Its a shame Keatley left when he did, he was so young at connacht and is starting to show his real ability now. I wonder if he would have gone back to Leinster if he had known Sexton was going to France, Keatley had only signed an extension a week or two before the news broke.
Tangentially related but it seems like there is an attitude in Irish rugby that if a player hasn't won several international caps by the time they're 23-25 then they are useless or will never make it, but players develop at all different ages and not everyone can be bod/poc.

Next season is madigan(and keatleys) year to show their worth. They both shud be no1 at their provinces in big games and will have nowhere to hide. Both decent players and should be fine but not at level of jonnie or rog in his prime. Steenson was no 2 at exeter last season behind mieres so he is only establishing himself at AP level now.

Jackson has kicked for every team he has played with. Its a myth thst hes not a frontline kicker. Hes kicked u20s, wolfhounds v fiji, ulster last season etc. Pienaar got it this season becauseon because of his range. pJ just had a bad day at office and imo will start v france.

sea_point wrote:

Devils own wrote: Anyone see Quins v exeter today great win for exeter away, fantastic man of the match performance for irelands <strong>gareth steenson</strong>..he can play 9 and 10 aswell would be a very smart buy for connacht

Steenson's never played 9, he was an Ireland schools 10 and has continued to play there at Ulster and in England. Decent player certainly no worse than the IQ options available to Kidney...

Really it was the boys in studio that said he had, maybe they were referring to a single incident in the game...I think Madigan is a fantastic player he should be irelands 10 for sure..olding seems a class act at ulster aswell he is doing very well

Devils own wrote: Anyone see Quins v exeter today great win for exeter away, fantastic man of the match performance for irelands <strong>gareth steenson</strong>..he can play 9 and 10 aswell would be a very smart buy for connacht

Steenson's never played 9, he was an Ireland schools 10 and has continued to play there at Ulster and in England. Decent player certainly no worse than the IQ options available to Kidney...

Borders no.2 wrote: Would be a good signing without doubt but unfortunately signed a new contract with Exeter just before Christmas. i think there would be more than us looking at him if he was available.

Serious damn..its not such a great idea now for ireland to ignore players plying their trade elsewhere

Would be a good signing without doubt but unfortunately signed a new contract with Exeter just before Christmas. i think there would be more than us looking at him if he was available.

Anyone see Quins v exeter today great win for exeter away, fantastic man of the match performance for irelands gareth steenson..he can play 9 and 10 aswell would be a very smart buy for connacht

Agreed. He knows the calls and the system. He's also being playing well so I think it's a good piece of business.

I would have hoped that a project 10 was on the cards, but maybe there's nobody on the radar. Maybe they're looking to go all out next year and replace Dan with another NIQ outhalf.

Still, as backups go, Nikora is about as dependable as we can get, so a one year deal isn't bad business.

connolly wrote: Not really sure about this to tell the truth, he's a decent player but very limited with his kicking range. I was hoping to get a better player this summer

I'd agree. He's an ok squad player but he's not going to get any better. He gives us a different type of game at 10 but for me he's a backup 10 and doesn't have the ability to oust Parks from the 10 jersey. Looking ahead past next season when Parks probably retires are we going to be back at square 1 like we were when Keatley left? Carty might come through given time but really I'd hope to have a bit better succession planning for what's the key position in any team.

Not overly enthused with the business announced this week. Hopefully the money saved by re-signing Miah Nikora and Rodney Ah You can be used to strengthen us in other areas.

swift4prez wrote:
2013 - Gannon, Moore, Anderson, Brian Murphy, Reynecke, Flavin, Fifita, Browne, O'Connor, Vainikolo, Frank Murphy, Grace, Healy, Jarvis, Loxton,

From this list I would resign Browne and Vainikolo straight away. There's 5 or so I'd have no interest in retaining and then the rest keep on only if no better replacement could be brought in which would be easier to do with some than others. I'm assuming JOC is retiring.

swift4prez wrote: props-- White, Loughney, Wilkinson, Buckley, Cooney, Ah You,
hookers-- harris wright, henry,
locks-- Swift, kearney, Clarke, Muldowney
6-- Muldoon,
flanker-- Faloon
8-- george, McKeon
scrum half-- Marmion, O'Donohoe,
out half-- parks, nikora
wingers-- O'Halloran, carr, Poolman,
centres-- Tonetti, McSharry, Griffin,
full backs-- Henshaw, Duffy

only 28 players in the squad so far. looks thin in places.

A bit surprising how thin Connacht really are in the back row and at centre.

Not really sure about this to tell the truth, he's a decent player but very limited with his kicking range. I was hoping to get a better player this summer

Delighted to hear it. Great bench option and decent back up to parks as he proved in cardiff. If boot was a bit more reliable he cud be no1.

Great to hear that Miah has been signed up for another year. He seems to always deliver when he gets on the pitch

2016 - Clarke, Muldowney

2015 - White, Loughney, Wilkinson, Marmion, Poolman, Buckley, george, harris wright
2015 - mckeon, kearney, henshaw, carr, henry, Cooney, Browne,

2014 - Tonetti, O'Donohoe, Faloon, Parks, Duffy, McSharry, Griffin, O'Halloran, Muldoon, Swift,
2014 - Ah You, nikora

2013 - Gannon, Moore, Anderson, Brian Murphy, Reynecke, Flavin, Fifita, O'Connor, Vainikolo, Frank Murphy, Grace, Healy, Jarvis, Loxton,

Unknown - Nolan,

props-- White, Loughney, Wilkinson, Buckley, Cooney, Ah You,
hookers-- harris wright, henry,
locks-- Swift, kearney, Clarke, Muldowney
6-- Muldoon, Browne
flanker-- Faloon
8-- george, McKeon
scrum half-- Marmion, O'Donohoe,
out half-- parks, nikora
wingers-- O'Halloran, carr, Poolman,
centres-- Tonetti, McSharry, Griffin,
full backs-- Henshaw, Duffy

only 29 players in the squad so far. looks thin in places.

We are delighted that Miah Nikora has extended his contract with us for next season

connacht rugby