whoever we bring in at hooker needs to be better than reynecke. My memory of blaney at leinster was that he was no more than average at a time when their pack was nowhere near as good as it currently is. i dont think he is the answer for us. what we are looking for imo is someone as good or better than JHW so that they push each other on and theres no drop off in standard at the 60 min changeover period.
i agree that ideally he should be iq we need 2 quality locks also which will probably use up reyneckes niq spot.
the iq options are annett at ulster, henry at munster, sexton and dundon at leinster, fogarty at aurillac and blaney. after that you are hitting the acadamies of the rival provinces.

salmson wrote:

Craic Head wrote: What about Brian Blaney the former Leinster hooker ? He is finishing with London Irish this season and would want to come back to finish playing here for tax rebate. I can't see Flavin lasting and Blaney would beef up the pack. Not sure how old he is, around 30 I would think?

According to the irish website you're bang on as regards his age, but he's only made 8 starts in 2 and a half seasons, so msybe not.

Not sure about the 8 starts in 2 seasons, he is behind David Paice the England hooker and Scott Lawson the Scotland hooker at London Irish so he is not first choice, nor would he be with us, but he could be value and he is Irish ! He was great with Leinster and a return home could be just what he needs. I think that he is an option, he would not be first choice, but would he be better than Flavin? At this stage, I would say yes he would.

salmson wrote:

Craic Head wrote: What about Brian Blaney the former Leinster hooker ? He is finishing with London Irish this season and would want to come back to finish playing here for tax rebate. I can't see Flavin lasting and Blaney would beef up the pack. Not sure how old he is, around 30 I would think?

According to the irish website you're bang on as regards his age, but he's only made 8 starts in 2 and a half seasons, so msybe not.

Is he an improvement on what we have, or for the same money could we get a very good young prospect...

Them's the appropriate questions regarding Blaney...

Craic Head wrote: What about Brian Blaney the former Leinster hooker ? He is finishing with London Irish this season and would want to come back to finish playing here for tax rebate. I can't see Flavin lasting and Blaney would beef up the pack. Not sure how old he is, around 30 I would think?

According to the irish website you're bang on as regards his age, but he's only made 8 starts in 2 and a half seasons, so msybe not.

What about Brian Blaney the former Leinster hooker ? He is finishing with London Irish this season and would want to come back to finish playing here for tax rebate. I can't see Flavin lasting and Blaney would beef up the pack. Not sure how old he is, around 30 I would think?

It's going to be interesting to see which way the recruitment goes. For my money I'd like to see at least one 'veteran' someone whose been there, done that and can give leadership on the pitch. Stringer fits in this mold or if not him someone else, maybe a forward.

I think we should also have a serious look at trying to get guys who are play for Ireland under residency laws eventually. If these guys are good enough and we want to keep them having them IQ after 3 years is good news for us and Ireland. It might also give us latitude to sign extra foreigners sometimes if we have a bunch of guys feeding into the Irish set-up ala Poolman and White.

swift4prez wrote:

rossie wrote: hes out of contract in the summer but seen as hes in the top14 its unlikely he will want to leave.

captain of Grenoble, 5th in the table and only 2points behind castre for 4th place and play off spot.

Top 6 in France is playoffs so they're flying it

Farley is in the Tom Hayes bracket. Captain of a fledgling team who are really going places. No chance of a return

Have to agree,

With some regulars missing and mckeown off we consistently went backwards

Not too sure about Carr,

Although he scored a lot of tries for us from my old spot in the main terrace he seemed to commit so many basis defencive errors that the opposition were usually able to score just as many!

Bulking up the pack has to be the main priority in terms of recruitment. I'd like to see a couple of signings as back up at half back, additions in the centre and the wing would be welcome but first priority needs to be making sure the pack has the quality and the bulk to compete throughout the season.

That's one of the reason like I so dislike EOS (and Bradley). Farley should have had at least 10 senior Irish caps except for EOS, yes he was around the same time as O'Kelly, DOC and O'Connell in their prime but there was times when he could have been brought in a given some international recognition at senior level. Wouldn't we and Ireland loved to have had him the last season or so.

theCulk wrote:

rossie wrote: Cows- would you still say that if branch announce the signing of Cronin, Browne and say Farley? lol.

I'd take fazza back in a heart beat

Hands down the best signing that Connacht ever made, by a country mile. Would be concerned about the mileage on his clock after four years in France of pretty much playing every weekend from August to June. But he is a machine and he would do a job for us again, no doubt.

I'd take Cronin, Hago and Henry Fa'afili back too...

Browner is too old I fear, he'd be 33 if he cam back in the summer and like Bob Casey at his fittest he was never the most mobile.

rossie wrote: hes out of contract in the summer but seen as hes in the top14 its unlikely he will want to leave.

captain of Grenoble, 5th in the table and only 2points behind castre for 4th place and play off spot.

hes out of contract in the summer but seen as hes in the top14 its unlikely he will want to leave.

rossie wrote: Cows- would you still say that if branch announce the signing of Cronin, Browne and say Farley? lol.

I'd take fazza back in a heart beat

rossie wrote: Cows- would you still say that if branch announce the signing of Cronin, Browne and say Farley? lol.

Haha, what I was trying to get at, is that we should be targetting players who will improve us, rather than take back players who left us, that we liked

I didnt realise that Nathan had a bad reputation. Learn something new everyday.

Hopefully Lam has built good relationships with former players, and might be able to get them to join