The ginger Sean O'Brien is 6'4, realistically he isn't a lock at the highest level.

He seems more suited to 6/8.

I think if we were smart would try to make him into Ireland and Connacht's version of Dan Lydiate.


hope Layden can get a run of injury free time and rediscover his form, what a player.

Players out of Contract end of year:

30 and Over
Michael Swift[36]
Dan Parks[36] (coach role?)
Frank Murphy[33]
Gavin Duffy[32]
John Muldoon[31]

25 - 29
Miah Nikora[29]
Brian Murphy[28]
Paul O'Donohue[27]
David Nolan[26]
Mata Fifita[26]
Kyle Tonetti[26]
Rodney Ah You[25]

24 and Under
Dave Heffernan[23]
Tiernan O'Halloran[23]
Eoin Griffen[23]
Aaron Conneely[22]
Daniel Qualter[22]
James Rael[22]

Academy
Tadhg Leader[22]
Jack Carty[22]
Conor Finn[21]
Shane Layden[21]

i'd rather also see sean o brien (the real sean o brien lol) promoted from the acadamey and given a chane in back-row before eventually finishing at lock

SOB is a 1st year academy player. While he definitely has the skills he isn't anywhere near ready yet physically for the first team. He'll need at least a year minimum were he can bulk up before he can even considered.

The IT today seems to be a lot less confident of our ability to bring anyone else in this season.

www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/james-so-...louse-loom-1.1617010

“We tried bringing in the right player but didn’t want to panic by filling the spot with just anyone,” explains Tim Allnutt, Connacht’s long-serving manager. “Everyone we did approach was tied in for the season.
“We are still actively interested in filling that foreigner spot in our squad but it is bloody hard to find the right calibre of player.”
There is no wherewithal in the player budget to recruit even a lesser version of Brad Thorn or Lote Tuqiri in the event of injury?
“Not really. There is a lot involved in such a deal in terms of cost and getting a work permit. The IRFU have assisted where possible but we have just got to battle through.”

Some good news though is Robbie appears to have been passed fit for Sunday.

Don't disagree about the need for a quality 8, George has been poor since his bad head/neck injury last season, McKeon has been injury prone although I think he is a quality player. Throughout our pack we lack strong ball carriers who break the line and put us on the front foot. Thought Muldowney might bring some of this but he hasn't fired yet. Sad to say but I have also been disappointed in Mul this year and last, not the player he was.

Would love to see us sign a high quality 6 or 8 and maybe let George go, he might fancy a fresh start elsewhere, but it is the same as out half, who the hell is going to sign for us with the way things are at the moment?

murph13 wrote: Not in favour of this at all, what is signing an injury prone ex Wallaby on the way out going to achieve? Don't like the way Lam seems to say one thing then do something different, says he was going to develop home grown players and give youth a chance and now this? How much will he cost, 20, 30, 40k? Put that cash into the academy where we have seen Carolan can produce players for the long term and build for the future.

If he needs experience in the backline play Parks and tell him to play to a game plan that works for him and us, play around a strong set piece, use our line out, put pressure on and get points on the board, not all this run it from anywhere shite that has left us propping up the table and looking completely lost.

He also said we were going to have three captains and Clarke wouldn't be given the job and now he has. Smacks of desperation and panic when he should be showing leadership, something we've seen nothing of from him. Didn't like the way he allowed Mul to come out after last week's shambles while he skulked in the background.

Pat Lam or Pat Sham more like?!

Its the backrow that needs to be reinforced.

I'm sorry but we need a stellar signing here at 6 or 8 now or save it for next season. We have players aplenty in the backline why go for Turquiri?

sorry but for me muldowney,mckeon,masterson,browne do not cut the mustard if we are to be successful long term..

i'd rather also see sean o brien (the real sean o brien lol) promoted from the acadamey and given a chane in back-row before eventually finishing at lock

The three captains idea was a poor one and I didn't like it. In fairness to Swift and Duffy I'd have thought we wouldn't have been using them all the time.
Look , I'm sure Lam like anybody in a new job had an idea how he wanted to do things. So after seeing things he now has too make changes. At least he recognises it and does it.
We badly need a defence coach and develop a defence structure.
I wouldn't sign Loti at all. His been only ok for Leinster.

Not in favour of this at all, what is signing an injury prone ex Wallaby on the way out going to achieve? Don't like the way Lam seems to say one thing then do something different, says he was going to develop home grown players and give youth a chance and now this? How much will he cost, 20, 30, 40k? Put that cash into the academy where we have seen Carolan can produce players for the long term and build for the future.

If he needs experience in the backline play Parks and tell him to play to a game plan that works for him and us, play around a strong set piece, use our line out, put pressure on and get points on the board, not all this run it from anywhere shite that has left us propping up the table and looking completely lost.

He also said we were going to have three captains and Clarke wouldn't be given the job and now he has. Smacks of desperation and panic when he should be showing leadership, something we've seen nothing of from him. Didn't like the way he allowed Mul to come out after last week's shambles while he skulked in the background.

Pat Lam or Pat Sham more like?!

Really cannot see the benefit of a player who has shown himself to be an injury concern and a defensive liability. His centre cover is more theoretical than anything anyways. I'd much prefer Leader or any of the other younger players really to get a shot.

Money would be better spent on a defense coach. I think Connacht have the players they need to win some games. Maybe with Parks and Duffy falling off this season they haven't been able to lend any guidance to the younger lads so they are looking to Tuqiri's experience to do that.

The IMF wrote: www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/lam-weigh...t-west-29803290.html

Lam confirms interest in Tuqiri. At this stage I'm desperate and will take any new addition we can get our hands on to boost our options. I want to see the young lads brought through but equally with someone of Tuqiri experience and flexibility I don't think we're in a position to say no.

Interesting to also read Clarke has been confirmed 'on field' captain. Which is kind of the way I'd envisaged it in the first place 3 off the field club captains while Clarke had the armband on the pitch, once he had a bit of a bedding in period.

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/experienc...er-lam-29807073.html

ok i know we have problems all over the pitch but the centers and wing positions are way down the list of positions we need to find someone to improve the team. waste of money in my opinion getting Tuqiri

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/lam-weigh...t-west-29803290.html

Lam confirms interest in Tuqiri. At this stage I'm desperate and will take any new addition we can get our hands on to boost our options. I want to see the young lads brought through but equally with someone of Tuqiri experience and flexibility I don't think we're in a position to say no.

Interesting to also read Clarke has been confirmed 'on field' captain. Which is kind of the way I'd envisaged it in the first place 3 off the field club captains while Clarke had the armband on the pitch, once he had a bit of a bedding in period.

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/experienc...er-lam-29807073.html

Additional players for HEC:

Connacht Rugby
Additional player: Willie FALOON
Date of Birth: 30/9/1986
Position: Flanker
Deregistered: James So'oialo
Additional player: Denis BUCKLEY
Date of Birth: 9/8/1990
Position: Prop
Deregistered: Peter Reilly

Willie on the way back? That'd be huge.

EDIT:
Actually if you remove a previous additional player, he must be replaced by the player you first swapped out. So there was no point in having So'oialo on the squad and Faloon is the only player you can put in in his place. He may not be on the way back, but if his rehab goes well it's sensible to keep him on the list.

Good shout exile.
He's a kiwi too which will meet with pats approval.

I think we should sign Andrew Goodman from Leinster he's going at the end of the season from then. He's 2 years here so after 1 season would be IQ. He's a decent outhalf who could replace the departing Nikora and would give us a different option at 12 as he's a big lad. He shouldn't be that expensive either.

I know we have a bit of an injury crisis but signing a ''past it' player like Tiquiri rather than playing one of our own like Shane Layden is a seriously retrograde step. I, for one, would prefer us to try out some of our indigenous players at this stage.