Decadence wrote:


With Reynecke, Ah You and Vainkolo presumably leaving, and Clarke incoming, that leaves us with one NIQ and one project slot open. For me the priority should be hooker, 10, backrow, 13, 9. We've got to start thinking about replacing Dan long-term.


Thanks, that's the perfect summary for me


I would go for NIQ and project for hooker and 9

Mc Kinney for 10, Dineen for 12/13, and D.Ryan as versatile backrow

+ 1

Decadence wrote:
With Reynecke, Ah You and Vainkolo presumably leaving, and Clarke incoming, that leaves us with one NIQ and one project slot open. For me the priority should be hooker, 10, backrow, 13, 9. We've got to start thinking about replacing Dan long-term.

Thanks, that's the perfect summary for me


I would go for NIQ and project for hooker and 9

Mc Kinney for 10, Dineen for 12/13, and D.Ryan as versatile backrow

Wow, I didn't realise he was almost 31. So that makes:

NIQ
- White
- Naopu
- Parks
- Vainkolo
- Reynecke

Project
- Ah You
- Poolman

With Reynecke, Ah You and Vainkolo presumably leaving, and Clarke incoming, that leaves us with one NIQ and one project slot open. For me the priority should be hooker, 10, backrow, 13, 9. We've got to start thinking about replacing Dan long-term.

ummm, wrote:

Decadence wrote: Hmm, I must be missing something here, I thought the current situation was as follows:

NIQ
- White
- Naopu
- Parks
- Vainkolo

Project
- Ah You
- Reynecke
- Poolman

Also, last night's win raises questions about Nikora leaving (as seems to be the case). I think I'm right in saying he no longer counts as a project player, if he leaves, do we really think we'll find a better IQ/Project backup 10? He's been quite dependable and I'd be reluctant to let him go unless we find a long-term successor to Dan.

I don't think Reynecke is a project. He could quality for Ireland on residency, but that's not the same as being an official project player. But I'm open to correction on that

Reynecke is definitely a NIQ, I don't for a minute think give his age when signing up and status at the time with previous clubs would indicate anything else. Sure he won't be IQ until Summer 2014 when he'll be 32, even if by some miracle he was in the frame for a squad place...

Decadence wrote: Hmm, I must be missing something here, I thought the current situation was as follows:

NIQ
- White
- Naopu
- Parks
- Vainkolo

Project
- Ah You
- Reynecke
- Poolman

Also, last night's win raises questions about Nikora leaving (as seems to be the case). I think I'm right in saying he no longer counts as a project player, if he leaves, do we really think we'll find a better IQ/Project backup 10? He's been quite dependable and I'd be reluctant to let him go unless we find a long-term successor to Dan.

I don't think Reynecke is a project. He could quality for Ireland on residency, but that's not the same as being an official project player. But I'm open to correction on that

ummm, wrote: We're not part of the succession plan, but there is still a quota in place for us, which as far as I can make out is five NIQ plus two projects

cheers, well thats a different story so

Hmm, I must be missing something here, I thought the current situation was as follows:

NIQ
- White
- Naopu
- Parks
- Vainkolo

Project
- Ah You
- Reynecke
- Poolman

Also, last night's win raises questions about Nikora leaving (as seems to be the case). I think I'm right in saying he no longer counts as a project player, if he leaves, do we really think we'll find a better IQ/Project backup 10? He's been quite dependable and I'd be reluctant to let him go unless we find a long-term successor to Dan.

We're not part of the succession plan, but there is still a quota in place for us, which as far as I can make out is five NIQ plus two projects

salmson wrote:

Devils own wrote: My vote would be for dwayne peel, just as experienced but brings more to the table..i wonder if we could get him from sale as they are not doing great

Why would we waste a precious NIQ spot on a sub scrumhalf when there's an Irish alternative?

www.irishrugby.ie/news/25137.php

- One non-Irish eligible (NIE) player only in each of the 15 field positions across the provinces of Leinster, Munster and Ulster e.g. one foreign player allowed across all three teams per position.*

- For the 2013/14 season and onwards, for any given position involving a contracted NIE player, a province will not be permitted to renew that NIE player contract or bring in a new NIE player into that same position in its squad.

- All future provincial injury replacement players must be eligible for selection for Ireland.

- All future provincial non-Irish eligible player contracts will be position specific.


* The Connacht professional side is external to this process as it has recently commenced a new programme of structural and performance development agreed with the IRFU


As far as im aware Connacht are exempt from the NIQ quotas imposed on the other provinces? i am open to correction?

If thats the case then dwayne peel would be a better signing than stringer

Devils own wrote: My vote would be for dwayne peel, just as experienced but brings more to the table..i wonder if we could get him from sale as they are not doing great

Why would we waste a precious NIQ spot on a sub scrumhalf when there's an Irish alternative?

My vote would be for dwayne peel, just as experienced but brings more to the table..i wonder if we could get him from sale as they are not doing great

I don't think Stringer's international stats count for anything, as they're half a decade old, but his 3 loan deals in the last 15 months have been successes (to put it mildly), and just as Marmion has benefitted from having Parks with him, so the (young?) back-up outhalf for next year - whomever that is - would have an easier ride for being paired with Stringer.

Anyone who saw his performance against us in the Sportsground this year, when he was magnificent behind a beaten path, could be in no doubt he's still got it.

Rossie's been singing the sign-Stringer tune for months now. If he'd come, it's a no-brainer.

someone went through stringers win/ loss ratio and percenctage on another site where they sre debating his influence. toland in the times started the ball rolling when he provided the stst that stringerhad a 70% win rate in his 98 irish caps.this compares favourably to such influencial players as bod and rog who have a 62% win rate. that stat could be decieving so someone went to the bother of looking at his influence during hiss 3 loan moves to the AP.
Saracens - 11 wins in 12 games.(they were on losing run apparantly before he came).
Newcastle- 3 wins in 5 games.( prsctically relegated when he arrived but only went down on poits difference in end afaik).
Bath- 4 wins from 4 games.( just read their forum if you doubt his influence).
hes a natural leader and born winner.

sea_point wrote:
... sort of like a Sean Cronin with Brains ...

Arf! :lol:

mc allister will have to get in contention for a starting place in ulster first which is something he has only managed 8 times so fsr in his career

Mcallister has had a long term injury so those stats are slighlty misleading but no i would repectfully disagree, in my opinion the goal is to identify guys who have the potential to be no1 but have not as yet ousted the current more established guys in their postion as we would not be able convince them to come to here from their native province otherwise. i think irelands loose head future strata will be 1.Healy 2/3 (Mcgrath/Mccallister)

Eoghan Grace could still be the answer here). And Stringer!

Grace is nowhere near the top echelon imho and although stringer would be of use i think he would be of an outdated opinion of connacht and i dont believe he would enjoy coming off the bench on many occasions, but i see the logic of helping imbue marmion and others with his experience and knowledge, its a pity we missed out on justin marshell by a couple of years now thats a scrum half

we could seriously do with strengthening at 13 as well

Ya perhaps ivan dineen might be worth a offer decent centres are not very plentiful

The stats for Buckley are fictitious, he's not even over 100KG let alone 110KG(as was conceded by Nathan White in interview around the time of the Quins HEC game in Galway). Fantastic attitude and a tidy footballer, but he is too small to make it long term as a Prop of international standing, given his age profile I personally believe he should be groomed as a hooker if anything...

Thank you seapoint for pointing out that fact, i was sure something strange was going on, im 105kg and there is noo way i could play loosehead but im taller and when i was watching the guys pre match buckley looked small for a front row, i also agree i think he is more suited to hooker.

I'd like to see Jarvis take a run at 12 or 13 and specialize in that position

God no for some reason i just think of that guy as a total reserve band aid in case everyone goes down

boland was called in during the summer and toldthat he had no future at connacht. he was basically told to use his last year f his acadamy contract to sort himself elsewhere as he wouldnt be retained after that. he got thick and jacked it in ignoring advice from family and buccs to stick it out and see what future holds.
id say he regrets his decision now but is probably in same position as he would have been gametime wise.