A thought struck me while watching the Aviva Premiership highlights last weekend when Paul Warwick nearly scored a superb individual try. Would he be worth bringing back for a year or two? Ticks a lot of boxes. He can't become Irish qualified but the spaces are available. Worcester are as good as relegated at this stage so I'm sure they'd be happy to get his wages off their books. We could do a lot worse even if he is 33 in a few days time.

Firstly no to Noel Reid he doesn't have the mental nous to be a top class player and I don't see him as being any better and probably worse than guys like Conor Finn who have showed class this season in their brief cameos.


I thought Reid played well last night.

He did ok apart from one slice off the boot but you have to remember just like Pienaar he had great players around him making things easier for him. He did well in the B&I but I've watched him a lot this season and he just doesn't do it for me. I think we have better home grown options rather than going after him.

connachtexile wrote: Firstly no to Noel Reid he doesn't have the mental nous to be a top class player and I don't see him as being any better and probably worse than guys like Conor Finn who have showed class this season in their brief cameos.

I thought Reid played well last night.

He missed a very kick able kick today to draw the game for Irish. Very poor attempt and not a good sign of his ability to cope with pressure. Humphries missed an easy one as well while on field.

LI scored 3 tries and lost 22- 19 at home. Kicks win games. Jamie Hagan came on and looks low in confidence. Got himself into a row with Gloucester prop and looked timid and almost afraid of him.

On the comparison between paddy Jackson and ronaldson/carry it has to be remembered that Jackson has pinaar taking the pressure off him and doing the kicking(up to this season). Connacht lads will have to do it on their own. That's a lot of pressure especially when the team needs wins.

Shane Geraghty at LI is out of contract at the end of the season and with Ian Humphreys starting more often than him maybe he could do a job for us ?? Only 28 and I like him as a player.

If leinster decide they need a new second row I can see them going after one of Munster's dozen. Ala Dave Foley.

Not a flyhalf but what has happened to Ben Marshall at Leinster? He looked pretty handy when I saw him playing before but he only has 10 appearances for Leinster so far afaik, two this season, in three years. He's the same age as Mick Kearney and can also play lock and backrow.
Also although afaik Kearney is still in contract at the end of the year is there any danger that Leinster will make a bid for him with Cullen likely (definitely?) retiring this season? Outside of Toner and McCarthy they don't have much quality in the second row and at least one but perhaps both of those will be away with Ireland more and more from now on. They need probably two very good second row signings and three would be preferable for next season.

Firstly no to Noel Reid he doesn't have the mental nous to be a top class player and I don't see him as being any better and probably worse than guys like Conor Finn who have showed class this season in their brief cameos.

I think getting a quality 10 has to be our primary objective in terms of recruitment. There are other areas which need to be strengthened but 10 is the main area I'd be looking at. Squad options such as Reid, Manning etc. aren't going to help us at this stage. We have the NIE spaces available so lets use them where we desperately need them. I'd gladly sacrifice a couple of squad players and rely on the academy a bit more if necessary if it freed up the funds for a quality 10.

I'd give Ronaldson and Carty as much game time as possible between now and the end of the season to see what they can offer but while both will offer us something in time neither is going to offer the solution in the short term in my opinion.

Maybe Reid will show us something fantastic tonight but I've only ever considered him average. I really don't see the benefit of picking up a player of that calibre with Carty and Ronaldson already here, what does he offer that they don't? I'd sooner see one of our younger players getting a go, even one of the 18/19 year olds who are supposed to be looking really good. Not every young player is Paddy Jackson but Ulster backed their own young player and its paid off, why shouldn't Connacht do the same, at least unless someone of proven quality (ie the hodgson suggestion a while ago) suddenly becomes available.

wp_rathead wrote: Paddy Wallace 1 year deal? Can't be any worse than Parks
Not ideal by any stretch of imagination

Think Noel reid out of contract end of season with leinster - he seems more a 12 than 10 though

We could and should do better than both. And would prefer Ronaldson than either.

Paddy Wallace 1 year deal? Can't be any worse than Parks
Not ideal by any stretch of imagination

Think Noel reid out of contract end of season with leinster - he seems more a 12 than 10 though

connachta wrote: He's playing 7's rugby with a Harlequins franchise. He could inject some extra pace in our attacking line

Nope, he couldn't, we could have picked him up years ago from Munster handy enough but didn't because basically he's not good enough in any position.

He was a project player and would have been on buttons with Munster which was the only reason the stayed on payroll for so long. AIL was his level....

He's playing 7's rugby with a Harlequins franchise. He could inject some extra pace in our attacking line

He didn't make it at Munster and he didn't make it in England. Last I heard he was playing in the Middle East and retraining. So no.

Jeremy Manning is 28, fly-half, centre or full-back and spent 5 years in Munster, so he might be IQ.. Thoughts?