Backs (unlike forwards) should be exposed early, they're at their most fearless in late teens / early twenties. If they've got they potential then I'd be pushing them on rather than allow them to stagnate with AIL and the occasional A game. Layden's got game and should be getting some time this season..

Whitten would be a very good signing, whether he'd head out west is another thing. I think the big thing will be whether he believes that he realistically can get another shot with Ireland (he was capped alongside Keatley in US/Canada tour in '09) by coming West. Otherwise he'll probably follow the usual Northern exodus to the English leagues, think we're his only viable option in Ireland.

I gotta disagree. Luke Fitzgerald (not the biggest in rugby terms) got starts at 18. You could give Leyden some runs on the wing and let him start acclimatising to senior level.

As for Ian Whitten I'd take him. He's a crash bang sort of player but is a good passer as well. Unlucky that Spence is in front of him and Luke Marshall behind him. Worth a punt on a 1 year deal.

Too soon, next year.

Pity that Shane Layden or Conor Finn haven't been given a few runs. Doing well in Ireland U20's, they are big lads, especially Layden, who deserves a few games. They have to be blooded sometime.

Reading online today that Ian Whitten is being released by Ulster.
A good strong player, who would provide different kind of option to McSharry. Not to mention options on wing etc.

Well i recon Rogers is staying with us for at least another year going by what he was saying on twitter the last day. Dylan Rogers @dylanrogers1
Visa application sorted now off to Nandos for a real treat....

12:27 PM - 15 Feb 12 via Twitter for iPhone · Details
Or is it that he is moving else where

Rossie, I think we will be ok at centres if we have Henry, Tonetti, McSharry and Griffen. Id even think of playing Duffy there for a few games to give Layden games at 15.
Pod and Frankie are ok but not great scrum halves. But I thought Pod was great away from home at Toulouse but his passing can be off at times.
I'd be inclined to keep Pod and Moore and let Frankie go.
Hopefully next year George can get back to play his best. His improved of late but probably needs a good preseason.
Joc has been a great player for Connacht and hopefully Grace can start learning from him. Grace needs gametime. I dont want to see Mull with a 7 on his back unless his playing hurling. Connelly will also get his chance.

Benji, I agree that Parks and NOC sharing 10 will be a good move. Parks will deliver much needed points from the boot and the wins that follow.NOC can only benifit from that experience.

I agree on Fogarty also. If we are raiding Munster for a hooker why not go for the connacht man Sean Henry. He is younger, by all accounts a good player, and being a sligo man hopefully wud have more commitment to the cause.
On the props issue tight head will now probably be shared by Loughs and White with Maguire as back up.
Wilko is clear No1 at lh and Buckley will probably be given 3rd choice slot in squad. Who can we use to helk brett out. Id prefer not to see Loughs being used as a jack of all trades Prop and believe his future lies at th. He cud even be capped there if he keeps it up.
We have rodney, Rodgers and stephens on the books already. Rodney imo isnt a strong enuf scrummager especially given hes 130kg and isnt fit enuf anyway(injury aside).Rodgers also isnt fit enuf but decent scrummager and ive never seen stephens. Do we need to release all three and sign someone decent?
We also need a decent experienced scrum half with Moore promoted to no 2. Id release Murphy and pod(if possible) and promote dolan from Acadamy on 1 yr dev contract.
Finally i think we need someone at centre. I think we cud be ok at 12 wit Mcsharry supported by Tonetti(id like 2 see more of him here)Griffin is obviously no 1 at 13 but he is injury prone so we need cover here. Im not a big fan of Henry and wud like to see someone in his place.
i know im ignoring a lot of contractual issues here but ideally imo this is way id like to see us going. Id gladly sub Parks for steenson but Parks is more likely signing and im fine wit that.

yeah dummy pass, you are right. Thornley speaks about it in times today(v good article). Teams entitled to play one contracted forward and back per game down from 3 last season. Stupid rule imo but the rule none the less.

You would have imagined Mcgahan wud have insisted he get game time there though, but maybe the clubs are more independant of the provinces than the provinces are of the national management. i know if kidney says you play they tend to be selected and equally if he says no.

Im delighted with that signing., His held his own when playing for Leinster this year and while some of the scrums were great on Friday night we need more experience in the squad. Will be great for Loughrey that he has a pro to watch and he will get the necessary playtime and some rest when needed.
Will have a pro approach after his time with Leinster which can only help.
Ive had mixed thoughts on the Dan Parks signing idea lately. He would be a good squad player but can he still get a back line moving granted nobody could get scotland moving.
If Noc continues his improvement they could be a good pair for next year.
Wilko has been great this year and hopefully he can recognition by making an match day 22 for Ireland.

I wouldnt be a fan of fogary now as he hasnt been playing great and we already had the best Fogarty.

With all the young lads coming through its looking good.

In relation to Borlase and playing AIL, isn't there some rule that says you can only play a certain amount of contracted provincial players. Dolphin would have Christy Condon and Dave O'Callaghan for a good bit.

Not to mention Danny Barnes on occasion, so maybe thats it?

Good question exile.

My best guess is that he has been brought/sent here to A. give us cover because of injuries and b.(more importantly for irfu given his project status)to see if he is worth sticking with and giving him a new contract at munster. Hes iq soon but shown no potential at all in admittedly limited game time due to injury. All indications are that they are leaning towards releasing him in summer so its last chance saloon for him. For some reason he hasnt even featured in AIL since returning from injury to the best of my knowledge.

Would have taken Denis Fogarty and Tom Gleeson two years ago but both have stagnated into below-average players. With TOL off to France next year Stringer will go back to Munster and play as 2nd choice and with Murray off on Irish duty he can be offered decent gametime.

Wanted to ask this does anyone know how this affects the Borlase deal? Is he gone at the end of the season?

Said to myself that I would register today and post on signing I would like to see happen and Nathan White was the No.1 for tight head. I assume this means the end for Ah You, but with Loughney and Wilkinson we have really decent depth in the front row.
Some one like Alan Cotter from Young Munster and the Munster Academy would go well too, a very decent scrumager.

Hooker could well be Denis Fogarty, who Im told is definatly being released by Munster, his throwing can be a bit off but Macca is an unreal lineout jumper and Fogarty is v good in the loose, much better than Flavin or Reyneke.

Second row is a position where outside of Munster I hoenstly believe we have more depth than the other provinces. Macca, Browne, Swifty, Nolan, Gannon, Kearney (if he is around next season??) and even big George can do a job there.

Back row is a bit trickier, we are desperatly lacking a good 7. While Grace has gotten a bit of a rap for the silly penalty the last night, I think he is a good player for a down and dirty dog fight, like Saturday. A player that I think could be available is Willie Faloon. With Wilson signed on for next season, it means Ulster will keep Henry at 7, not the mention the talk of Jerome Kaino etc. Will Johnny is an absolute warrior he cant go on for ever, and has picked up knocks every season. Ofisa is now sadly NIQ and we shouldnt put Mul at 7 cause he is such a champion of a 6.

Scrum half has been a major annoyance for me this season, was glad to see Moore get some time in last few weeks. Has looked decent tbf and deserves a go v Edinburgh. I think Stringer is outside our budget, but I would imagine he will come back to get the tax rebate. While also probably outside our budget too, both Reddan and Boss are out of contract this season, and with Luke McGrath bubbling under there may be an opportunity there.

Outhalf has proven another annoyance, has Nikora dissappeared off the face of the earth? All this talk of Parks in as a player/coach is rediculous to me. He is a fine player, certainly not as bad as some would make out, but we have already got a kicking outhalf as head coach, and a backs coach. For me someone liek Gareth Steenson, who cant get game time at Exeter at the minute, would be great. Has slummed it in lower leagues, so knows what it is like to fight for wins, good kicker off ground and would come with a chip on his shoulder.

Centres is another funny one, we can safely assume Benson Stanley wont be on his way but with Griffin seemlingly suffering from shit hamstrings there is a need for depth that I dont feel Tonetti gives. Some Munster mates were saying Tom Gleeson has been sounded out by Connacht, personally I would stay away but what can you do.

Our back 3 are in decent fettle, with McCrea and Tuohy (if he gets back from awful injury) providing cover.
Just need the try machine Tiernan to stay injury free, and to pull up his socks!!!!

Good signing who should strengthen up our front row resources and add some additional leadership, hopefully also send a positive message to other players that Connacht have an eye on that things are getting better (despite the impression results this year overall would give)....

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant signing. He's a former captain who won regularly at Waikato, is winning regularly at Leinster and can lock a scrum really well. His winning mentality and playing ability are exactly what we need and we'll have him for the prime years of his career.