wp_rathead wrote:

sligsup wrote: I have read a few rumour re an IQ 13 beginning training with Connacht tomorrow. Has anyone heard or read anything similar?

What's the rules around registering players for the CC? We have added Dawai and Ili so far-we allowed add this new lad?

Ili was signed a month before the first European game so was in the initial squad. Three replacements including one front row are allowed. So far only Dawai was added, Andress will obviously be added, that leaves one more slot.

Edit: case by case additional changes apply for front rows to avoid uncontested scrums. Last year we ran short of backs (plus ca change) so only named 2 on the bench for Newcastle away. We did manage to round up 5 fit sub forwards.

wp_rathead wrote:

sligsup wrote: I have read a few rumour re an IQ 13 beginning training with Connacht tomorrow. Has anyone heard or read anything similar?

What's the rules around registering players for the CC? We have added Dawai and Ili so far-we allowed add this new lad?

I'm not sure because I remember last season there was one game we only had 7 on the bench due to injuries . Is it a case by case basis???

sligsup wrote: I have read a few rumour re an IQ 13 beginning training with Connacht tomorrow. Has anyone heard or read anything similar?

What's the rules around registering players for the CC? We have added Dawai and Ili so far-we allowed add this new lad?

I have read a few rumour re an IQ 13 beginning training with Connacht tomorrow. Has anyone heard or read anything similar?

For the games we'd need a prop in like the interpros and Europe the step up from AIL would be too big unless there is a prop literally beasting every LH around him for fun.

If it was a sequence of matches during the 6 nations it would be a different situation

Can someone answer me this!

John Andress is recruited into Connacht as emergency cover on a short term basis after retiring due to injury

Why couldn't we get a prop from the AIL? Is there really that big of a difference in standard that a crocked retiree is better than an AIL top 5 team prop?

Or is the reality that a AIL prop not attached to a province has better things to do like a 9 to 5 job and his AIL club is more important?

WillieMason wrote: Talk of Connacht looking at Johnny Fa'auli as cover for bundee next season

Don't see it happening, career on an upward curve after being announced as one of four centres on Chiefs Super Rugby squad for 2017..
Usually Kiwi players leave in mid twenty's if pathway to Super Rugby/AB';s Jersey is blocked, don't see him going anywhere before summer 2020 really

files.allblacks.com/comms/2016-ISR/2017_...efs-PUBLISHED-01.pdf

Chiefs Rugby" wrote: MIDFIELD BACKS
Fa’ase’e (Johnny) Fa’auli
Anton Lienert-Brown
Tim Nanai-Williams
Charlie Ngatai

FA’ASE’E (JOHNNY) FA’AULI
POSITION: Midfield Back
PHYSICAL: 1.80m, 103kg
DATE OF BIRTH: 13.9.95

SUPER RUGBY GAMES: 0
SUPER RUGBY POINTS: N/A
SUPER RUGBY DEBUT: N/A

PROVINCE: Taranaki
PROVINCIAL CAPS: 10
PROVINCIAL POINTS: 15 (3t)
PROVINCIAL DEBUT: 2016 v Bay of Plenty at Tauranga
TEST CAPS: 0
TEST POINTS: N/A
TEST DEBUT: N/A

THE CHIEFS SAY:
A new face in the backline for 2017, Johnny
enters the Chiefs environment off the back of an
impressive season with Taranaki in the Mitre 10
Cup

Any source ?

WillieMason wrote: Talk of Connacht looking at Johnny Fa'auli as cover for bundee next season

Where's the talk coming from?

Not heard of him before but a quick google suggests he's certainly a player on the up, making the Cheifs squad for Super rugby after just two years of NPC is pretty impressive. This video would suggest that running straight at him is not something you'd do more than once either:
www.worldrugbyvids.com/index.php/2016/10...-hard-hitting-12-nz/

Talk of Connacht looking at Johnny Fa'auli as cover for bundee next season

Munster had one NIQ centre (Saili) with a long term injury out of god knows how many centre's fit & available butvthe IRFU still allowed them sign another NIQ centre as temporary cover (Taute). Two NIQ players in the same position in a team is a direct contravention of the IRFU's own rule but permission was given on the basis that the replacement NIQ player (Taute) only be allowed stay until the contracted NIQ player (Saili) was fit to return to play. Then last week the IRFU tore up their own rule book and allow both NIQ players stay and play for Munster for the rest of the season.

Connacht now have all four 10's currently injured and unavailable for selection, the latest (Carty) injured while on Ireland duty. Their NIQ 10 (Borshoff) will be out until March at the earliest. Common sense says they were entitled to the same understanding that Munster got (i.e. to bring in a NIQ player (Mitch Lam) as temporary cover until their contracted NIQ player (Borshoff) was fit to return to play in March. However they requested a lot less leniency i.e. only for permission to sign Mitch Lam until they get their IQ 10's (Carty, Ronaldson, O'Leary) fit in late Jan. or Feb. but were still refused permission.

Remember also that Mitch Lam was prepared to play for free at not cost to Irish Rugby while Munster are now paying two Marquee NIQ players at great cost to Irish Rugby while the IRFU admitted this summer that Munster Rugby is no longer able to make repayments on the €9 Million it owes to the IRFU and to Irish Rugby and as a consequence Connacht, Leinster & Ulster will have to make do with less Money from the IRFU until that changes.

Munster have the IRFU over a barrel due the still unpaid €9 million outstanding on the loan for Thomond park. A successful Munster team & a sold out Thomond park is the only way they see of recouping any of the money owed so expect far more favoritism be shown to Munster in the foreseeable future while this debt continues to go unpaid.

Connacht however don't owe €9 million to the IRFU so are therefore not entitled to one iota of consideration no matter how bad the injury crisis gets. Also don't expect a single cent from the IRFU toward the new stadium project, the Thomond park farce has made sure of that. This is the simple reality of so called equality in Irish Rugby among all 4 provinces.

Shelflife wrote:

sea_point wrote:

Shelflife wrote: Why isnt Conor Mckeown being considered at out half ? He has loads of experience there and has been training with the squad the whole time.

Because he's converted to scrumhalf over the last season, he had A games last season at flyhalf and I think they confirmed his unsuitability for ten (open to correction)..?

Youre prob correct but given the choice of blade at OH or Mckeown id be looking at the lad who has played a lot of his rugby in that position as opposed to one who hasnt.

He played 10 the last day for the Eagles and did well I thought

Has Eric Elwood been getting any practice in lately?

I have to wonder how much of the injury crises in Connacht are due to the small squad, guys playing down how bad they are because they don't want to let the team down knowing there's so little back up. Pat Lam's comments about having to talk Bundee out of playing against Munster because he didn't want to let the team down, Muldoon starting after being unable to train all week, even back in 2012 when Marmion was in hospital the week of the home match against Toulouse and still played 80mins because there were no other scrum-halfs, the squad culture seems to be to keep going until you're forced to stop, a great attribute during the match, but do they take enough rest to keep niggles from becoming injuries?

sea_point wrote:

Shelflife wrote: Why isnt Conor Mckeown being considered at out half ? He has loads of experience there and has been training with the squad the whole time.

Because he's converted to scrumhalf over the last season, he had A games last season at flyhalf and I think they confirmed his unsuitability for ten (open to correction)..?

Youre prob correct but given the choice of blade at OH or Mckeown id be looking at the lad who has played a lot of his rugby in that position as opposed to one who hasnt.

salmson wrote:

overstrander wrote: To my mind, this makes no sense at all, can anyone give a good reason for this? He's NIQ, so what? It was for three weeks...

Who knows as regards the IRFU. From Lam's side, he's handed in his notice, he doesn't need to play nicely with the IRFU anymore. Whether this is an attempt to pressure the IRFU into helping us out more, or getting his excuses in early for a second string side getting a thumping in Swansea, is entirely down to your interpretation.

Pat's never been one for excuses, in fairness. IRFU might reconsider, ya never know.

Shelflife wrote: Why isnt Conor Mckeown being considered at out half ? He has loads of experience there and has been training with the squad the whole time.

Because he's converted to scrumhalf over the last season, he had A games last season at flyhalf and I think they confirmed his unsuitability for ten (open to correction)..?