Connachts Departees

First topic message reminder :

Last season saw Connacht lose several of their best players - Fionn Carr (winger), Sean Cronin (hooker), Ian Keatley (flyhalf), Jamie Hagan (tighthead prop). All were guaranteed first choice players.

On Friday night, we saw Connacht play their hearts out against Aviva Premiership Harlequins leaders in London. By contrast Ian Keatley sat on a bench for the whole match, Fionn Carr and Jamie Hagan weren't involved in European Rugby and were playing for the Leinster 2nd XV. Sean Cronin came off the bench but wasn't deemed good enough to start the game.

Was it a good move for them?

No you are right grey. Ulster had him signed i believe but changed their minds. I fully expect Humph Snr to be working on bringing Mr Bowe back next season (a lot may depend on the respective fortunes of Ospreys/Ulster). With a player of that calibre coming back into Irish rugby it does leave few enough spaces for a player like Carr.

IF Bowe came back Ulster would have Payne, Trimble, D'arcy, Gilroy, Bowe, Gaston along with young Peter Nelson coming through. Out of that group presently i would only have Carr above Gaston.

Leinster have Fitz, McFadden?, Kearney x2, Nacewa, Conway (Horgan will be gone)

Munster have Hurley, Howlett (when is he signed to?), Zebo, Earls, Jones and Murphy. Our of that bunch i think he would be up there after Jones, Earls and Howlett although i think the Munster mindset is geared towards more functional players so Hurley would be prefered.

In all honesty Connacht may well be the best place for Carr and Bowe coming to Munster might be the best thing for Irish Rugby (not that i want that to happen)