Pro 14 2018/19

Tbh as a Sligo based supporter Fridays never suited me, but if we at least had some Saturday evening fixtures it would be the best of both worlds, unfortunately most are late afternoon at best

mahick wrote: ...but looking at the squad and their pre-season attitude I think we're up for it!

One person who I have been following on social media over the summer, and have been very impressed with is Robin Copeland. He seems to have a great attitude and an impressive work ethic - he also seems to have gotten straight into the craic with the squad. I can see him nailing down a starting spot at 8 and becoming a real leader.

PS: I wonder who they're going to announce as captain? I think I saw they'll be doing it at an event in elverys. Anyone know when that is?

Wednesday 15th August 6-8pm.

RonanL wrote:
PS: I wonder who they're going to announce as captain? I think I saw they'll be doing it at an event in Elverys. Anyone know when that is?

I reckon it's a very short list of possibilities given the requirements: a guaranteed starter (so not McKeon, McCartney, or Masterson) who isn't in the door this summer (so not Copeland) and isn't going to miss half the season with international commitments (so not Aki or Marmion). If we also rule out props* (so not Buckley or Bealham) and wingers (so not Healy or Adeolokun) then we're pretty much down to Butler, O'Halloran, O'Brien, or (and this is quite a stretch to find a fourth candidate) Roux.

*I'd like to point out that I'm not propist, but realistically many coaches seem to be.

Props never play the full game, and if your scrum isn't going well refs can lose their patience with props, so having one as your captain can be a problem as you want him onside with the ref.

Nailed on Butler tbf

Accidentally Onside wrote: Props never play the full game

Except for Denis Buckley, obviously.

salmson wrote:

Accidentally Onside wrote: Props never play the full game

Except for Denis Buckley, obviously.

The greatest laugh I ever got in reasons why Denis Buckley hasn't been capped is: "He's not fit enough"

Bazzo wrote:

salmson wrote:

Accidentally Onside wrote: Props never play the full game

Except for Denis Buckley, obviously.

The greatest laugh I ever got in reasons why Denis Buckley hasn't been capped is: "He's not fit enough"

Name a fitter prop in the provinces / league?

I think Coipeland will get the captaincy.

Funny thought came into my head reading through Salmson's criteria for the captaincy, Jack Carty checks a number of them boxes.

RogueXV wrote: Funny thought came into my head reading through Salmson's criteria for the captaincy, Jack Carty checks a number of them boxes.

We double dare you, Andy Friend.

Not a back-player except in the end of a game, too far from action
Buckley, sub or not is one of our player with most minutes in a season
He should get the nod, TOH to take the role for the final 15.
And Butler for the 4/5 games Buckley would not start

I'd be veeeerrrrryy surprised if it was Buckley. I'm not sure he's captain material

Everything I've seen of Copeland so far has impressed me. He has a point to prove just like Connacht after two disastrous seasons so why not give him the captaincy? He looks and sounds like a leader and IMO is a guaranteed starter.