Mark Mostyn wrote: Neither TOH nor Marmion are on central contracts so the IRFU had nothing to do with their retention.

Marmion is second choice scrum half and if he didn’t have enough self belief that he would remain so he wouldn’t be in that position. You’d imagine Tiernan has reason to believe he still has a shot but that’s pure conjecture.

No idea what Carty has to do with this discussion.

Does anyone know who are the centrally contracted players with the IRFU? (all provinces)

dobby wrote:

Magpie wrote:

Westie85 wrote: Dobby will be disappointed with this haha

Misery loves company

Impressed with the IRFU that they managed to keep Marmion and TOH at Connacht. There is hope that maybe they actually care about promoting a 4th province. If I said there has been a dip in performance levels from both players it was solely to point out that their Irish futures were in the balance. I hope that both got some assurances from the Irish camp and that those assurances (obviously based on performances) will be lived up to. Otherwise I can't see why they would want stay to battle the types of Worchester or Brive. Indeed the fact that Jack has over-achieved in the last couple of weeks really identifies how sub-standard the opposition has been

You know what dobby, you can actually fupp off. You have an absolutely shockingly attitude for a fan.

Apologies to the mods/clan in general but I think this chap has needed a copping the fupp on for a long time.

creaven wrote: Thats the festive spirit !!!!!
In fairness to Jack he was good against Brive although we need a 10 we can't fault poor Jack for effort he deserves some slack
Really thought TOH was going to Munster I had a feeling Joe dropping him could force his hand to leave to force his way back into the Irish picture.

I just cannot understand why he stayed

dobby wrote: No Deegan, no Crosbie this weekend just floors me in terms of Connachts future. They are obviously so poor they cant make the first team (or bench).

Crosbie picked up a knee injury in training.

Thats the festive spirit !!!!!
In fairness to Jack he was good against Brive although we need a 10 we can't fault poor Jack for effort he deserves some slack
Really thought TOH was going to Munster I had a feeling Joe dropping him could force his hand to leave to force his way back into the Irish picture.

Magpie wrote:

dobby wrote:

Magpie wrote:

Westie85 wrote: Dobby will be disappointed with this haha

Misery loves company

Impressed with the IRFU that they managed to keep Marmion and TOH at Connacht. There is hope that maybe they actually care about promoting a 4th province. If I said there has been a dip in performance levels from both players it was solely to point out that their Irish futures were in the balance. I hope that both got some assurances from the Irish camp and that those assurances (obviously based on performances) will be lived up to. Otherwise I can't see why they would want stay to battle the types of Worchester or Brive. Indeed the fact that Jack has over-achieved in the last couple of weeks really identifies how sub-standard the opposition has been

What is the point if it makes you so unhappy?.

It doesn't make me unhappy Magpie, It annoys the living daylights out of me. No Deegan, no Crosbie this weekend just floors me in terms of Connachts future. They are obviously so poor they cant make the first team (or bench). And Jack is not going to get us anywhere. Which is why I am amazed Marmion and TOH signed up to this

Magpie wrote:

dobby wrote:

Magpie wrote:

Westie85 wrote: Dobby will be disappointed with this haha

Misery loves company

Impressed with the IRFU that they managed to keep Marmion and TOH at Connacht. There is hope that maybe they actually care about promoting a 4th province. If I said there has been a dip in performance levels from both players it was solely to point out that their Irish futures were in the balance. I hope that both got some assurances from the Irish camp and that those assurances (obviously based on performances) will be lived up to. Otherwise I can't see why they would want stay to battle the types of Worchester or Brive. Indeed the fact that Jack has over-achieved in the last couple of weeks really identifies how sub-standard the opposition has been

What is the point if it makes you so unhappy?
You have managed to turn keeping Marmion and TOH at Connacht into bitching about Jack. It must rupture your misery filled soul that Connacht won the Pro12.

Don’t react to the #troll or you’ll get a longer ban than Cian Healy I know from experience

dobby wrote:

Magpie wrote:

Westie85 wrote: Dobby will be disappointed with this haha

Misery loves company

Impressed with the IRFU that they managed to keep Marmion and TOH at Connacht. There is hope that maybe they actually care about promoting a 4th province. If I said there has been a dip in performance levels from both players it was solely to point out that their Irish futures were in the balance. I hope that both got some assurances from the Irish camp and that those assurances (obviously based on performances) will be lived up to. Otherwise I can't see why they would want stay to battle the types of Worchester or Brive. Indeed the fact that Jack has over-achieved in the last couple of weeks really identifies how sub-standard the opposition has been

What is the point if it makes you so unhappy?
You have managed to turn keeping Marmion and TOH at Connacht into bitching about Jack. It must rupture your misery filled soul that Connacht won the Pro12.

Neither TOH nor Marmion are on central contracts so the IRFU had nothing to do with their retention.

Marmion is second choice scrum half and if he didn’t have enough self belief that he would remain so he wouldn’t be in that position. You’d imagine Tiernan has reason to believe he still has a shot but that’s pure conjecture.

No idea what Carty has to do with this discussion.

Magpie wrote:

Westie85 wrote: Dobby will be disappointed with this haha

Misery loves company

Impressed with the IRFU that they managed to keep Marmion and TOH at Connacht. There is hope that maybe they actually care about promoting a 4th province. If I said there has been a dip in performance levels from both players it was solely to point out that their Irish futures were in the balance. I hope that both got some assurances from the Irish camp and that those assurances (obviously based on performances) will be lived up to. Otherwise I can't see why they would want stay to battle the types of Worchester or Brive. Indeed the fact that Jack has over-achieved in the last couple of weeks really identifies how sub-standard the opposition has been

So where are we for next season

Front-row : nearly unchanged, O'Donnell will be promoted for J.P IMO (covering both sides)

Lock : Browne will have to fight back to hope for an extension, I think a NIQ should be signed, we're light, especially with Dillane clearly back in contention for Ireland

Back-row : turnover to expect here, Masterson is the priority to re-sign, McKeon secondly. Fresh blood may be interesting otherwise

SH : one of McKeon/Blade/Kerrins could be released IMO, hope it's not Conor he should be useful as a kicking sub, as Keane love playing without a replacement 10

FH Crosbie in danger

Inside Centre one of Robb/Ronalson may be let go

outside centre : one of Akhi/Griffin may

back-3 : Healy/Leader seem prefered by Keane, even Kelleher to a lesser extent. One of Ili/Brennan won't be kept IMO, maybe both

Hugely important that TOH has re-signed for two years. Crucial we keep our home-grown players. Good work by all involved.

Masterson is the next to sign

I always have a more peaceful Christmas if I know we have a reasonable starting 15 already signed up beyond the end of the season.
Looking healthy enough now - we'd have to stick Hef or Ultan in the backrow, but who knows, Santa might give us a six yet ...

Denis Buckley
Tom McCartney
Finlay Bealham
Ultan Dillane
Quinn Roux
Dave Heffernan?
Jarrad Butler
Sean O'Brien
Kieran Marmion
Jack Carty
Niyi Adeolokun
Bundee Aki
Tom Farrell
Rory Scholes
Tiernan O'Halloran

Westie85 wrote: Dobby will be disappointed with this haha

Misery loves company

I get that papers need to fill column inches but amount of Agent Driven Pieces in the media is getting ridiculous
Lately we've had articles:
POM to Gloucester
Stander to Montpellier
TOH to Munster

All so silly

Great News about Tiernan staying though!!