I'm sure Pat could have attracted players of his calibre if he had the funds.
Rumours that Munster have signed a forwards coach. I understand they are making deals with the IRFU But we need to be signing decent quality coaches and players too or else we will be a bottom half of the table team again , forgotten by the media and just feeding the other 3 provinces.

www.planetrugby.com/news/luatua-agrees-bristol-move/

Envious of Pat already.

We need a coach that can attract this type of player.

Ok a budget too- but you get my drift.

Porterbelly wrote:

ConnachtCows wrote:
Seriously? When was the last time you actually got something correct?
I'm not trying to start an argument, or have a go at anyone, but you pop in every now and again, give a very definitive answer to something, and more often that not, you're incorrect

What have I been incorrect about?

Gibbes was approached as I mentioned ages ago, and then subsequently turned it down. Never said we had got him.

I thought Cows was being very harsh, but when I clicked on your (Porterbelly's) posts your more recent submissions were Dillane to Munster & Heenan to Munster, so I see where he's coming from.

Note to Cows - I heard both the Heenan and Dillane rumours from a Munster source around the same times Porterbelly passed them on. It may be they came close to leaving, it was more likely agent smoke Munster swallowed, we'll never know which, but those rumours were fairly widespread at the time & Porterbelly wasn't the only person who heard/repeated them.

I'll throw another name in the ring (just to clarify for Connacht Cows this is just speculation to avoid him getting his knickers in a twist)

Brian Melrose.

Was backs coach under Eric Elwood a few seasons ago, now at Sydney Rams which I think is the level below Super Rugby.

ConnachtCows wrote:
Seriously? When was the last time you actually got something correct?
I'm not trying to start an argument, or have a go at anyone, but you pop in every now and again, give a very definitive answer to something, and more often that not, you're incorrect

What have I been incorrect about?

Gibbes was approached as I mentioned ages ago, and then subsequently turned it down. Never said we had got him.

salmson wrote: Foley has one winning season from 5 as a Super rugby head coach. So hopefully not him.

McKenzie has left the game altogether and is working as a project manager in construction, he's stated multiple times he won't be coming back.

Another name being bandied about on other forums is Richard Graham. He inherited a 3rd/semi-final Reds side for the 2013 Super rugby season and went 5th/out-in-qualifier before finishing 13th 2 seasons in a row and getting fired two games into the 2016 season.

Joe Bakarat (ex-Ulster defence coach; just 41 tries conceded in 28 games in his one year there) is defence/forwards coach at the Force & the best of the names I've seen rumoured. However he'd miss a fair wedge of pre-season as the Force's season runs til mid-July.

Grim enough all round. Anyone I'm missing?

Shades of Lam at Blues about Graham's story at the Reds.
The great team that won the Super Rugby title in 2011 [like of Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Luke Morahan,, James Horwill, Scott Higginbotham, Radike Samo and Digby Ioane) was gone or going when he arrived , and not been replaced with similar quality...

Had we look to Lam past performances, he would have been a bad coach in theory
It all depends on why they failed, and with which kind of squad

salmson wrote: Grim enough all round. Anyone I'm missing?

Saw someone mention former Munster head coach Tony McGahan, current head coach of Melbourne Rebels. Don't see it happening myself

I don't suppose there's any chance Stuart Lancaster can be prevailed upon to take the job, is there? Is Ben Ryan still an option?

Foley has one winning season from 5 as a Super rugby head coach. So hopefully not him.

McKenzie has left the game altogether and is working as a project manager in construction, he's stated multiple times he won't be coming back.

Another name being bandied about on other forums is Richard Graham. He inherited a 3rd/semi-final Reds side for the 2013 Super rugby season and went 5th/out-in-qualifier before finishing 13th 2 seasons in a row and getting fired two games into the 2016 season.

Joe Bakarat (ex-Ulster defence coach; just 41 tries conceded in 28 games in his one year there) is defence/forwards coach at the Force & the best of the names I've seen rumoured. However he'd miss a fair wedge of pre-season as the Force's season runs til mid-July.

Grim enough all round. Anyone I'm missing?

Big D.P. wrote: I think a sense of realism is required. Despite the wonderful Pro12 win last season we're still not a big budget outfit, and don't generate the cashflows to allow us afford those high profile head coaches.

I think someone slightly under the radar who'd be affordable but more importantly has scope and a point to prove might fit the bill better.

EOS is local, and is a good coach. His historical soundbites in the media aren't great but that's not a critical issue surely?

Let's get over the EOS nonsense for once and for all, just because we are the smallest province doesn't mean that we are obliged to settle for a coach that no one in the professional game anywhere wants...

His lack of a track record in the Pro game at club level works against him, that's driven by a maniacal desire to be head honcho only...
Even at their most desperate the Italian & Scottish regions didn't want him...
I won't hang him for the Biarritz debacle, but it was his chance to shine as the DOR /Head Coach of a not inconsiderably sized professional club and he failed abjectly...

The kindest thing you could say about him is that he's ambitious, but too ambitious for his own good...and not even if he promised to sleep in the buff on the Clan Terrace for the duration of his contract would he be a suitable fit for Connacht. HIs past with Connacht is in the past. I don't harbour a grudge about his leaving Conancht whatsoever, it was still basically the Amatuer era with legalised boot money and everyone was figuring out what was best for them...

But he is not the man to lead our province on a day to day basis...

As for McKee - from his current employers [FRU] perspective he wa saying the right things publicly...
fijisun.com.fj/2017/01/22/mckee-stays-put-denies-move-abroad/

Whats Ewen McKenzie up to these times!

Ex Western Force Michael Foley perhaps

Has John McKee ruled himself out? He was touted on the42.ie then nothing else was said,as far as I know

It may have been twenty years ago but with Connacht due to fly out on their pre-season tour on The Friday, Eddie resigns on the Monday.

Whatever his reasons, that's poor form and people don't forget.

BTW, did anyone go on that tour? It was to Sweden!

Porterbelly wrote:

connachta wrote: In theory IRFU can't force us to take anyone..
Let's just hope Willie Ruane has a surprise guest in his pocket.
Even some are unlikely/not desired by some, those names are still available this summer.

Mark McCall
Saracencs Irish head coach, out of contract after a renewal in 2014

Sean Holley
Approached in 2013, ex Ospreys and Bristol successful coach

Jack White
Released by Montpellier this spring

Mike Ruddock
Ex Wales and Ireland U20 coach

Jason Holland
Hurricanes assistant coach, Irish head coach of the New Zealand Schools side

Rob Penney
Ex Munster, Canterbury coach

Andy Farrell
Defence coach for the 2013 Lions tour to Australia, contracted with IRFU until RWC.

Jeremy Davidson
Aurillac coach, great balence of play, but contracted until 2022 in theory

It's none of the above

Seriously? When was the last time you actually got something correct?
I'm not trying to start an argument, or have a go at anyone, but you pop in every now and again, give a very definitive answer to something, and more often that not, you're incorrect