If your going to be mean about it and (we are here :evil: ) EE has only a very limited pool to chose from transfer wise as he can only have so many niq's in the squad. Not saying that's an excuse because it's not but it might be a factor why the likes of NOC coming to us and not a kiwi etc. It also makes the likes of Johne Murphy etc that bit more harder to get because the 3 other provinces are in the same boat.

connachtexile wrote: While I agree with most of the stuff said in the posts. There's some stuff I disagree with I'm not prepared to write off some of the players like a lot of guys, bringing 15 new guys in and getting them to gel is never easy also Hagan etc took time to settle in here when they came.

So saying that if we had the whole squad fit who should our first 15 be guys?

Actually Hagan wouldn't be the best example for your argument as he actually had locked down the starting berth halfway through his first season.

Don't think anyone has been written off yet, but some questions asked of some of the newcomers in particular which is not unusual when we're not seeing whatever drew the Coaching/Management team to recruit them in the first place...

While I agree with most of the stuff said in the posts. There's some stuff I disagree with I'm not prepared to write off some of the players like a lot of guys, bringing 15 new guys in and getting them to gel is never easy also Hagan etc took time to settle in here when they came.

So saying that if we had the whole squad fit who should our first 15 be guys?

Agree PB, our academy has improved a lot and we NEED to use it.

You've touched on something there Umm that I feel is essential going forward. We need 2/3 lads breaking through every season, homegrown academy players. This way we get more locals in the squad and can build off this. As you said, every now and then is not good enough. Munster, Leinster and Ulster integrate players every year from the academy into their set up. We need to be doing this as well and there is quality coming through with the u20 grand slam team and lads who are a year older like McKeon, Heffernan and Buckley. All 3 are playing AIL regularly, playing the A games, the next step is to get them in squads

Right, I'll try writing what I lost earlier today, now that I've calmed down...


Rebuilding....hmmm.

We need depth, for sure. But our selling point has always been to offer game time to young players not getting a look in elsewhere. Now young players on the fringe of their own provinces senior team will see the likes of McCrea, Vainikolo and Jarvis playing for Connacht 'A' and figure they'd be just as well off playing for their own provincial 'A' side, and who could blame them?

Nobody should just think they can turn up and get a shirt, of course. You have to fight for it, but nobody outside of Connacht grows up hoping to one day play for the Connacht 'A' side. And those in Connacht who do should see it only as a stepping stone.

So filling our squad will only ever be possible in the long run with young Connacht players. We need the likes of Qualter, McKeown, Leader etc fighting hard to come through to the senior ranks. Griff and TOH are great success stories, but we need 2 or three a year not once every 5 years. We need quantity and quality to rebuild. Last years U21s had an incredible amount of talent and we need to nurture that and bring it on.

We've only 15 places to offer the players, same as everyone else. But when you boil it down, what do we offer? A Pro12 and (usually) Amlin filled season... Big whoop.

There's a reason Toulouse can have the depth they do, the Top 14 is seen as just as big a trophy as the HEC. Toulouse players not getting much game time will still get enough games in quality matches to remain happy enough. We have the Pro12 which suffers from an image crisis at the best of times.

There's no point in thinking a player from outside Connacht will be happy with a bit part role if they've decided to join us, so we'll always lose players. Keeping players is easier if they have some innate sense of loyalty.

Time for a harsh realtiy check at everything.

1) We were awful against ospreys. The only decent rugby we have played this year had been against quins. Granted we lost big names but did not adequately replace them. This has been a common occurance for the last few years.

2) Recruitment! Granted i think we may have a gem in McSharry. We were, by all accounts, very close to signing Benson Stanley. We ended up with Henry. Connacht need players who want to be there. This has been a huge problem for many years. Seemingly Mc Sharry sent his video to connacht. he put himself in the shop window. There was lots of talk of the big name centre and we got Henry. I feel he offers a lo looking for offloads but it is pointless it nobody else is working. Niva last year was more solid if anything. Tonetti was a good signing IMHO. I have not heard of Loxton at any level, Jarvis must have done something awful! Dave moore is never going to get a loook in. Mc Crea can be added. A squad must be used in the competitions we are in.

3) Decisions - Who is making them? Players have to be accountable for what happens on the pitch. The may be in their own sessions. The wid was crazy on Saturday and yet connacht did not use it. We all know Duffy has a sweet boot for finding corners so why did he not pin ospreys to their 22?

4) Plyers - How do we bring players with good cv and backround to Galway fresh from the world cup and he is playing A games? We are not getting what others got out of him. The Galwegians backline is starting to look more exciting then the connacht one. Fetu is not the frst one that this has happened to. There must be a huge problem in changin room. Some players are here as a stepping stone. Some are here because they dont have an option. Some are here for a paycheque. Who wants to be here? It may be harsh but has to be wondered!

5) Selection - Back to EE. I have had faith in him but why? There have been a number of times that I felt changes need to be made and yet nothing major is. Im sorry to say but Brian Tuohy, although scored well last year, isot up to the level. These pre made substitutions drve me mad. We have changed our halfbacks at 50 odd mns in most games. WHY??? The two 9s put pressure on each other i feel but right now Murphy has brought the tempo when he has come on. Give him a start again and see if the hunger is there for 80! JArvis has to start, play mc sharry and tonetti. Tiernan, Gav and fetu. That backline offers a lot and is youthful. Gav and Frankie would bring the experience.

6) Backround - Have to say well done. Lots of work being done. It looks like a proper stadium now! People are coming through the gate but that is not going to last. Need the coaches to front up. Need some honesty in after match interviews. We have thrown away far too many points this season. How long have we complained of only having a few people in the terrace for big games. The fans have answered and are keeping their part of the agreement. The coaches must now!!!

I have fears for George. When he left last time he openly said he had played the rugby of his life. He was brilliant. He has not brought it back. He needs form quickly but at the same time I feel some layers know they are not going to be dropped.

Sorry about being long winded up have to get it off my chest!


RANT OVER

Is he a new Tongan signing ???

f'yah

Don't you just hate it when that happens !!

Just wrote a massive rant then is disappeared after I hit send! GAHHAHHAHAHHAHAHH!

After last nights game,some things are plainly obvious !!Eric hasn't got a scoobiie doo who his best combination at half back are. He must be bold and give his prefered pairing some real game time.The heart is there in every play but the skills and decision making are sadly lacking. Last night was a game that we should have won.We absolutely destroyed the Ospreys at the driving maul so why oh why do we put the ball out wide in a gale force wind ????
The two half back pairings last night did not function, it did become a little more potent When Murphy came on. We should have kept it tight as the only progress we made was by driving into the heart of the Ospreys. The back three were found wanting on a few occasions, but having said that it was still a game we should and could have won.As I said earlier the heart is there it,s just errors we have to cut out.Still enjoyed myself tho
ugh !

Yea I agree with alot of the posts below, I would also just like to mention and this isnt a criticism or anything. I have great time for Eric and I hope he stays for a long time. His heart is in Connacht and thats a great thing..But Connacht Rugby whinged for years about lack of support, well they cant anymore...getting 4000 on average for rabo direct games is up there with most teams in the Rabo....So now your fans are there and the potential is there to draw in another 1000+ average, Connacht Rugby YOU must keep them there....

The Loyal supporters will stay I dont doubt that but we need some Good displays to convert the Fans that are still undecided!!

This is a Great Time for Connacht Rugby and off the field, for once the right Actions are been undertaken it would be a shame for us not to make the MOST of it!

Excuses from the management and players have to stop now. 'Little things', 'we're getting there', sick of it. Honesty has to be the best policy now. We're not playing well, we're clueless beyond 3 or 4 phases, and we have been for a long time. We've got to sort this out.

Whipping Nikora and O Donoghue after 50 proved we still don't know what we're at at 9 & 10. Lets pick, 2 and give them 80 minutes and see where we go from there. Fa'afili isn't up to it at 12, if Griffin is injured next week, we stick in Tonetti at 13 and McSharry back to 12.

Tuohy is honest but also not up to it. McCrea or Fetu'u please, although I feel Fetu'u may be Ezra Taylor mark 2. Flavin and Ah You aren't a patch on Cronin or Hagan. Sad but true. George is overweight, he's lost the dynamism he had in his 1st spell. He needs to get 5 or 10 kg off him and get a bit leaner.

We did'nt recruit well and I think everyone knows it, but we have what we have and we should look to make the best use of it. I do not understand the Jarvis or McRae reasoning on why they see no game time , I also know Fetu is a damn good player if given a proper run. What we have seen is fantastic individual performances and no team performance or no idea on how to change the game mid game when the coaches plan is not working. The restarts against Toulouse where brilliant and when it would actually have been easier to use them i.e last night we did not bother our arses. I would love to know, what Connor is doing as a video man as nothing changes at half time when he would have a full half on knowledge gleaned about the opposition. We could make a decent 22 out of this squad, for some reason the management do not want too, bar 40 minutes against Quins we have been dreadful this season.
The only people standing up and fronting up are the supporters, how long will that last.

Think you might be slightly over stating the issue bn2

Reynecke and George have done pretty well and show no lack of effort.

Niall o connor and Tj look game and interested if a bit limited.

Vianiklo and Henry, we'd be better off with Danny riordan and Aidan wynne.

Mcrea mcsharry jarvis and grace look like decent players, problem that we have is Eric for some reason won't pick Jarvis or Mcrea.


Tonnetti must also be brought into the squad asap.