die for Connacht. Your co-recipient of Connacht Clan Young Player of the Season 2012-13 has just signed on the dotted line too, and you won't find better coaching this side of Uncle Joe either. Is it better to learn from someone who's been through the wringer and come out a better man, or from one just beginning to squeeze through the rollers oiled by his detractors on the sidelines? And as for the fans, well, modesty forbids ...
To summarise, the Clan and I have been having a bit of a chin-wag, and the upshot of it all is we want you to stay. We won't grovel, at least not much, but we'd really like to see you knocking about the Sportsground for a little bit longer.
So whaddaya say? Will you stick about and win some silver with us? It's been a pretty lean 130 years.

Sincerely

Pinky

Worcester want to give Manu Tualiagi £1.6 million over three years.........forget about Leinster Robbie, if you're planning to leave go to France or England: same chance of winning stuff, good quality competitions, better quality of life and apparently buck loads of cash.

BTW: great news about Marmion, I'm sure he would have had other suitors too so nice to see one of the lads backing the province that helped with his development :lol:

wp_rathead wrote: Impressive how the independent managed to write a full article around Foley going "I wouldn't say no to Henshaw"

I'm sure he wouldn't say no to Beyonce either. Doesn't mean he's pulling in either case.

Marmion staying for another 2 years is a clear message of intent and trust in Pat Lam. the question about Henshaw for me now has swung from 40/60 to 60/40 in favor of him staying