Maguire is leaving afaik

Turning Ah You into a looshead would be what I'd do, see can he crack it.

Borlase will be coming here I'd say

sligsup wrote: He was tweeting yesterday about "decisions" , so maybe it has already being proposed to him. From his few weeks here earlier in the year Eric and the staff should have a good idea whether he will do a job or not, but as mentioned if Wilko and Loughney go on the tour (and they should ) leaves us very light on the loose. Unless they might have a plan to turn Maguire or Dave into a LH. Or is that a ridiculous train of thought???

Well his two years at Munster is up and not being renewed, so he definitely has some decisions to make.

At 6'5" and 20.5st, Maguire will never, ever be a loosehead... :woohoo:

Dave could possibly though, different skillset though....

He was tweeting yesterday about "decisions" , so maybe it has already being proposed to him. From his few weeks here earlier in the year Eric and the staff should have a good idea whether he will do a job or not, but as mentioned if Wilko and Loughney go on the tour (and they should ) leaves us very light on the loose. Unless they might have a plan to turn Maguire or Dave into a LH. Or is that a ridiculous train of thought???

sea_point wrote:

its_phil wrote:

salmson wrote: Don't see the point in bringing in another tight head. We have White, Loughs (I know he's a loosehead option, but not if he has international ambitions), Ah You and Maguire. On the other side there's just Wilkinson and Buckley, so loosehad is surely the priority?

The very possible emergence of Loughney and Wilkinson to the Irish squad means we could be missing them at some stage during the 6 nations. <strong>Borlase could do a job</strong>

Only if it's no the same job he's been doing at Munster for the last two seasons.

<strong>PASS</strong>....

If he is willing to come on the cheap and just to provide back up, then why not?

I thought he did well in the game he played for us this year.

I think regardless of what happens Borlase will come here. The IRB will not want to give up on the investment they've made with him.

As for guys saying we have enough props remember how we ended up playing Loughney at TH? It's cause all the rest of our guys were injured on that side. It really is last chance saloon for Borlase and I can't imagine him coming here on big money after the last two years. If he comes I'll give him the benefit of the doubt but I really wanna see a new center signed.

its_phil wrote:

salmson wrote: Don't see the point in bringing in another tight head. We have White, Loughs (I know he's a loosehead option, but not if he has international ambitions), Ah You and Maguire. On the other side there's just Wilkinson and Buckley, so loosehad is surely the priority?

The very possible emergence of Loughney and Wilkinson to the Irish squad means we could be missing them at some stage during the 6 nations. Borlase could do a job

Only if it's no the same job he's been doing at Munster for the last two seasons.

PASS....

Darragh507 wrote: Faloon looked very average last game or two for Ulster......not impressed.

14 tackles is quite impressive in a Heineken Cup semi-final, don't know how you can't be impressed with that. He just looks average in a very impressive ball carrying back row of Ferris and Wannenberg. He's a classic 7 working on the ground.

salmson wrote: Don't see the point in bringing in another tight head. We have White, Loughs (I know he's a loosehead option, but not if he has international ambitions), Ah You and Maguire. On the other side there's just Wilkinson and Buckley, so loosehad is surely the priority?

The very possible emergence of Loughney and Wilkinson to the Irish squad means we could be missing them at some stage during the 6 nations. Borlase could do a job

salmson wrote: Don't see the point in bringing in another tight head. We have White, Loughs (I know he's a loosehead option, but not if he has international ambitions), Ah You and Maguire. On the other side there's just Wilkinson and Buckley, so loosehad is surely the priority?

If anything he'll be looking to get a Loose head to back up Wilko (and especially if he goes on tour to NZ), our cover on that side is Buckley & Bealham which are still very, very green.

Browne, I can see the logic. We do need another power second row to back up Swifty, especially as we're going back into HEC again...

Not worries about Faloon, he's been playing second fiddle to Henry this season and only getting a run now. He'll get better with games...

I think an International standard hooker would be positive. Should have offloaded one of the two.

Damian Browne looks like not getting extended at Leinster. Would he fit in? Kind of a dupe of Swift I guess, but home grown boy and powerful.

Faloon looked very average last game or two for Ulster......not impressed.

I good centre would be nice too.

Don't see the point in bringing in another tight head. We have White, Loughs (I know he's a loosehead option, but not if he has international ambitions), Ah You and Maguire. On the other side there's just Wilkinson and Buckley, so loosehad is surely the priority?

EE mentioned prop so wouldn't be surprised to see Borlase heading our way very soon. Good to see that it looks like we're going to sign some more players which is great.

Good news in the indo today: www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/elwood-lo...w-blood-3096129.html

elwood looks for new blood

Connacht coach Eric Elwood is hoping to strengthen his squad ahead of their second season in the Heineken Cup by securing cover in a number of key positions.

Elwood has assembled the bulk of his squad for next season -- former Scottish out-half Dan Parks, Ulster flanker Willie Faloon and Leinster prop Nathan White are the the main signings -- but is hoping to add more players before the start of the season.

"We are a bit light in a few positions and could do with bringing in cover at prop, hooker and in the centre.

"Hopefully, playing in the Heineken Cup again will help us in recruiting those players," said Elwood.

Connacht qualified for the Heineken Cup for the first time a year ago when Leinster lifted the title and their participation next season was guaranteed when Ulster and Leinster were victorious in the semi-finals at the weekend.

"It's great to be back in it again next year. It was a great experience for everyone in Connacht this season and it will allow us build again next year," Elwood said.

Connacht sold 3,200 season tickets this year and more than 2,000 of them had renewed their tickets prior to last weekend.

"It was great they were prepared to do that even though we were not guaranteed Heineken Cup rugby," said Elwood, "so hopefully now we can surpass that number next season."

I know we have signed all our players for this scrum half but someone I would have liked to see come west would be Gerry Hurley.

He has Heineken cup experience with Munster. Has been released from them last year, and is a goal kicking scrum half.

Seen him in a few AIL games and have always been impressed with him.

salmson wrote

Bent has alot of experience and looks to be a big steal for Leinster.


5 super rugby caps? Wouldn't call that hugely experienced. But if Schmidt wants him he'll probably do the business...

I thought he had more. My bad. That said I think compared to Borlase he has a lot more experience at all levels. Also after the signing of White you gotta give ahem "props" to Schmidt for sniffing talent out down there.

sea_point wrote:

connachtexile wrote: Jeez Carr only gets another year. Talk about hedging there bets.

Fionn's an eegit if that's all they're offering him, seriously wasting his bloody time....

Especially after giving two year deals to these two...

Leinster have also concluded two-year deals with two Irish qualified forwards who will link up with the province this summer; 25-year-old tight-head prop Michael Bent who has signed a deal from Super 15 franchise the Hurricanes and 24-year-old second row Tom Denton who has signed from Leeds Carnegie.

I think you got that much right

How many minutes of Heineken has he played this season?
How much will he play next season?
How much will O Halloran have played in those 2 seasons
How many players will have passed him out in the Irish pecking order? TOH, Zebo, D.Kearney, probably even O Dea and Conway by next season

Silly boy