With reynecke, George, nikora and vainikolo all signed up for next year. Are we going to be able to bring in any more NIQ's with the reduced numbers allowed last year.?

I'd have short back in a heartbeat.

ummm, wrote: We were close (well, the rumours were we were close!) to signing Quinlan for his final year, but the lure of the Munster shirt was too big. I can't see it being any different for Wallace. He and Hayes are Munster through and through.

He has played for us before, mind you it was only one game and not many people in Munster know that.

Another man worth bringing back, buckets of big game experience.

simpleton wrote: Don't forget we also have Dave Nolan, a big unit not dissimilar in size to swifty I think, hopefully him and Andrew Browne will be back after Christmas.

If I was looking for another 2nd row Mick o driscol would have to be on my list, he's down at 4th choice at munster, would offer some great experience, leadership and still a decent lineout and maul operator.

Still need a th though, anyone look good in the ail?

Nope, not remotely interested in O'Driscoll. He could have come here years ago and made himself a first choice player. I don't believe he would arrive here with the right attitude if we recruited him now. His opportunity with us is long gone...

Don't forget we also have Dave Nolan, a big unit not dissimilar in size to swifty I think, hopefully him and Andrew Browne will be back after Christmas.

If I was looking for another 2nd row Mick o driscol would have to be on my list, he's down at 4th choice at munster, would offer some great experience, leadership and still a decent lineout and maul operator.

Still need a th though, anyone look good in the ail?

Porterbelly wrote:

eastcoastconnacht wrote: From what I can make out in this article McGowan is out of contract at the end of this season and he is only 25. Could be worth looking at.

www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/0406/1224294005073.html

While I'm all for signing a Connacht native, do we really need a 2nd row?

Swifty, Macca, Gannon, Browne, Kearney, George and Qualter coming through. We have to be smart the way we use our resources which is why I feel the signings of both Grace and Anderson weren't needed with the back rowers we have coming through

Both McGowan and Copeland have played most of their recent rugby at 6 but both offer serious ine out skills to the back row, but can also cover second row very competently as well. Kearney is really only on loan from Leinster and if he does perform expect them to come calling sooner rather than later. George is a No.8 and if he can't get fit enough to play there we should cut our losses, the fact he played no rugby at all in Japan should have been a red flag. At his best he's phenomenal but he's miles away form that as we get to the seasons halfway point.

How long Swifty's body holds up is anyone's guess, he has huge milage on him compared to a lot of the other provinces first choice locks.

Damien Browne is only on a one year deal with Leinster, so he could provide the sort of ballast (and home grown too) that is missing when Swifty is banjaxed, our other lock options are bit lightweight or raw. We do need to have proper back up for swifty (the sort that won't adversely affect the balance of thr front five)..

Andy Farley is captaining Grenoble this season (surprise, surprise eh..), but if available I'd have him back in the blink of an eye. Great shame that he was not around for this season after all his efforts for us...

FACECUTTR wrote: Jarvis whatever he has done to EE needs to be on the pitch at game time.
I know he is young but he is better than NOC.

There is the possibility Eric is not putting Moore and Jarvis out there because the scrum is so unsteady at times. As has been said not many scrumhalves do well with the scrum coming back at them. This of course affects the service to the 10. Putting a couple of young halfbacks under that kind of pressure would be detrimental to their development. Still that being said I would like to see the both of them get game time at least after the new year.

A definite no to Bull, he's past it. Wallace wouldn't come cheap enough to make it worth it.

FACECUTTR wrote: 2 heineken cups 3 lions tours 71 ireland caps.
no offence to JOC who is a legend and yes those lads could learn from him but maybe learn a little more from wallace.

Thats my point. Same with Stringer. They still have plenty to offer for a year or 2.

2 heineken cups 3 lions tours 71 ireland caps.
no offence to JOC who is a legend and yes those lads could learn from him but maybe learn a little more from wallace.

Concrete is a legend but its always good to get a different perspective on things

eastcoastconnacht wrote: My fear is that Swift calls it a day after next year and we can't hold on to Macca and we lose both first choice 2nd rows in one go. I'd like to see a smooth transition when the time comes.
Personally I think Hayes is a bit on the old side but I think Wallace could offer us a lot in terms of experience for a year anyway, especially with so many young lads in the squad. They could learn alot from playing beside him.

Nothing they can't learn from Johnny O

My fear is that Swift calls it a day after next year and we can't hold on to Macca and we lose both first choice 2nd rows in one go. I'd like to see a smooth transition when the time comes.
Personally I think Hayes is a bit on the old side but I think Wallace could offer us a lot in terms of experience for a year anyway, especially with so many young lads in the squad. They could learn alot from playing beside him.

A dedicated scrum coach, Stringer for 2 years and give Jarvis gametime would change things in my opinion.
Rodders is going backwards at the moment but he is a beast in the loose.Get a scrum coach in there and see what can be done.
Stringer is a great general behind a good scrum which might be sorted with the above mentioned.
POD just needs game time and if Strings was there to mentor i think he would be a little gem.
Jarvis whatever he has done to EE needs to be on the pitch at game time.
I know he is young but he is better than NOC.

Lads, ye can't seriously be suggesting that we go after Hayes and Wallace. One is past it and the other is not far behind him. This is not the route to go down.

Bar George and Henry, Eric has brought in potential. The only thing about this is that players have to realise that potential if they are to be good enough. And from what we've seen this is not happening enough.

If we keep changing it up every 1 or 2 years by swapping 10+ players in and out we'll never get to where we want to go. We'll be going around in circles. Continuity is what's needed. That's what the good teams have. That's how they've built their squads.

eastcoastconnacht wrote: From what I can make out in this article McGowan is out of contract at the end of this season and he is only 25. Could be worth looking at.

www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/0406/1224294005073.html

While I'm all for signing a Connacht native, do we really need a 2nd row?

Swifty, Macca, Gannon, Browne, Kearney, George and Qualter coming through. We have to be smart the way we use our resources which is why I feel the signings of both Grace and Anderson weren't needed with the back rowers we have coming through

From what I can make out in this article McGowan is out of contract at the end of this season and he is only 25. Could be worth looking at.

www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/0406/1224294005073.html