I think Coipeland will get the captaincy.

Bazzo wrote:

salmson wrote:

Accidentally Onside wrote: Props never play the full game

Except for Denis Buckley, obviously.

The greatest laugh I ever got in reasons why Denis Buckley hasn't been capped is: "He's not fit enough"

Name a fitter prop in the provinces / league?

salmson wrote:

Accidentally Onside wrote: Props never play the full game

Except for Denis Buckley, obviously.

The greatest laugh I ever got in reasons why Denis Buckley hasn't been capped is: "He's not fit enough"

Accidentally Onside wrote: Props never play the full game

Except for Denis Buckley, obviously.

Props never play the full game, and if your scrum isn't going well refs can lose their patience with props, so having one as your captain can be a problem as you want him onside with the ref.

Nailed on Butler tbf

RonanL wrote:
PS: I wonder who they're going to announce as captain? I think I saw they'll be doing it at an event in Elverys. Anyone know when that is?

I reckon it's a very short list of possibilities given the requirements: a guaranteed starter (so not McKeon, McCartney, or Masterson) who isn't in the door this summer (so not Copeland) and isn't going to miss half the season with international commitments (so not Aki or Marmion). If we also rule out props* (so not Buckley or Bealham) and wingers (so not Healy or Adeolokun) then we're pretty much down to Butler, O'Halloran, O'Brien, or (and this is quite a stretch to find a fourth candidate) Roux.

*I'd like to point out that I'm not propist, but realistically many coaches seem to be.

Wednesday 15th August 6-8pm.

The launch is Wed 15th. There was an email sent to STHs last week sometime.

mahick wrote: ...but looking at the squad and their pre-season attitude I think we're up for it!

One person who I have been following on social media over the summer, and have been very impressed with is Robin Copeland. He seems to have a great attitude and an impressive work ethic - he also seems to have gotten straight into the craic with the squad. I can see him nailing down a starting spot at 8 and becoming a real leader.

PS: I wonder who they're going to announce as captain? I think I saw they'll be doing it at an event in elverys. Anyone know when that is?

November/December schedule will really test the squad, and all will be needed in top form:
South Africa x 2 games, followed by
Challenge Cup x 2, followed by
Interpros x 3, then
Challenge Cup x 2 more..
Testing times but looking at the squad and their pre-season attitude I think we're up for it!

Tbh as a Sligo based supporter Fridays never suited me, but if we at least had some Saturday evening fixtures it would be the best of both worlds, unfortunately most are late afternoon at best

RonanL wrote: It depends entirely on your circumstances, but Saturday afternoons don't suit me anywhere near as much as Friday nights - and the atmosphere is definitely never as good when it's bright. I'm sure the new TV deal is behind it so we can't blame the branch (who probably aren't happy themselves from a marketing/ticket sales perspective).

There is definitely something about Friday nights whether its the early weekend buzz but as being Dublin based the Saturdays do suit me better as I dont have to take hours off but I'm sure the majority of supporters are Galway / Connacht based so it surpises me branch didnt push for further friday nights.

It depends entirely on your circumstances, but Saturday afternoons don't suit me anywhere near as much as Friday nights - and the atmosphere is definitely never as good when it's bright. I'm sure the new TV deal is behind it so we can't blame the branch (who probably aren't happy themselves from a marketing/ticket sales perspective).

Pearse Keller of Keller Travel has a package already put together for SA in Nov/Dec for anybody who might be interested.

I totally get it’s horses for courses on that one but even when I lived in Limerick (could see Thomond from the window) I’d prefer travelling for Friday games. The atmosphere seems a notch down on Saturday afternoons.

As a non Galway resident delighted that so many games are on the Saturday!

Fixtures look very tough though, need to really up performances from last year to even be competitive.

Pity I've already booked holidays as SA road trip could have been done otherwise

Euro fixtures out in the next two weeks right?