If we intend to play him in Europe, any medical joker we sign to cover Boshoff/Ronaldson/O'Leary would have to (a) be signed to us on a contract of at least 3 months; and (b) not have played in European competition this season.

So (a) rules out anyone signed to a Super Rugby franchise for 2017 and (b) rules out most players in Europe.

It's a really bad time to be looking for players (as opposed to the October to January period when there are tons of SH players available). The only decent available 10 in NZ is Bryn Gatland, assuming we're not so desperate as to sign lads like Haimona & Volavola who make Carty's kicking stats look like Owen Farrell's (and can't play worth a damn either).

tlocke wrote:

salmson wrote:

tlocke wrote: I for one think Keatley would be a great signing. He was not the reason Munster under achieved over the past few years.

We're not a retirement home any more and we don't need another 10 with persistent kicking issues. He should be looking to France or one of the English sides with lots of money and little sense (Bristol, Worcester).

I think you're being quite harsh on Keatley there. He's kicking well this year. I think he would be a good signing, that's all.

It would be very like taking Fionn Carr back when we did. If he can't turn it around at munster then he should take his baggage to somewhere new where he can start with less pressure to perform.

salmson wrote:

tlocke wrote: I for one think Keatley would be a great signing. He was not the reason Munster under achieved over the past few years.

We're not a retirement home any more and we don't need another 10 with persistent kicking issues. He should be looking to France or one of the English sides with lots of money and little sense (Bristol, Worcester).

I think you're being quite harsh on Keatley there. He's kicking well this year. I think he would be a good signing, that's all.

Ian Keatley is contracted to Munster and won't be going anywhere before next summer when JJ Hanrahan re-signing will probably see him move on.
With Boshoff out until March & Ronaldson out until Jan, Connacht will be out of champions cup and a pro12 top 6 spot early in the new year if a solution to the kicking problem is not found immediately.
Carty is clearly struggling with his confidence off the tee and I really feel for the guy because this is just part of a no.10's game yet it's often all he's remembered for good or bad.
Connacht need a solution now via a short term signing at 10 and before anybody tells me how much this is going to cost and how Connacht can't afford it, let me first ask how much revenue could be generated from a ECC quarter final or how much revenue will be lost from not qualifying for next years competition.
Munster had probably their worst ever season last year and are supposed to be swamped in debt but when faced with starting the season without Saili the got Taute on a short term and we all know the rest. Connacht have to have a reliable goal kicker on the field at least to help take the pressure off Carty.

tlocke wrote: You said yourself that Keatley would be a decent signing, so how would it be regressive ?

If Keatley is available Connacht should try and get him , although ironically he might see a move to Connacht as regressive.

He'd be decent backup but if he's not good enough for munster in his prime why do you think connacht should settle for him?

tlocke wrote: I for one think Keatley would be a great signing. He was not the reason Munster under achieved over the past few years.

We're not a retirement home any more and we don't need another 10 with persistent kicking issues. He should be looking to France or one of the English sides with lots of money and little sense (Bristol, Worcester).

You said yourself that Keatley would be a decent signing, so how would it be regressive ?

If Keatley is available Connacht should try and get him , although ironically he might see a move to Connacht as regressive.

Both are regressive one more so than the other granted.

What does Eddie O'Sullivan have to do with Ian Keatley ?

You'd probably be delighted with a Eddie O'Sullivan as our new coach to I suppose tlocke?

Tbf if keatley kicking stats were even close to 90% then he'd be a decent signing especially if we can retain boschoff too. I still have my doubts his stats were that high though.

I for one think Keatley would be a great signing. He was not the reason Munster under achieved over the past few years.

EvoGeo wrote:

sligsup wrote:

EvoGeo wrote: Fully agree @connachtAbu.

It is patently obvious now we cannot persist with carty as first choice 10 if we want to do anything this season or next. If we have to go back to the bad days when Keatley cost us game after game we will be in danger of going out of business again. The fans will really struggle to support the team if we have no chance of even competing for the top 6 or in the challenge cup.

Keatley costing us game after game ????? From my memory Keatley kept us in more games than costing us!!!! And was also an extremely competent kicker in his years with us!!!!

You have either poor/selective memory or are looking back with rose tinted glasses. Keatley was good with ball in hand, had a great step and break but was horrid off the tee. The ammount of games we lost by the odd point or two after missing 3 or 4 pens (some sitters was huge). He is a much better kicker now but still not good enough for a top 6 pro 12 team imo.

Hands up sligsup looks like I might be the one looking back with hazy memory. Statbunker had keatley with 97% kicking stats while at connacht. If this is true I'm obviously wrong. They have his him at 77% at Munster which seems about right so don't know why they would be wrong with connacht stats?

sligsup wrote:

EvoGeo wrote: Fully agree @connachtAbu.

It is patently obvious now we cannot persist with carty as first choice 10 if we want to do anything this season or next. If we have to go back to the bad days when Keatley cost us game after game we will be in danger of going out of business again. The fans will really struggle to support the team if we have no chance of even competing for the top 6 or in the challenge cup.

Keatley costing us game after game ????? From my memory Keatley kept us in more games than costing us!!!! And was also an extremely competent kicker in his years with us!!!!

You have either poor/selective memory or are looking back with rose tinted glasses. Keatley was good with ball in hand, had a great step and break but was horrid off the tee. The ammount of games we lost by the odd point or two after missing 3 or 4 pens (some sitters was huge). He is a much better kicker now but still not good enough for a top 6 pro 12 team imo.

Podge57 wrote: [qubote="fatgav" post=50697]Any update on Boshoff? Wondering if anyone has heard the same rumour I have.

Out until March! [/quote]

If march is correct it's better than I heard. I hadn't seen boards before I posted last night and what's on there doesn't quite tally with what I heard either.

EvoGeo wrote: Fully agree @connachtAbu.

It is patently obvious now we cannot persist with carty as first choice 10 if we want to do anything this season or next. If we have to go back to the bad days when Keatley cost us game after game we will be in danger of going out of business again. The fans will really struggle to support the team if we have no chance of even competing for the top 6 or in the challenge cup.

Keatley costing us game after game ????? From my memory Keatley kept us in more games than costing us!!!! And was also an extremely competent kicker in his years with us!!!!

Fully agree @connachtAbu.

It is patently obvious now we cannot persist with carty as first choice 10 if we want to do anything this season or next. If we have to go back to the bad days when Keatley cost us game after game we will be in danger of going out of business again. The fans will really struggle to support the team if we have no chance of even competing for the top 6 or in the challenge cup.