Connacht squad 2018-2019.

salmson wrote:

ConnachtCows wrote: www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-announce-s...itz-from-the-rebels/

Out Half signed from Oz

Has played pretty much all his super rugby at 12 and his NPC one season at 12 and one at 13, but his club/underage rugby was at 10 and that's clearly where he sees himself. With this lad and Craig being 10/12s, and Bundee in the mix for 12 too, I'd be fairly certain Godwin will be at 13 next year. Squad is really starting to come together.

Where he sees himself is irrelevant. The worry here is why none of the coaches he's played under in Super Rugby and NPC saw him as a 10. This team is crying out for a top class 10 and we've now signed two 12's who used to play 10 at underage level. I genuinely believe Jack Carty has improved his game massively despite all of the criticism and pressure he's been under (He's proven he has the mental strength required to play 10) and has the potential to become a Quality 10 with the proper tutelage from a very good experienced signing but I'm sorry to say that Craig Ronaldson has no future in the game at 10. He lacks the vision necessary, his passing is too slow and erratic and clearly doesn't have the self belief to play what is essentially the most important position on the field. So now we have signed two 12's that probably pushes Craig down to 3rd or 4th choice 12. So the question is does KK believe he can turn one of these new guys into the top class 10 we so desperately need or does he believe he can do that with Craig. If it's the former then why have they spent the money on a new contract for Craig and if it's the latter then the only conclusion I can come to is that KK sees him self as an alchemist. Forgive me my lack of faith, but the 6 month notice clause that robbed us of Pat Lam may very well be our salvation next summer.

New contracts signed

www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-announce-f...ad-of-201819-season/

Blade, Conor McKeon, McCabe, McCoy

Next years squad really taking shape !
Very surprised to see Conor Mckeown getting a new one

I was hoping for a new signing today with the way things were the last 2 weeks. Maybe the result in Belfast has stopped the branch announcing anything today.

RoadRunnerR1 wrote:

salmson wrote:

ConnachtCows wrote: www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-announce-s...itz-from-the-rebels/

Out Half signed from Oz

Has played pretty much all his super rugby at 12 and his NPC one season at 12 and one at 13, but his club/underage rugby was at 10 and that's clearly where he sees himself. With this lad and Craig being 10/12s, and Bundee in the mix for 12 too, I'd be fairly certain Godwin will be at 13 next year. Squad is really starting to come together.

Where he sees himself is irrelevant. The worry here is why none of the coaches he's played under in Super Rugby and NPC saw him as a 10. This team is crying out for a top class 10 and we've now signed two 12's who used to play 10 at underage level. I genuinely believe Jack Carty has improved his game massively despite all of the criticism and pressure he's been under (He's proven he has the mental strength required to play 10) and has the potential to become a Quality 10 with the proper tutelage from a very good experienced signing but I'm sorry to say that Craig Ronaldson has no future in the game at 10. He lacks the vision necessary, his passing is too slow and erratic and clearly doesn't have the self belief to play what is essentially the most important position on the field. So now we have signed two 12's that probably pushes Craig down to 3rd or 4th choice 12. So the question is does KK believe he can turn one of these new guys into the top class 10 we so desperately need or does he believe he can do that with Craig. If it's the former then why have they spent the money on a new contract for Craig and if it's the latter then the only conclusion I can come to is that KK sees him self as an alchemist. Forgive me my lack of faith, but the 6 month notice clause that robbed us of Pat Lam may very well be our salvation next summer.

I don't want to come across as anti northern hemisphere but I think there's a good few second five eights in the sh that could more than do a job at 10 in the pro14 and even the champions cup. Whether or not that includes the ones we signed remains to be seen. Even if they aren't a 10 option, if they take pressure off jack as a genuine second option at 12 that would be great and could help him a lot. Your comments about craig is a bit disheartening for me, always liked him, always felt the team played well with him as a playmaker, but haven't seen a lot of connacht this season so don't know if he has regressed - sad if that is the case.
Regarding the contract, I was pessimistic about KK from the start as I can't help feeling like this is his last job before retirement, if he does well in the challenge cup and/or next year and wants to stay on then that's great but otherwise Connacht should be lining up someone younger from the summer.

pinky wrote: What does this quote from KK mean?

I felt he did a wonderful job. Now he’s probably going to go away from us, we are not going to get him, but we are really happy for him. I always believed [he’d do well]. Even if he had stayed in NZ, he would have done well.

www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/european-...f-connacht-1.3442301

Does he just mean we will see less of him due to international commitments?

Read this yesterday and one of the lads on a whatapp group im in was asking the same thing. I read it as we wont have him as much due (Games Player management) to his success and intenational level and KK is delighted for him, This also reflects what Nigel said in an interview two weeks ago about the signing of Godwin that due to him not being available they expect gowin to fill his boots so to speak.

Connolly and Scholes staying next season too:

www.connachtrugby.ie/james-connolly-and-...cht-for-next-season/

I make that 35 definitely signed for next season, so another 5 to 10 announcements to go.

Surprised to see Coulson being released

www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-rugby-confirm-departing-players/

I think that leaves only Delahunt, Cooney, Browne, McKeon and Robb as neither re-signed nor released yet.

sligsup wrote: Surprised to see Coulson being released

www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-rugby-confirm-departing-players/

Peter Dooley PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!

sea_point wrote:

sligsup wrote: Surprised to see Coulson being released

www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-rugby-confirm-departing-players/

Yup, doesn't make sense to me. In fact pisses me off a wee bit, Absolute waste of s signing for a player that young if he's not getting a second season, one year isn't enough especially for a forward...

Going to hazard a guess that it's his shout, and that he'll rock-up at Bristol next season...

Might be a good call factoring in that Jack O’Connell has left them to sign for Ealing

I'm guessing you are right, and it was his decision to leave.
He played 15 times this year.
Robson McCoy played 5 times.

The other explanation, there could be a bigger signing

sligsup wrote:

sea_point wrote:

sligsup wrote: Surprised to see Coulson being released

www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-rugby-confirm-departing-players/

Yup, doesn't make sense to me. In fact pisses me off a wee bit, Absolute waste of s signing for a player that young if he's not getting a second season, one year isn't enough especially for a forward...

Going to hazard a guess that it's his shout, and that he'll rock-up at Bristol next season...

Might be a good call factoring in that Jack O’Connell has left them to sign for Ealing