FACECUTTR wrote: Are we sufficiently covered at centre now he who shall not be mentioned has left ? I know Griffin is coming in. Are we tight in other areas and of course do we need a 10 with Carthy being inconsistent ?

Noel Reid, completely underestimated, best passer in league IMO. Must be cheesed off in Leinster, will never get a cap there, Connacht makes sense.

Are we sufficiently covered at centre now he who shall not be mentioned has left ? I know Griffin is coming in. Are we tight in other areas and of course do we need a 10 with Carthy being inconsistent ?

RogueXV wrote:

pinky wrote:

connachta wrote: The area of concern, as I predicted in August, is n°10

You predicted the water slide thing?

Personally, I had him down as doing his hand in while cutting a bagel, but ruptured spleen in Dubai was definitely in my top 5.

Apparently Ed Slater's new nickname at Leicester is "Yeast Mode".

pinky wrote:

connachta wrote: The area of concern, as I predicted in August, is n°10

You predicted the water slide thing?

Personally, I had him down as doing his hand in while cutting a bagel, but ruptured spleen in Dubai was definitely in my top 5.

Of course, it was obviously happening.
More seriously, I've predicted that we would be in trouble with only one senior outhalf, at one time or another.
Now he's out, Ronaldson played nearly all his games in centre position, and O'Leary is injured too.
Hopefully Lam recruited McGinty, but there are doubts to estimate if he's able to be consistent enough for Munster, Leinster, Glasgow etc..

connachta wrote: The area of concern, as I predicted in August, is n°10

You predicted the water slide thing?

menacethedenis wrote: From Linley's match preview in the Advertiser yesterday in case ye missed it:

Aside from Carty's unfortunate accident and a hamstring injury to Shane O'Leary, there is good news on the injury front. Flanker Sean O'Brien should be returning after following concussion protocols, Jason Harris Wright has been cleared to play (concussion ), and prop JP Cooney featured for Garryowen last weekend after shoulder injury in October. John Cooney is looking to be ready for the Ospreys fixture, lock Ben Marshall is being reviewed by the surgeon with a possible return next week, Andrew Browne is possibly two/three weeks recovering from shoulder injury, Quinn Roux is another three/four weeks away, while Ciaran Caffney is close to a return following a use fracture playing for the Eagles.

We're full-strengh for props, very close to be for 2nd row and S-H
Full back is ok now, waiting for Henshaw.
The area of concern, as I predicted in August, is n°10
Still question about picking McGinty or Ronaldson, and then one injury and it's Conor McKeon. Hope he has done a lot a trainnig sessions with the senior squad..

Keeping Muldowney for the next 2/3 seasons is becoming more and more important

From Linley's match preview in the Advertiser yesterday in case ye missed it:

Aside from Carty's unfortunate accident and a hamstring injury to Shane O'Leary, there is good news on the injury front. Flanker Sean O'Brien should be returning after following concussion protocols, Jason Harris Wright has been cleared to play (concussion ), and prop JP Cooney featured for Garryowen last weekend after shoulder injury in October. John Cooney is looking to be ready for the Ospreys fixture, lock Ben Marshall is being reviewed by the surgeon with a possible return next week, Andrew Browne is possibly two/three weeks recovering from shoulder injury, Quinn Roux is another three/four weeks away, while Ciaran Caffney is close to a return following a use fracture playing for the Eagles.

Did you notice Ian Nagle has just signed a short-term deal wiith London Irish? Might worth a close look..

Accidentally Onside wrote: Marcell Coetzee goes to Ulster on a 3 year deal, great for the pro 12 to have such a big name coming in but really shows how the other Irish teams are fishing in completely different ponds than we are when it comes to players :blush:

They also signed our third choice tighthead though.

While Ulster (Coetzee and Piutau) are certainly making big name signings (possibly the strength of sterling lately is helping them), I wouldn't say our foreign signings are any worse than Leinster or Munster's. Leinster have Triggs, Kirchner (meh), and an aging Nacewa, Munster have sundry journeymen, the 50 year old Botha and that Argos Bundee fella.

As for Ulster their depth is probably worse than ours in a lot of positions. With Williams leaving, they really are still short at least one top backrow to go alongside Henry and Coetzee (anyone suggesting Diack, go stand in the corner until home-time). They had to bring in lads from an impossibly bad London Welsh side to pad out their squad, and they have the fewest of any province in the current under 20s squad.

Money isn't the only, or even a guaranteed, route to success. Ask Bath.

Marcell Coetzee goes to Ulster on a 3 year deal, great for the pro 12 to have such a big name coming in but really shows how the other Irish teams are fishing in completely different ponds than we are when it comes to players :blush:

Spot on lads Connacht Cows and Seapoint.
It would be great to have the three lads signed up. Ally has been a great signing and would probably have got a call from Joe if he was a few years younger.
Ive great time for Jake. His a nice lad and an outstanding wing forwards just the right balance of a tough B*****D and having the class to do the job. I think if he stays injury free he will be the best 7 in the country. No joke his got the game in him to make it.

I basically agree with what SeaPoint said.

Ally and his wife do seem to enjoy Galway, and with the way he is currently playing, I can't see us not offering him a new contract, unless we have another Craig Clarke to be announced (My prediction - 2years)

I heard a story about Jake over the weekend. No idea how true it is. A man in a pub, with a pint told me (and I think he said he reads this forum as well). He said that Jake's Dad has moved to Ireland as well, and lives in Galway. I have no reason not to believe what I was told. This is good news. If we can tie Jake down to another 3 year deal, and have him and Fox alternating, I think we're covered at this position.
(Prediction - 3yr contract. The surgery he had in May, looks to have been more severe than all of his previous shoulder surgery. I'm hoping that this is the one that puts these problems behind him)

Craig - I think we will tie him down for another 2 years, unless an Englise 2nd ties team offers him a deal. Can't see another Irish province poaching him this season

salmson wrote:

ConnachtCows wrote: Am I correct in saying that we havent heard anything about new contracts for Aly, Jake or Craig?
Would be great to see them all extend their stay. They could announce all three contracts on the same day Robbie announces that he's staying

Jake said in recent interviews he's playing for a new contract at Connacht - "I am off contract at the end of this year, and that's something that once I get a few more games under my belt we will be working through."
www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-...-again-34405190.html

Aly has kids in school in Galway, seems settled, so I'd be hopeful he'll be signing a new contract soon.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/european-...-on-sunday-1.2067548

I'd imagine Craig would have interest from elsewhere.

Aly's 33 at the start of next season, so I'd say if Connacht cam in with a two year contract he'd jump at it. He's been excellent these last two season, leading the lineout and his general contribution around the field. But his form and the fact that he's a leader should make him attractive to other clubs too.

Jake should have no worries although he may find that the new contact is slightly shorter due to his injury history and the form of Nepia before he got crocked. I'd be surprised if he's not back with a two year deal though as well. I'm sure if we don't lock him in there are loads of clubs ready to gamble on him given what they have seen when he's been fit.

Craig's utility will see him retained, not sure who out there in the market and at the price is a better option and that provides as much cover....