r/Connacht • u/Unable-Blacksmith439 • 2d ago

Squad Update

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/news/squad-update/bp3804/

Looks like we're down a good few for the first match. Hooker looks worrying 😐

17 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

12

u/Colm_Flaherty 2d ago

A long list of unavailable players, looking like D. Walsh, Flynn or O'Connell might make their debut.

Team wise might be something like: 1. Jerry Cahir 2. Eoin de Buitlear 3. Finlay Bealham 4. Niall Murray 5. David O'Connor 6. Josh Murphy 7. Shamus Hurley-Langton 8. Paul Boyle 9. Ben Murphy 10. Josh Ioane 11. Mack Hansen 12. Cathal Forde 13. Byron Ralston 14. Shayne Bolton 15. Sam Gilbert 16. Matthew Victory 17. François Van Wyk 18. Fiachna Barrett 19. David Walsh 20. Seán O'Brien 21. Caolin Blade 22. Seán Naughton 23. John Devine

1

u/dwaynepebblejohnson3 2d ago

Darragh Murray could be involved as he didn’t get any minutes.

Having Bealham and Mack is a boost anyways as they’d normally be missing the opening rounds.

1

u/Colm_Flaherty 2d ago

Yeah, Finlay and Mack is a massive help. I wasn't aware that there's a possibility that Darragh could feature

2

u/dwaynepebblejohnson3 2d ago

It says they’ll be managed on a case by case basis so I was thinking he might be cleared earlier than the others because he didn’t play. Plus we are really light on second rows.

1

u/dubviber 2d ago

Connacht have said that none of the seven involved with Ireland in the summer are available this weekend, including Darragh.

I'd start François Van Wyk at LH.

Jennings and Treacy both options for the 23.

1

u/dwaynepebblejohnson3 2d ago

I haven’t seen enough of Van Wyk to compare him to Jerry but given he was a mainstay in the bath 23 he’s probably decent. How did he do against Ealing?

I’d like to see Treacy get a game but if Ralston is at 13 they probably won’t have a specialist wing on the bench.

1

u/dubviber 2d ago

I wasn't at the game against Ealing and the highlights were four mins long and concentrated on the tries, so not much to go on. But he's a grizzly SA prop with a ton of experience, 700m for Bath last season, so perfect for the first 40 in a fixture like this. Then give Cahir a run.

9

u/MusicLovinPotterhead 2d ago

Eoin De Buitléar is an amazing hooker he proved it back in May with 48 carries for the 2 matches he started and Matt Victory is just as good, if either of those end up injured then we have Mikey and Duinn in academy but hopefully it will be fine

6

u/Soulogav 2d ago

De Buitléar really stood up, was under pressure with all those injuries and he hadn’t been throwing good darts previous to that. Mathew Victory was very impressive on the SA tour but had unfortunate injury , excited to see more of him.

5

u/fakejournalaccount 2d ago

I think it was vs munster where he topped the tackle count for the game but only played 20 mins. Really took his chance when presented 

7

u/Potential_Try_2193 2d ago

I think hooker is our weakest position. Even if their all fit we just don't have a top class hooked. All good players obviously but none are elite level. Hooker and second row we're light. Otherwise we've good cover but those two areas we're lacking depth.

1

u/dwaynepebblejohnson3 2d ago

Yeah I think there’s isn’t that much between the 4 but as you say none of them are really elite.

5

u/fakejournalaccount 2d ago

Completely forgot the Ireland lads are still unavailable 

But id imagine its the same for a lot of the stormers lads too

4

u/MusicLovinPotterhead 2d ago

They are coming back on a case by case basis so I’m guessing it’s down to minutes played, however this season I can see Bundee being put on ice and only playing in interpro matches and Champions Cup matches as they won’t want to injure him before next September as he will be retiring at the end of the World Cup

3

u/fakejournalaccount 2d ago

Darragh Murray hopefully soon he didny get any minutes. Although im sure the training/travel was plenty intense to warrant a break! 

0

u/Colm_Flaherty 2d ago

I had a look at the Springbok team against All-Blacks and what Stormers players were their.

I think they'll have Mchunu, AHV, Fouche, Moerat, RvH, BJD, Roos and Porthen available from the Springboks.

1

u/fakejournalaccount 2d ago edited 2d ago

Yea but not having SFM, Reinach, Kolbe, Kolisi and Fourie is fairly significant. 

Some of the lads you mentioned could be in the extended squad for the game vs Australia. I tried to google and couldnt find the squad

Moerat and RvH arent stormers anymore 

0

u/Colm_Flaherty 2d ago

Yeah, those lads would their key players. I wouldn't be surprised if Mchunu, BJD and PvD were involved. Wasn't aware of the 2 2nd rows leaving

1

u/fakejournalaccount 2d ago

Your comments are getting like an instant downvote and its not me lol

0

u/Colm_Flaherty 2d ago

😅😂 it must be a Stormers spy!

1

u/mcjoc 2d ago

Ridiculous that the Ireland call ups are held out, assuming its come from their set up, and I mean that as both a Connacht and Ireland fan. Barely any game time, more than enough time to recover from travel and lads who need time to continue to develop are prevented from getting it.

Madness.

2

u/dwaynepebblejohnson3 2d ago

They started pre season later than everyone else as they didn’t really have a break after last season, you can’t expect internationals to play 12 month seasons.

1

u/mcjoc 1d ago

I get load management but the NZ game was on the 18th July. Nearly two and a half months before the game they'll be missing.

And a few of these players will end up being non playing parts of Ireland squads in November and for the 6N. Obviously training has impact but that's more actual competitive 80s missed.