RogueXV wrote: It will be interesting to see if Connacht get any pressure to play Henshaw at centre

I don't think any pressure will need to be applied:

Henshaw played underage and his first sub appearances for Connacht at centre. He only moved to fullback due to injury.

The club captain and latest NIQ signing both play fullback. We're covered there. At 13 we have Tonetti and Griffin who have struggled for fitness and form respectively.

Most importantly: Henshaw will be a shoo-in to replace BOD in a years time if he shows anything like last years form. If you were in his position, would you rather compete for an international place against Darren Cave, Keith Earls and some-poor-Leinster-sucker-who'll-miserably-fail-to-replace-BOD, or against Rob Kearney, Jared Payne and Felix Jones?

If Henshaw gets into the Ireland team at 13 it also greatly enhances McSharry's chances of international recognition (and with those Ulster lads Olding and Marshall he's up against it).

It will be interesting to see if Connacht get any pressure to play Henshaw at centre because if McSharry, Griffen and Tonetti are healthy they maximise their player resources much better with Robbie at fullback. That way they get three of the younger lads on the pitch and then put TOH or Duffy on the bench. With Henshaw at centre you severely limit the playing time of two from McSharry, Griffen and Tonetti since they're less likely to even feature on the bench since they don't provide as much cover.

connachtexile wrote:

Props: Brett Wilkinson, Ronan Loughney, Denis Buckley, Rodney Ah You (special project), Nathan White (special project), JP Cooney. Hookers: Jason Harris-Wright, Dave Heffernan, Sean Henry, James Rael. Second Row: Craig Clarke (NIQ), Mick Kearney, Aly Muldowney, Michael Swift, Danny Qualter. Back Rowers: Andrew Browne, Aaron Conneely, Mata Fafita, Jake Heenan (special project), Willie Faloon, Eoin McKeon, John Muldoon, George Naoupu (NIQ). Scrum-halves: Kieran Marmion, Frank Murphy, Paul O’Donohoe. Outhalves: Miah Nikora, Dan Parks, Craig Ronaldson. Centres:Eoin Griffin, Robbie Henshaw, Dave McSharry, Brian Murphy, Kyle Tonetti. Wingers: Fionn Carr, Matt Healy, Tiernan O’Halloran, Danie Poolman (special project). Fullbacks:James So’oialo (NIQ), Gavin Duffy.

What I found interesting about the squad was that there was no mention of Dave Nolan. It's also our biggest squad yet which is good considering how many injuries we had last year.

I have no doubt if he's fit enough to get back to rugby with Wegians next season that we'll see him line out with the Eagles in the B&I. He's 25 in July so he badly needs a full season of rugby behind him, losing two full seasons will have set him back massively development wise, there was no way they could take the risk of giving him a contract and him breaking down in September again. He has to go out and prove his body can take the rigors of adult competitive rugby...

Swift4Prez - I think the apparent difference in squad size might be accounted by those promoted to senior contracts from the academy *during* last season - Henshaw, Marmion, ?McKeon?

1. Buckley
2. JHW
3. White
4. Clarke
5. Muldowney
6. Browne
7. Faloon
8. Naoupu
9. Marmion
10.Parks
11.O Halloran
12.McSharry
13.Griffin
14.Poolman
15.Henshaw

16.Rael
17.Wilko
18.Loughney
19.Swift
20.Muldoon
21.Murphy
22.Ronaldson
23.Duffy

If all fit that would be my 23 on the first day of the season

Vast experience on the bench, and Swift, Duffy and Mul won't want to be subs which will breed the competiton and competitiveness we need.

I'd be giving a Clarke/Muldowney partership every chance to blosson. Clarke is a massive signing, our biggest ever. He will bring great leadership and lineout ability plus he has a big workrate and do the nuts and bolts around the field. Muldowney is a like for like replacement for Macca. Big engine, good carrier and very athletic for a lock, it's him more than anyone I'm excited to see in a Connacht jersey.

Elsewhere, Henshaw may end up in the centre on Schmidt's orders, although for our backline to be at its most potent, I feel he's best positioned at 15 coming onto everything late and at pace. We were completely reliant on Fets for breaks from the back when Robbie got injured, we need his spark at 15. If he is ordered to 13, then I wouldn't mind a look at Tiernan at 15 with Carr coming on the wing.

Carr has a big point to prove, he is not going to walk into the team and will need to work hard to prove his point. Could bring out the best in him. I hope Ronaldson can make the step up and adapt quickly, we need him as no2 and a different option coming off the bench. Also, the likes of Mick Kearney and Eoin Mckeon need to take another step forward and really push for starting slots.

Reading through the squad in full, its actually quite uplifting.
Come on September already

If Dave Nolan is gone, we had 2 more senior players last season.

out
McCarthy (leinster),
McCrea (jersey),
Grace (New Plymouth Albion),
Vainikolo (Exeter),
Jarvis (Nottingham),
TJ Anderson (Ealing Trailfinders RFC),
Reynecke,
Loxton,
Moore,
Gannon (unknown)
O'Connor,
Flavin
Nolan

in
henry,
Heffernan,
Rael
Clarke,
Muldowney,
Qualtar
Conneely,
Heenan
Ronaldson
carr
So’oialo

Props: Brett Wilkinson, Ronan Loughney, Denis Buckley, Rodney Ah You (special project), Nathan White (special project), JP Cooney. Hookers: Jason Harris-Wright, Dave Heffernan, Sean Henry, James Rael. Second Row: Craig Clarke (NIQ), Mick Kearney, Aly Muldowney, Michael Swift, Danny Qualter. Back Rowers: Andrew Browne, Aaron Conneely, Mata Fafita, Jake Heenan (special project), Willie Faloon, Eoin McKeon, John Muldoon, George Naoupu (NIQ). Scrum-halves: Kieran Marmion, Frank Murphy, Paul O’Donohoe. Outhalves: Miah Nikora, Dan Parks, Craig Ronaldson. Centres:Eoin Griffin, Robbie Henshaw, Dave McSharry, Brian Murphy, Kyle Tonetti. Wingers: Fionn Carr, Matt Healy, Tiernan O’Halloran, Danie Poolman (special project). Fullbacks:James So’oialo (NIQ), Gavin Duffy.

What I found interesting about the squad was that there was no mention of Dave Nolan. It's also our biggest squad yet which is good considering how many injuries we had last year.

Swift4prez - you could be right about Buckley/Duffy/Faloon, but I think <heresy> Swifty's days as first starter when everyone is available are over </heresy>.

I noted a few times this year - Leinster around the half hour at the RDS being one example where this tactic turned the tide of the match - that teams prosperred when they put people running at Swifty. Still feel dirty saying it...

Whatever way the selections fall we'll hopefully have a strong bench, there were a few times this year we didn't have enough options off the bench.

Speaking of the loosehead selection conundrum, there was discussion (don't know which thread) on how the hit leads to smaller looseheads (e.g. Buckley, Domingo and so on) getting injured more.

Anyone care to speculate on whether the depowered hit will help smaller lads like Buckley? Or could it help big less technical props like Rodney more?

salmson wrote: Possible first XV?
So'oialo, Poolman, Henshaw, McSharry, Carr, Parks, Marmion;
Wilkinson, Harris-Wright, White, Clarke, Muldowney, Browne, Heenan, Naoupu.

Duffy, Poolman, Henshaw, McSharry, Carr, Parks, Marmion;
Buckley, Harris-Wright, White, Swift, Clarke, Browne, faloon, Naoupu/McKeon.

Duffy has been a new man since he came back and his spot was taken of him by Henshaw, played very well on the wing, scoring 2 trys and setting up 2 more?!
Buckley was ahead of Wilko at start of the season but Brett got a kick up the ass just before Dennis got injured, Denis to start for me.
I think Swift could be a starter, still has it, cant remember him having any bad games, even was the stand-out player in a few of our awful games.
I cant see young Heenan coming in, no senior games i think and pushing Faloon, clan's player of the year out like that, young guy needs to work hard first.
50/50 between mckeon and george

Interview with Pat Lam in the advertiser:

www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/61205/l...with-stronger-squad-

Couple of points of note:

So'oialo, while obviously a utility player, is classifed as a fullback. Robbie Henshaw is in the list of centres and Poolman is with the wingers. Les Kiss has recently talked up Henshaw as a possible BOD replacement, so it'll be interesting to see where he plays on the Irish tour.

Lam seems really delighted with Heenan's signing.

Possible first XV?
So'oialo, Poolman, Henshaw, McSharry, Carr, Parks, Marmion;
Wilkinson, Harris-Wright, White, Clarke, Muldowney, Browne, Heenan, Naoupu.

Just watched matches and highlights of Sean Henry with Munster A : good throws, but very inefficient tackler. Hope he can improve and James Rael will quickly take the step toward pro level

We've had a few who've gone AWOL or disappeared off the radar over the years so lets hope he doesn't disappear anyway! Uninspiring signing on the face of it but I know nothing about him so can't judge. Its definitely a Pat Lam signing and you have to give him the benefit of the doubt as having first hand experience of this lad. I think a one year deal may have been more prudent going by his previous experiences but he is only just gone 24 so hopefully he'll be able to settle at Connacht and show what he can do.

The cover is welcome, I think any signing which gives us options and adds to the competitiveness of the squad will help us be more consistent in the long run but as a NIE signing he'll have to offer more than a handful of games a year. The younger players will get their chance.

paratro wrote: He is the brother of All Black Rodney. He also is a very good half back and plays 10 as well. He would be your ultimate utility back. Played in the last World Cup for Samoa. I know of him because he played for my home club in Wellington Norths. I think it's a very good signing and well done to Pat Lam.

Thanks for the info.

What's his favoured position? 15, 13? And is he a good enough 10 to let us name 2 outside backs on the bench?

He is the brother of All Black Rodney. He also is a very good half back and plays 10 as well. He would be your ultimate utility back. Played in the last World Cup for Samoa. I know of him because he played for my home club in Wellington Norths. I think it's a very good signing and well done to Pat Lam.

If you guys want to see him in top 14 with Castres, it's here :



and the first four minutes here

www.dailymotion.com/video/xs8orz_j21-cas...8_sport#.UZpGn5w0SQY