Interesting he's an out and out 7 so you'd have to figure that's bad news for the likes of Grace.

Rumours surfacing that Willie Faloon may be signing

Ian Whitten is off to Exeter so we've missed the boat there

Really hope for Loxton's sake that he gets at least one game in the A's. He's had a hellish year.

I believe the Ulster game is on Wednesday 7th and the Leinster game on Wednesday 14th both away.
I

It was a good rumour then !!!!

Playing Ulster in an A game on March 5th I heard

Rumour has it that there will be 2 'A' games in March Ulster and Leinster away.

Can't see him getting a call up unless there is a major need. This is when we really need an 'A' team to get him match fit in case we need him.

connachtexile wrote: Allegedly Leinster are trying to sign Vereniki Goneva a fijian winger which means that Carr might be on the way out. I for one would love to have him back. With him on one wing and O'Halloran on the other we'd have one hell of an attacking force.

Just heard that James loxton is back in training now so that will help out on the wings

I forgot that he plays there. My point though is that we will only have two guys who specialize in that area rather than guys like McCrea and Jarvis who can play in a few positions. To be honest I'd like to see McCrea switched there and given a chance we have enough wingers with more coming through.

McCrea can play centre and from what I've heard actually prefers it to wing.

Jarvis can play center so maybe they plan on switching him there? To be honest I'd like to see him at 12 for at least one game. I really think Center is our most vulnerable position. We have McSharry and Griffin who are good but injury prone. Henry and Tonetti's contracts are up at the end of the season and no ones heard anything about them resigning. It doesn't mean they won't but there's being no rumours/announcements. That only leaves us with two out and out centers.

ummm, wrote:

sea_point wrote: Absolute Legend - the man has broken himself several times over in the Green of Connacht an absolute warrior for us with great skills to boot. If he's interested in coaching there should be an academy role for him?

I asked TOH on twitter who scares him most at training, he said JOC and Razor. Must be a nutter 7 thing.

sea_point wrote: Depends on budget but my feeling is that Eric will have to choose to etiher retain Henry for another season or sign Kyle, ideally if the budget stretched we'd keep both

Unless they intend to spend the money elsewhere I think there has always been cash for 4 centres. Henry replaced Niva, Tonetti was signed when Keith's retirement was inevitable. I think it should be do able. But with 4 out halves instead of 3 maybe that's in the balance now.

There is a specific gene in proper Number 7's like Ray & JO'C they have no pain receptors and usually have to be taken off to stop them from doing permanent damage to themselves. The line putting their heads where others put their boot was written for these two gents...

There'll always be a compromise in terms of the squad make up, I suppose it really depends whats coming through on Academy/ Development contracts....

I think one of our current 10's is looking at being cut this summer, can't see us retaining four (the only caveat is whether Jarvis is listed as Flyhalf or Utility player). My sneaking suspicion is it'll be Miah. Only 4 starts this season is a real worry, whether it's injuries or not it's the wrong season for him. This was his season to stake his claim for the 10 jersey and he's missed the boat somewhat.

If Connacht have Parks, NOC, Nikora and Jarvis on the books next season it would behoove one of them to gain some versatility between now and then if they are interested in playing above AIL level. I'm going to assume right out of the gate that it won't be Parks or NOC. I believe Jarvis is on a developmental contract this year and if he is back next season it's because they plan to bring him along at outhalf so they won't mess about with him by playing him out of position. That leaves Nikora with the option to either work at centre or fullback or find other employment. He has to assume his playing time will become even more limited next season so move is quite possible.

Without meaning to put words in peoples mouths, was the general concencous last summer that in order to improve, Connacht needed to
1. Keep the majority of the sqaud together
2. Pick up young players, promising players
3. Sign some experienced players, coming towards the end of their careers with a know how, of how to win games?

I think we've checked most of those boxes already
We've brought throw Griff and O'Halloran more this season, as well as Loughney getting more starts.
We've brought in people like McSharry
We've signed White and Parks
We've signed numerous players to contract extensions

I'm very happy with how everything is been handled within the club right now.
If the crowds stay consistent/grow, we have a decent to bright future.

As for Parks, I know a few people worry about his play from hand, but we now have a kicker who we can be confident of making the majority of kicks. When we earn a penalty now at the 10m line, and we point to the posts, we should be pretty confident that the kick is going over.
I dont have that confidence at the moment, and didnt have it fully with Keatley either

rossie wrote: Did Noc not play some games at 12 for Ulster?

Not sure, but quite sure I wouldn't want him there!

One thing that used to drive me insane was Bradleys selections. Duffy would have a good game at FB one week and get picked at 13 the next, with a winger moving to FB and an inside centre moving to wing to cover. We might not be winning matches but we look like a much more stable and settled side at the moment. All the pegs are in the right holes and we're not messing with that.