Can McSharry or Downey play 13 ??

Would love to see James finish up his career at Connacht. If he can get better in England than fine, go, but if we could get him at a good price and he came in willing to play the role Connacht need him for than he would be a good signing.

_nobody_ wrote: If it looks like James Downey is on the way out of Munster would we give him a 1 year deal? He is 33 now but could have a year left in him. Could be a good backup for McSharry, especially with his injuries?

That's a great shout, even just for a season.

Huge Downey fan. Think he'd do a great job for use for a year or two.

I don't believe that guff about sour feelings about Connacht. He decided to come across to attend the Connacht-Toulon semi-final when he was still with Northampton so hard to believe it.

He was very unfortunate with injuries when with us, but since then he's been much better, he had a long stretch in England when he was injury-free.

Did I mention that I'd love to have him back?

Would love to get Downey for a year. With any luck it will happen but it depends on money I'd say.

Downey's not remotely as injury prone as McSharry, he's made 38 appearances for Munster this season and last. I don't think past issue with Connacht would count for much, he went back to Munster who also shafted him.

Bigger questions are: (1) is he too old for us to invest in? (2) is he too costly - I'd imagine he could get a contract in England easy enough? (3) why would he have any interest being a secondline player at this stage in his career?

Downey has been about as injury prone as McSharry since he went to Munster, plus he had some sour feelings towards Connacht that might be not resolved yet. I think his main skills have been under-utilised at Munster, but we've been dying for someone who can provide some bosh and go forward momentum so he could be a very useful option.

If it looks like James Downey is on the way out of Munster would we give him a 1 year deal? He is 33 now but could have a year left in him. Could be a good backup for McSharry, especially with his injuries?

Porterbelly wrote: Name Position Team
Tristan Moran LH Prop Bay of Plenty
Ross Kennedy Lock Hawkes Bay
Alex Ryan Lock Southland
Michael Fitzgerald Lock Manawatu
Adam Bradey Flanker Hawkes Bay
Brendon O'Connor Flanker Canterbury
Shane Christie Flanker Canterbury
Scott McKee Number 8 Southland
Kylem O'Donnell Scrum-half Taranaki
Matt Saunders Centre Southland
Michael Collins Centre Otago
Kieran Moffat Centre Otago
Sam Monaghan Wing Canterbury
Declan O'Donnell Wing Waikato

Took this from Ulsterfans

It's a list of players in Super Rugby who have some Irish backgrounds, a la Sean Maitland with Scotland or Michael Bent. So these would be the players who are being scouted, or who the IRFU would be encouraging the provinces to have a look at.

At this point I ran away screaming!

Name Position Team
Tristan Moran LH Prop Bay of Plenty
Ross Kennedy Lock Hawkes Bay
Alex Ryan Lock Southland
Michael Fitzgerald Lock Manawatu
Adam Bradey Flanker Hawkes Bay
Brendon O'Connor Flanker Canterbury
Shane Christie Flanker Canterbury
Scott McKee Number 8 Southland
Kylem O'Donnell Scrum-half Taranaki
Matt Saunders Centre Southland
Michael Collins Centre Otago
Kieran Moffat Centre Otago
Sam Monaghan Wing Canterbury
Declan O'Donnell Wing Waikato

Took this from Ulsterfans

It's a list of players in Super Rugby who have some Irish backgrounds, a la Sean Maitland with Scotland or Michael Bent. So these would be the players who are being scouted, or who the IRFU would be encouraging the provinces to have a look at.

O Connell is off to Bristol with Darren Hudson

With Brett unfortunately gone, the IRFU and Connacht should conspire to bring back Jack O' Connell to us, he is a top class prop and with both him and Buckley we would be very secure in that position going forward.

Maybe Cooney Bealham and Reilly are enough, we just need one of them to step up...

There are higher priority areas like centre and out half but if possible we could do with adding another option.

Bealham has got a few bits and pieces here and there but still has it all to prove. From what I've seen Cooney is a prospect but hasn't got a huge amount of game time and it needs to be nailed down which side we are going to use him on.

Ronan Loughney has fallen out of favour somewhat and when he has been on hasn't hit the form of previous seasons. Are we using him to just cover both sides or is he viewed as the tight-head backup?

Not to sound cold but with Brett gone we're probably going to need a new LH next season. Buckley is now no. 1 after a rough start under Lam and Loughney is an able deputy. So essentially we're looking for a 3rd choice LH. Is Conney up to the job or should we dip into the market? What do you guys think?

No, just obvious we'll have a new 10 as nobody can see Parks going on, and Carty isn't ready to do all the main job