A colleague of mine told me last night that Mike Ross will be moving here. I don't know what his source was but he wasn't joking. Time will tell.

Starting to fear that there will be no more signings.

dobby wrote: Now I am all for blooding new players but. Then Browne vs Marshall. Well Ben hasn't played a game in recent memory.

Right but he was recruited as high potential who made the Irish team against the Baa-Baas. Same for Roux if Joe sees smth in him he should be able to be ahead of both Ben and Andrew. On the bench if a new signing is announced (I still think 4 senior locks are not enough for Champions Cup) Champions... Are we Champions? FFS that's beyond my greatest imagination, will never get used to it!

You forgot about 22 which for me would be robb/parata for me (aki and Ronaldson a given at 12/13)).

Well what is implied here is very interesting. You mean using both the 22 and 23 spots for backs, with no outhalf cover, as Ronaldson can cover 10 in the end of a game. Risky, because one of Ronaldson or our starting 10 must play the whole 80 min. But it could worth the risk to have one extra centre cover/impact p (Parata/Robb/Griffin/McShazz as you said) added to one back-three player on the bench (Darragh, Dannie, Kelleher etc..)

Good to see Dave McSharry back in the training pics yesterday. Hopefully he can get back into the team, if ever a lad was due a bit of luck.

Good call on most match ups but I'd say roux is far from nailed, I expect to see a lot of brown and marshal when fit too.

For me starting 12 will be bundee and 13 will be griffin once he gets up to speed on the systems.

Caveat* I loved griffin when he was here before

connachta wrote: Buckley Tom Bealham Dillane Roux Heenan Marmion Aki TOH are 1st choices without any contest

So ? for next season

6) SOB vs Nepia vs Muldoon vs McKeon
8 ) SOB vs McKeon vs Muldonn vs Masterson
10) Boshoff vs Carty vs O'Leary vs Ronalsson
12) -when Aki plays 13- Ronaldson vs Robb vs McSharry
13) -when Aki plays 12- Griffin vs Parata
11) Healy vs Kelleher
14) Poolman vs Leader vs Niyi


16 Delahunt vs Heff
17 Sokora vs JP vs Loughney
18 Carey vs McCoy
19 Browne vs Marshall
21 Blade vs Cooney
23) Too many in contention

Your opinion for each "battle", assuming all the "1st choices" are fit at the same time

You make a really interesting and maybe worrying point, Carey vs MCoy? Now I am all for blooding new players but. Then Browne vs Marshall. Well Ben hasn't played a game in recent memory. You forgot about 22 which for me would be robb/parata for me (aki and Ronaldson a given at 12/13)).

Buckley Tom Bealham Dillane Roux Heenan Marmion Aki TOH are 1st choices without any contest

So ? for next season

6) SOB vs Nepia vs Muldoon vs McKeon
8 ) SOB vs McKeon vs Muldonn vs Masterson
10) Boshoff vs Carty vs O'Leary vs Ronalsson
12) -when Aki plays 13- Ronaldson vs Robb vs McSharry
13) -when Aki plays 12- Griffin vs Parata
11) Healy vs Kelleher
14) Poolman vs Leader vs Niyi


16 Delahunt vs Heff
17 Sokora vs JP vs Loughney
18 Carey vs McCoy
19 Browne vs Marshall
21 Blade vs Cooney
23) Too many in contention

Your opinion for each "battle", assuming all the "1st choices" are fit at the same time

No it does not.

It doesn't say much for our years 2&3 academy props does it?

Definately a decent squad addition. If he can get ahead of Loughney before the end of the season it would be wonderful.

In one of the pics of the lads training in the new gear it looks like Clontarf LH Ivan Soroka is involved

Bit quiet on the Western front!!

I am waiting to hear we have signed Liam Messam now that he isn't going to Rio!!!

Mark Mostyn wrote:

EvoGeo wrote: Dillane and Roux will likely be unavailable for large parts of the season though and coupled with Muldowney leaving we will be down three top class locks. This is unsustainable for a team trying to compete in the pro12 as well as Europe.

Do backup players really miss that many provincial games? Dillane got like 40 minutes on the South Africa tour, I don't think he'll be subject to the same player welfare protocols as the likes of McGrath, Best, Heaslip, etc.

Dillane had a super season but I think he still needs to be managed, I think Marmion had a fair dip in form for a while after being played for so long in succession. We have some extremely good young players but we can't afford to be short termist about them.

I hope we sign a lock but it won't be a muldowney playmaker, I think its much more likely that if we continue playing the same 2-4-2 shape that a backrow player steps into that role, possibly McCartney at a stretch.

Roux was definitely rated by Schmidt from a long way out and has the sort of physical attributes that are difficult enough to come by (sort of like a more physical DOC) I can see him getting a lot of caps for Ireland.

People obviously feel there is something about Roux.

He is worth persisting with game time because he may just be one of those players who needs a run of games.

He would also be very good for our scrum and, well frankly, if Muldowney can develop into that playmaking role at his age, there is no reason why Roux couldn't adapt and add real value in open play.

I have a feeling about Cillian Gallagher too and he could surpass quite a few of those ahead of him. He has a bit of the James Ryan about him. Claffey is meant to be a big until too.

I just feel as a country we should embrace giving the young guys their chance earlier. We have been better at this than than most and long may it continue.

Mark Mostyn wrote:

EvoGeo wrote: It depends how involved he's going to be over the autumn and 6 nations.

Afaik they try and manage the total minutes a player plays in a season so if he is called up but not used he should be free for most of our games. He is knocking on the door of the first 15 though and an injury or two would catapult him to first choice very quickly.

Agreed, he's definitely only an injury or two away from starting which I'd love to see, Roux is a different story though he's a good bit down the pecking order though. Overall, I wouldn't be too worried about being hit badly by international callups.

Yeah Roux looks a little further down the line but he was impressive in the scrum as well as rucks in SA. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get more game time with Connacht and Ireland this year. He is only 25 and as an example Tadhg Beirne who has moved from Leinster to Scarlets this week is 24 one year younger so we shouldn't necessarily expect him to be the finished article yet.

Some interesting analysis of Roux here www.the42.ie/ruck-analysis-ireland-south...two-2840127-Jun2016/

EvoGeo wrote: It depends how involved he's going to be over the autumn and 6 nations.

Afaik they try and manage the total minutes a player plays in a season so if he is called up but not used he should be free for most of our games. He is knocking on the door of the first 15 though and an injury or two would catapult him to first choice very quickly.

Agreed, he's definitely only an injury or two away from starting which I'd love to see, Roux is a different story though he's a good bit down the pecking order though. Overall, I wouldn't be too worried about being hit badly by international callups.