Connacht Squad 2014/2015

He will until October sadly

Carr with the 13 jersey??? I hope it's just a pointless training idea. Otherwise it would be the greatest mistake in Connacht new era since Erza !

Interesting that our longest serving (unbroken service) are Swifty, John Mul, Loughs, Brownie, TOH (23) and Miah (open to correction) Just shows how much our squad has changed over the years!

connachta wrote: Carr with the 13 jersey??? I hope it's just a pointless training idea. Otherwise it would be the greatest mistake in Connacht new era since Erza !

Players In and out


Tom McCartney for Brett Wilkinson unchanged level
Quinn Roux for Craig Clarke loss, but I think less than expected
Sean O'Brien 2.0 for Dave Nolan gain (U 20 captain for player injured systematically)
John Cooney for Paul O'Donohoe gain
Ian Porter for Frank Murphy huge gain
Jack Carty for Dan Parks on a one year perspective, might be a loss
Bundee Aki for Eoin Griffin unchanged level, better future
Shane O'Leary for Brian Murphy gain expected
Conor Finn for Kyle Tonetti Gain (player injured systematically)
Mils Muliaina for Gavin Duffy Gain (same age, 10 Irish caps against 100 all-black caps)




So the clear-out/recruitment process was well-led by Pat Lam




If we examine the stock now


most player will play the same level (Ah You for exemple, made huge progress but can he really go further?)


Kearney, Muldowney, Heffernan, Leader are on good dynamics


White, Naoupu, McKeon, Carr were not what they used to be






That analysis makes me think we've not at all a bad squad exepct four potential liabilities, by order




n°8 If McKeon and George play like they did last season, Masterson or SOB 2.0 will have to step up quickly


n°10 Carty and Ronaldson under pressure, but is that so difficult to do better than a declining Parks?


n° 3 White is getting old, bring us Loughney to his best or Big JP Cooney to help Ah You


n° 4 Roux has to prove he deserves his project player status, give him confidence for tackling, and he could be fine





Ccl : squad improved, if 2 or 3 liabilities are overcame, top 6 possible
if not, reasonably target play-off (7th or 8th)

Actually very good news, espacially we can expect Henshaw Heenan and Henry will front up for the start of the season
www.connachtrugby.ie/players-on-target-f...return/#ConnachtNews

Connachta, having watched Aki a few times in the Super 15, I'd say he is a gain over Griffin. The notion of him at 12 and Henshaw at 13, Carr and Healy on the wing with the odd glitz cameo from mentor Mils has mouth-watering written all over it. It's to our detriment that we haven't identified a proven 10 or 8, but I'm more than happy to be corrected by Ronaldson, Carty et al.

I would normally have been all over the match v Wasps in High Wycombe, but am going to be up at a wedding in the Lake District. Ah well. I'll have a sneaky pint on Connacht's behalf up there instead.

When it's there in black and white it seems like a lot of players coming into the new season recovering from surgery. Hope they all recover well and stay healthy. Too many recurrences and the squad gets thin very quickly especially at certain positions.

Aki had not proved much when I wrote, but seems indeed a gain over Griffin after his Super xv quarter final. If Henshaw/Leader isn't fit, I wish to see him 13 associated to McSharry

Poolman is 6/1 to be Connacht top try scorer.. that is cracking value imo - he is looking like an absolute TANK since pre season

Big oval balls!

Muldowney and Browne both out for up to 5 weeks. 2nd row not a posistion we can afford to be picking up injuries in, hopefully they won't miss more than the first two games as they'll be badly needed against Leinster.

www.connachtrugby.ie/squad-update-follow...e-trip/#ConnachtNews

Squad Update following France trip

11th August 2014


The Connacht squad were back in Galway this morning following a rigorous week-long training camp in France which culminated in the first of the province’s pre-season’s games against Clermont Auvergne on Friday night.

There were some injury concerns arising from the week, the details of which were confirmed today by Head Physio Gavin Malouf.

Forwards Andrew Browne and Aly Muldowney both picked up injuries on the training field. Browne, who sustained a meniscal tear to his knee is due to see a surgeon today but is looking at 4 – 5 weeks on the sidelines.

Second row Aly Muldowney will also be out of action for up to five weeks with an ankle sprain.

From match action, winger Matt Healy suffered a small hand fracture and is now looking at a four-week rehab programme before he is available again. Centre Dave McSharry will be forced to sit out training this week due to a mild ankle sprain incurred during the game.

In better news, Jake Heenan, Ronan Loughney and Jack Carty have all resumed full training and are in line to feature in Connacht’s next and final preseason game against Wasps on August 23rd.

This week, Robbie Henshaw, Kieran Marmion and Rodney Ah You are all involved in Ireland’s three-day training camp in Carton House and will return to Galway on Wednesday.

Despite Friday night’s result, Head Coach Pat Lam found the fixture a ‘beneficial and worthwhile exercise’ commenting:

“When you consider the front line players we were without, it was always going to be a tough challenge against a full strength Clermont side, stacked full of internationals. On the flip side, it was a great opportunity to give our new and less experience players a chance to test themselves against such quality opposition.

“The purpose of the game was to test our structures under pressure and that’s what excited us about playing a team like Clermont who were so geared up for the start of their new season.

“We gave ourselves good scoring chances but we let ourselves down in terms of roles and execution. It’s not until you get a game like that under your belt with a new squad that you can then step up training to the next level based on the learnings.

“In that regard, we were very pleased with the game and the hard work that went into the week-long camp.”

Roux/Kearney with Qualter/Swift on the bench for the two first matches then ?

Pb is Muldowney/Browne were our lineout catchers, aside from Mick... The 1st half lineout in Clermont wasn't really ok for that reason...

Muldoon formally announced as captain. I think he deserves it, had a good season last year, hopefully he continues in that vein.

wp_rathead wrote: Poolman is 6/1 to be Connacht top try scorer.. that is cracking value imo - he is looking like an absolute TANK since pre season