Connacht Squad 2016/2017

There's already a two page thread on the Ulster forum titled "Ah Feck".

Classy.

We'll miss you Rodders.

Decadence wrote: So he's gone for silverware. Hmmmm.

I don't know, I think his ability is being understated a bit by some here, but he isn't irreplaceable I suppose. It's the fact that we stuck with him for two years when he was awful and that now he gets poached by a neighbouring province that galls me a bit. But as someone said, it's not like we're losing a homegrown player.

Hopefully the money saved on Dave can be put towards tying down Heenan and Muldowney

wp_rathead wrote: Hopefully the money saved on Dave can be put towards tying down Heenan and Muldowney

Rodney

This has been on the cards for a while. Sad to lose Rodney, I wish him well and he's got to do what's right for him but more than anything the feeling I have on this is worry for him. For us he does a job at a certain level, we bring him off the bench in certain games, he makes a few big carries that gets the crowd going and from a car crash initally he's turned into a popular figure. At Ulster, the expectation is that you are pushing for the league and pushing to get into the knock out stages in Europe.

On the positive side, Ulster have a number of props of relatively similar Pro 12 standard, Herbst is currently their only real quality tight-head and he is pushing on so there may be possibilities but I just can't see Rodney as the corner-stone of a team hoping to achieve what Ulster want to achieve and he's not exactly coming into the most grizzled pack in Europe by a long shot.

He's got to win over a sceptical crowd who won't be shy in letting him know what they think if he doesn't come up to standard. Les Kiss will demand a lot of him from a defensive viewpoint and he'll have to come up to that mark. While he'll get a bit of a pay increase, the work environment is I believe as important an element in any line of work and I hope I am wrong but I firmly believe this time next year he'll be saying to himself what was I thinking moving here.

From our viewpoint its worrying as finding another Irish eligible prop will be difficult. If we do reach the Champions Cup, an ageing Nathan White and mixing and matching Finlay Bealham or Ronan Loughney at tight-head won't be sufficient. Conan O'Donnell will hopefully come through on either side of the scrum but he needs to have realistic expectations placed on his shoulders also. With Marty Moore gone there'll be no movement from Leinster, with Botha going it'll be a similar situation in Munster so we're going to be stretched unless Pat can maybe locate a project player out of somewhere.

wp_rathead wrote: Rodney

Borders no.2 wrote: This has been on the cards for a while. Sad to lose Rodney, I wish him well and he's got to do what's right for him but more than anything the feeling I have on this is worry for him. For us he does a job at a certain level, we bring him off the bench in certain games, he makes a few big carries that gets the crowd going and from a car crash initally he's turned into a popular figure. At Ulster, the expectation is that you are pushing for the league and pushing to get into the knock out stages in Europe.

On the positive side, Ulster have a number of props of relatively similar Pro 12 standard, Herbst is currently their only real quality tight-head and he is pushing on so there may be possibilities but I just can't see Rodney as the corner-stone of a team hoping to achieve what Ulster want to achieve and he's not exactly coming into the most grizzled pack in Europe by a long shot.

He's got to win over a sceptical crowd who won't be shy in letting him know what they think if he doesn't come up to standard. Les Kiss will demand a lot of him from a defensive viewpoint and he'll have to come up to that mark. While he'll get a bit of a pay increase, the work environment is I believe as important an element in any line of work and I hope I am wrong but I firmly believe this time next year he'll be saying to himself what was I thinking moving here.

From our viewpoint its worrying as finding another Irish eligible prop will be difficult. If we do reach the Champions Cup, an ageing Nathan White and mixing and matching Finlay Bealham or Ronan Loughney at tight-head won't be sufficient. Conan O'Donnell will hopefully come through on either side of the scrum but he needs to have realistic expectations placed on his shoulders also. With Marty Moore gone there'll be no movement from Leinster, with Botha going it'll be a similar situation in Munster so we're going to be stretched unless Pat can maybe locate a project player out of somewhere.

Sad to see him go, but wish him all the best. I do worry about our depth in that position with Nathan coming to the end of his career. I'm sure there's a plan in place.

Am I correct in saying that we havent heard anything about new contracts for Aly, Jake or Craig?
Would be great to see them all extend their stay. They could announce all three contracts on the same day Robbie announces that he's staying

ConnachtCows wrote: Am I correct in saying that we havent heard anything about new contracts for Aly, Jake or Craig?
Would be great to see them all extend their stay. They could announce all three contracts on the same day Robbie announces that he's staying

I basically agree with what SeaPoint said.

Ally and his wife do seem to enjoy Galway, and with the way he is currently playing, I can't see us not offering him a new contract, unless we have another Craig Clarke to be announced (My prediction - 2years)

I heard a story about Jake over the weekend. No idea how true it is. A man in a pub, with a pint told me (and I think he said he reads this forum as well). He said that Jake's Dad has moved to Ireland as well, and lives in Galway. I have no reason not to believe what I was told. This is good news. If we can tie Jake down to another 3 year deal, and have him and Fox alternating, I think we're covered at this position.
(Prediction - 3yr contract. The surgery he had in May, looks to have been more severe than all of his previous shoulder surgery. I'm hoping that this is the one that puts these problems behind him)

Craig - I think we will tie him down for another 2 years, unless an Englise 2nd ties team offers him a deal. Can't see another Irish province poaching him this season

Spot on lads Connacht Cows and Seapoint.
It would be great to have the three lads signed up. Ally has been a great signing and would probably have got a call from Joe if he was a few years younger.
Ive great time for Jake. His a nice lad and an outstanding wing forwards just the right balance of a tough B*****D and having the class to do the job. I think if he stays injury free he will be the best 7 in the country. No joke his got the game in him to make it.