KK Gone - Report

Disappointed with the dismissal of Keane, cant see it being too fair that the lack of responsibility taken on the field by the players should lead to the dismissal of the Coach, He most certainly should have been given a 2nd year to prove himself. No point discussing a likely replacement almost certainly going to be handed to Jimmy Duffy and Carolan.

TynesideEagle wrote:
I also don't buy the argument that the ITM Cup in New Zealand is a second rate competition.

I'd strongly disagree with that. Even a crap February Pro 12 game you'll see a dozen internationals and some cohesive set piece/unit play at a minimum. About 3/4 of the players are part time (seasonal might be a better term - they only get paid from June-October), the limited timescales & ever changing rosters mean set piece is ropey at best, and defending is strictly optional. Most of all, the turnover rate & error count is astronomical as you have players trying to play to a sevens-plus-plus game plan many of them just don't have the skill set for.

It's perhaps not fair to compare Mitre 10 teams (or super rugby teams for that matter) to Northern Hemisphere sides, as they exist purely to find international players, but I reckon only the very top sides like Canterbury could survive in the Pro12 (and by that be as good - or should I say bad - as Zebre or ourselves). Most of them would be complete cannon fodder like Kings or Dragons, and the worst of them would probably be on a par with Welsh semi-pro teams or the better AIL outfits. If I had to pick a competition to tag Mitre 10 quality to it would be the Anglo Welsh Cup - next to no internationals, experimental and development selections, quality only outing in the latter stages.

salmson wrote:

TynesideEagle wrote:
I also don't buy the argument that the ITM Cup in New Zealand is a second rate competition.

I'd strongly disagree with that. Even a crap February Pro 12 game you'll see a dozen internationals and some cohesive set piece/unit play at a minimum. About 3/4 of the players are part time (seasonal might be a better term - they only get paid from June-October), the limited timescales & ever changing rosters mean set piece is ropey at best, and defending is strictly optional. Most of all, the turnover rate & error count is astronomical as you have players trying to play to a sevens-plus-plus game plan many of them just don't have the skill set for.

A lot of that could and frequently is used to describe super rugby in general...

sea_point wrote: McDonagh on GBFM clearly wouldn't know his arse form his elbow in respect of Rugby. Absolutely no reason for him to be involved in the discussion. Just showed his ignorance and was unnecessarily disrespectful to KK.

Was he the lad spouting about having not seen an interprovincial performance like that (vs. Leinster) from Connacht in "many a long year"? Ignoring the record humping of Ulster not six months previously, and the regular chasings Leinster and Munster got at the Sportsground under Lam, or for that matter under Elwood. Whatever else you want to say about KK, in the Interpros he delivered all three scalps in one season, something we've never done before.

So what you're saying is we should be treated as a development province again

theCulk wrote: So what you're saying is we should be treated as a development province again

Ha? Did I miss a post where someone stumped for Bradley's return, or something?

theCulk wrote: So what you're saying is we should be treated as a development province again

What?


And yeah McDonagh said something along the lines of he doesn't remember ever seeing Connacht put another province to the sword or something, obviously was too busy over Christmas to watch the Ulster match.

Here we go .... good man Ruaidhri
www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-...ground-36864884.html

Sure he only lives up the road it's a perfect fit

I think even the editor for the Indo Sports section doesn't rate EOS judging by the pic selection

Amazed Ruairi is able to type wearing a Leo The Lion Leinster outfit.

sligsup wrote:

salmson wrote:

sligsup wrote:
Heard two gentlemen speaking last night they were saying Kieran Crowley was top of Connacht and IRFU list.

Well he'd be a great choice but you're going to have to be more precise about what you mean by "gentlemen". Were they sporting IRFU blazers, or Paddy Power fleeces, were they oul lads in Wegians jerseys nursing pints in O'Connell's, or is "gentlemen" a pejorative reference to the fourth estate?

The details and these are as graphic as you get. In a sauna yesterday evening in a south dublin gym two middled aged gentlemen speaking with plums in their mouth ( the ross o carroll kelly accent) speaking about it. And was extremely brief but one said to the other I was talking to Mike and he said the IRFU and Connacht are chasing Crowley as he was top of their list reply was suprised Ulster didnt go after him. Kept my head down said nothing,

This is the gold standard of internet gossip. Everyone should have to present their mad claims in this format.

(Also, Crowley would be a great shout)

I love the way the Dublin commentariat are always trying to foist EOS onto Connacht anytime the head coach job comes up. There's only space for one flapping Eddie around the Sportsground and that job is already taken.

After the horror show against the Ospreys last month I began to lose hope with KK and made a offhanded comment on Twitter that Connacht should seriously look at Kieran Crowley. Of the names bandied about he seems like the most realistic (with our budget) and best suited. Agree that his stint with Canada wasn't too hot but he's worked wonders with Treviso this season.

It really is ridiculous that there has been no official press release regarding KK's departure. It's the worst kept secret in rugby. Maybe it's not true after all and KK is staying on??

Interesting conversation this morning in OTB

Jerry Flannery - anyone?

I don't want anyone from within the Irish system, from outside of the existing conn backroom staff, as I don't want us training some other provinces next head coach.

Another reason to look to the SH is recruitment: Bundee aki doesn't sign for Flannery, and Flannery doesn't know who the next Jake Heenan is. Having in-depth knowledge of the southern hemisphere player pool, and particularly New Zealand, is invaluable to us as we know fringe players in other provinces are happier to sit on their arses collecting splinters and the odd cap in their bubble than sign for us so clever overseas recruitment is more important to us than the other provinces.