Pat will "use the squad"

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-...-clash-30806759.html

One year ago today... Toulouse 14-16 Connacht

Ha!

www.joe.ie/sport/video-the-connacht-team...lly-brilliant/477739

15 forwards, 5 backs, John knows his scrum better :lol:

Irish Times, Keith Duggan: Robbie Henshaw set to to return for Connacht in Pro12 clash with Leinster

Connacht coach Pat Lam is targeting the visit to Leinster in the Guinness Pro 12 on December 19th to reintroduce centre Robbie Henshaw to the side, as he offered a broad hint following Tuesday’s training session that he would rest some regular starters for Saturday’s European Challenge Cup match against Bayonne.

“The key thing for us is that the Pro 12 is our main competition and that parks now for two weeks. We have put ourselves in a great position – top six with five points covering six teams. We have Leinster, Ulster and Munster to finish the year off. But now we have Europe.

Irish Independent, Daragh Small: Henshaw's hip injury is a blow for Connacht's hopes

For the last two games Dave McSharry and Bundee Aki have covered the two centre positions in the team and Lam believes the versatility of his backs is essential when they are trying to cover for key men like Henshaw.

"Robbie is an outside-centre who can play inside centre and full-back. Bundee is an inside-centre who can play outside-centre. There is a lot of versatility in our backs when it comes to selection," added Lam, who pointed out that Mils Muliaina and Darragh Leader are two other players who can cover the back five positions as well.

Meanwhile, Lam believes that tight-head prop Nathan White could be fit again for Ireland's Six Nations campaign.

"It has been three or four weeks since he had his surgery. He is due back at the end of January.

"Hopefully if things go right he will be there possibly for the La Rochelle game or he could be available for the Ireland Wolfhounds," added Lam.

Gerry Thornley speaking about Munster, but leaves space for a few lines about Connacht as well

www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/even-muns...or-granted-1.2021941

i've posted a link to the Article on the IRFU Facebook page

ConnachtCows wrote: Tony Ward loves Connacht 4eva

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-...enshaw-30789794.html

Nice work out of Tony!

Tony Ward loves Connacht 4eva

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-...enshaw-30789794.html

A Connacht player on the Telegraph's Autumn Internationals' World XV:

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/int....html#?frame=3123442

Pinch of salt notice: Robshaw picked ahead of McCaw.

Johnny O'Connor on the scarlets match

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-...season-30779848.html

Another article about Robbie but this time its about trying to silence transfer talk

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/guinness-...enshaw-30780913.html

Nice interview with Buckley in the score.


www.thescore.ie/denis-buckley-connacht-1804286-Nov2014/

More of it, from David Wallace this time. It's disgraceful really, if an ex-Connacht player was in the media talking about a current Leinster or Munster player there'd be outrage.


www.sportsjoe.ie/rugby/david-wallace-mun...-robbie-henshaw/3756

Pat Lam interview



www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pat-lam-f...ds-in-west-1.2017889

Henshaw is obviously dedicated enough that he was willing to sign up with Connacht when Leinster may have been sniffing around while he was still academy. He's of course a far better player now than he was then though.

Its up to Connacht as a whole to make themselves attractive to Henshaw, Marmion, Leader, Buckley, etc when their contract renewals are up. Lam is pushing the message that Connacht are improving and the players have bought into it thus far. The coaches and players are building a team ethos and if that continues then they will want to stay.

There's also the negative experiences of Carr, Hagan, Keatley and even Jones to an extent, that will serve as cautionary tales. If our players move to another province then they have to prove themselves all over again, and they'll just be one of the new guys. It has taken Keatley ages to establish himself in the opinions of fans and journos at Munster and of course it took a last minute drop goal in the Heineken to move some of the people who were holding out. Others will just never accept him, and wait for JJ to surpass him.

The real issue is Henshaw is out of contract in 2016
As a "coincidence" the same for Teo..
So how Connacht will keep him.. This year we may qualify for HCup, but next ...
Except if Schmidt intervenes as a Green hero...