Connacht 2017 - 2018

[BlueBlue]

CONNACHT HAVE CONFIRMED the signing of once-capped Ireland international Robin Copeland from Munster on a two-year contract.

Decent bit of business and the Connacht offload style might suit him better than Munster....

It never really took off for him at Munster, most would assume the player is at fault for this, partly true of course but the organisation also has to make it work / create opportunities. There are a lot of players who go into Munster and end up wasted. JJ H is an interesting one at the moment. He's talented, but floundering at Munster. Good luck to Copeland.

[sunshiner1]

Kyle Godwin confirmed to Connacht.

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-r ... -brumbies/

[rooster]

Kyle Godwin confirmed to Connacht.

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-r ... -brumbies/

Well that sorts that out then, still no word of a 10 for Ulster, mind you we don't actually have very many players signed for next season yet, or else they just have not been announced

[johng]

https://www.pro14rugby.org/2018/03/23/c ... he-rebels/

A Centre AND an Outhalf. Ulster won't be impressed.

[neill_m]

Connacht leading 17-13 at HT v Edinburgh.

[cormac]

Connacht mixing some fine rugby with some ragball play. They lead 17-13 at home to Edinburgh at HT

[neill_m]

17-16, 17 to go.

[cormac]

Connacht taking a leaf out of our gameplan v Edinburgh by gift wrapping 12 points for them.

[sunshiner1]

Props Denis Coulson and J.P. Cooney both confirmed to be leaving Connacht. Rumours around that Dooley is going to be going to Connacht but it seems to be more wish fuflilment rather than based on any sold evidence.

[leinsterforever]

Props Denis Coulson and J.P. Cooney both confirmed to be leaving Connacht. Rumours around that Dooley is going to be going to Connacht but it seems to be more wish fuflilment rather than based on any sold evidence.

Maybe they'll bring in Loughman? Carolan would know him from Ireland U20s

[Oldschool]

The Connacht coach has a bullet to bite if they are to become a better team.
Jack Carty isn't cutting it at OH.
His place kicking in particular is just awful.
You'd wonder how many tight games have they lost because of the difference in quality of the respective kickers.
IM would suit their style but he probably wouldn't be interested.

[sunshiner1]

Rumours of Connacht being linked with a Northampton Out-Half. Also Andrew Browne becomes the latest guy to leave. Supposedly some Munster academy players are going to go West next season but no idea who or if the rumours are true.

[John23]

Indo reporting that Kevin Keane leaving after one year.

[lummix]

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 60093.html

Keane gone, there's a coaching purge in the provinces. From what I remember Lam had a bad first season while he bedded in the system. Just as well they didn't do the same with him

[hugonaut]

Weird move from Connacht from the outside looking in. I thought it was a good appointment when it was announced, but it was very obviously not a good season for them.

He seemed like a particularly spiky character. I was surprised that he criticised his players so much in public, but I was surprised that he did it in public, not by the criticism. Most of it seemed accurate, but that doesn't mean it was particularly wise to do it the way he did. I got the feeling that he thought that quite a few of his players weren't good workers and weren't as good as they thought they were, and that they needed to hear some home truths. But you don't necessarily need to put that through the public realm to get it across.

This is what he said about his time rebuilding the Tasman Makos:
"It became quite personal ... instead of dealing with a certain profile of player and putting up with some nonsense, we brought out a few sledgehammers. Basically culled a few people and rebuilt the team. We had to get rid of the 'entertainers' tag. We were brave attackers, gutless defenders. That's how it started."
[source: https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ ... 67421.html ]

Sounds familiar.

[Blue not red blood]

Was in Galway on Saturday.
Heard from a few people that the players just didn’t get him.
Seems like a bold move as it’s sounds the Athmosphere was pretty toxic

[Ruckedtobits]

Was in Galway on Saturday.
Heard from a few people that the players just didn’t get him.
Seems like a bold move as it’s sounds the Athmosphere was pretty toxic

Nothing toxic in Galway with their climate and the wild Atlantic Way. But abrasive was certainly the primary mannerism of Mr. Keane. Despite being fairly accurate in his critical comments and, apparently, open to be criticised when he got things wrong, the majority of players didn't fancy his style which they found too direct and public.

What surprises me is that no hint of disatisfaction leaked out during the season and the Connacht Squad are to be commended for keeping their heads down and working hard. Saturday's performance against Leinster suggests he had them on the right path - but 6 weeks too late.

[TerenureJim]

Would a team of Birch an Steady Eddie work, bit of young(ish) learning coach with Connacht experience and a good pack man and old stager who knows how to run some backs?

[leinsterforever]

Hard to make an accurate judgement without knowing what's gone on behind the scenes but on the face of it it seems like pretty shoddy treatment of a coach, especially considering he's a 64 year old who's come halfway around the world. What kind of message does it send out to future potential coaches?

Is Carolan ready to step up and take the reins?

[suisse]

Would a team of Birch an Steady Eddie work, bit of young(ish) learning coach with Connacht experience and a good pack man and old stager who knows how to run some backs?

I don't think you'll find any Connacht fans who want that. Jackman seems to have not been on great terms with the province when he left and even though he's working in a tough environment, his time with the Dragons will hardly excite them.

Eddie was on OTB last year saying he was assured no-one in the IRFU has a problem with him. I think they lied to him but whatever. It is another year down the line and Eddie is further away from professional coaching. His time is up.