pinky wrote: Indo seem to be reporting Andrew Deegan has already left (and continuing Godwin speculation): www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-...nnacht-36698921.html

I knew Deegan was a bit of a gamble but I had high hopes for him. Seems he never did it for Keane as sure didn't KK name squads with no outhalf cover on the bench rather than include him. From a senior squad perspective he won't be missed so may as well release him so he can play elsewhere.

Glad Matt is on for another couple of years. He's back to his pre-hand injury form, looking forward to many more tries from him.

Healy contract extension to 2020

Bazzo wrote:

pinky wrote: Indo seem to be reporting Andrew Deegan has already left (and continuing Godwin speculation): www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-...nnacht-36698921.html

I'm sorry but the indo has really turned into such a joke of a publication:

"the Munster No 8 will join from Munster"

Nice one lads

Bazzo wrote:

pinky wrote: Indo seem to be reporting Andrew Deegan has already left (and continuing Godwin speculation): www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-...nnacht-36698921.html

I'm sorry but the indo has really turned into such a joke of a publication:



"the Munster No 8 will join from Munster"

Nice one lads

Bazzo wrote:

pinky wrote: Indo seem to be reporting Andrew Deegan has already left (and continuing Godwin speculation): www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-...nnacht-36698921.html

I'm sorry but the indo has really turned into such a joke of a publication:


"the Munster No 8 will join from Munster"

Nice one lads

The Deegan rumors are a couple of weeks old since he was named in the western forces squad

pinky wrote: Indo seem to be reporting Andrew Deegan has already left (and continuing Godwin speculation): www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-...nnacht-36698921.html

I'm sorry but the indo has really turned into such a joke of a publication:

"the Munster No 8 will join from Munster"

Nice one lads

Indo seem to be reporting Andrew Deegan has already left (and continuing Godwin speculation): www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-...nnacht-36698921.html

Quade Cooper surely lol.

They seem to be announcing them in numerical order. Halfbacks tomorrow

FACECUTTR wrote: www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-rugby-anno...-contract-extension/

That's very good news. Wish it was longer than 2 years, but still good to see Masterson extend.
Expect another signing or contract extension tomorrow hopefully

Copeland is a very decent player. I for one welcome his signing.

www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-rugby-anno...-contract-extension/

Mark Mostyn wrote: Masterson is not the answer at 8. Copeland will offer us a ball carrying threat in the back row, it’s good to have options.

Totally agree

connemara man wrote:

Accidentally Onside wrote: I think that's an excellent signing tbh.
He never suited Munster's game and if he can stay fit I think he could be a top player for us.
Probably the best wheels of any backrow in the country, you give him space and he's gone.

The best Irish backrow available this summer (with Murphy gone to Ulster) so I'm not sure why people aren't more excited by this.

Because he's a potentially expensive squad player. Our starting backrow next season all going well is 6 SOB 7 Butler 8 Masterson with 20 McKeown. If we get a good NIQ he falls down that list. With Heenan and possibly Dawai gone we need a 7 and a general cover. He's been injured more often than not in the past 4 years.
There aren't articles being written about how huge a loss to Munster he'll be. He plays well against the so called poorer teams. But they up their standards against us. And where is the anger and outcry from Munster fans that he's going.

Is it wrong that I'm not happy with Solid. Shouldn't our aspirations be more than solid? Good cover? Etc...

I want to be excited, I want to see good to great signings.

I don't disagree he's a bit of a punt, as he has injury problems, but if he can get his game together he's a better player than any of our backrow. That's not an opinion, none of our backrows have been in the Team of The Season, which Copeland was in 2014 playing for a Blues team that liked to run the ball, as we do, so his top end is higher than any of our current loose forwards.

Of course there is no guarantee he can get back to his best, but we might as well be optimistic as pessimistic about it. What pretty much every Munster fan I can see is saying is: "hope it works out better for him at Connacht, we never saw the best of him in red", and if we get the player who Munster had for the majority of those 4 seasons then it will not have been a good signing, but if we get anything close to the tearaway the Blues had 4 years ago it will be a brilliant signing.

I like that he's signed for us too- if he had wanted to cash in his chips I'm sure he would have had offers in England or France so by staying in Ireland I hope that speaks to his ambition.

Masterson is not the answer at 8. Copeland will offer us a ball carrying threat in the back row, it’s good to have options.

salmson wrote:

connemara man wrote:
Because he's a potentially expensive squad player. Our starting backrow next season all going well is 6 SOB 7 Butler 8 Masterson with 20 McKeown.

The 4 back rows you've named have 4 starts between them at 8 this season, so I think it's somewhere between highly likely and absolutely certain Copeland is being signed as our starting 8.

That's because 1 injuries and 2 Muldoon. IMO he doesn't leapfrog Masterson into the 8 jersey with Muldoon gone and he doesn't start ahead McKeown either on rotation

connemara man wrote:
Because he's a potentially expensive squad player. Our starting backrow next season all going well is 6 SOB 7 Butler 8 Masterson with 20 McKeown.

The 4 back rows you've named have 4 starts between them at 8 this season, so I think it's somewhere between highly likely and absolutely certain Copeland is being signed as our starting 8.

I presume he's looking at Connacht as a launchpad to the Irish RWC squad given the sudden dearth of no 8s behind Stander (Heaslip gone, SOB with Darren Anderton's injury profile, O'Donoghue won't play in the big games at Munster, Conan unexpectedly displaying feet of clay, Coetzee NIE at Ulster), but like you I'd be worried he'll just turn out to be a squad player.

ConnachtCows wrote:

connemara man wrote:

Accidentally Onside wrote: I think that's an excellent signing tbh.
He never suited Munster's game and if he can stay fit I think he could be a top player for us.
Probably the best wheels of any backrow in the country, you give him space and he's gone.

The best Irish backrow available this summer (with Murphy gone to Ulster) so I'm not sure why people aren't more excited by this.

Because he's a potentially expensive squad player. Our starting backrow next season all going well is 6 SOB 7 Butler 8 Masterson with 20 McKeown. If we get a good NIQ he falls down that list. With Heenan and possibly Dawai gone we need a 7 and a general cover. He's been injured more often than not in the past 4 years.

Is it wrong that I'm not happy with Solid. Shouldn't our aspirations be more than solid? Good cover? Etc...

I want to be excited, I want to see good to great signings.

I want Alannah Beirne to bring me dancing

I hope you don't just accept that will never happen though and want more in your life