I thought that was an excellent article. Pulls no punches does our Billy. I loved his attitude, and about how if they guys aren't playing for Ireland in a few years it's his fault.

His commitment shows through as well.

Interesting comments from Connacht's backs coach Billy Millard today in the Times :

There has been a few tears shed over the departure of their main strike runner and best finisher of the last three years Fionn Carr, to Leinster, which Millard describes as a “bizarre decision in my eyes. It’s one thing to put on a Leinster tracksuit but if you’re not playing, you can get lost in the system – and I’ve seen it happen in Australia. In Eric Elwood, you’ve got someone who looks after these kids better than anyone I’ve ever worked with.”

While Millard can “sort of understand” why Ian Keatley opted to understudy Ronan O’Gara at Munster, he looks at Carr playing for Blackrock and Jamie Hagan on the Leinster bench “when they could be playing this stuff” and deduces “sometimes it’s better the devil you know”.



Velly interesting.............................

I agree it was an open secret that Munster were watching O'Halloran closely the last while. Doubt his head will be turned now with first team game time. As for the four lads departing they were great servants and I wish them nothing but the best.

The major positve from Fionns departure is that Tiernan O'Hallornan is getting the oppotunity his talent deserves. If he had been stuck with a diet of AIL and academy for Connacht for another season there would have been an opportunity for the other provinces to come in for him. Not exactly like Munster churn out young backs of his calibre now is it, and they would have been all over him like a rash (an probably will next summer again).

Reference departed players, let's move on and get behind our current players. I wish them all well but they made their beds let them lie in them !

Lads, these lads will regret their move when they see what we can do at the top level and they're kicking themselves on the bench or playing B & I Cup rugby. As much as we want them to do well, we said that this would happen. But they're gone now and it's time to move on.

Instead of looking back, lets celebrate the fact that we've got some cracking young indigenous players in Griffin and O'Halloran who are as good if not better than any of the young talent around. These are players who are brought through out academy, who've been give opportunities by Elwood and have paid him back in spades. These lads are the future of our province provided we can keep them and there's plenty of more talent coming through as well

well that puts me in my place!

Ulster have the same number of overseas players as Munster and leinster, and fewer than us.

Still hurts to see the four lads either playing A games or sitting on the benches, when they 'could' have been playing at the stoop last night in the h cup.

I feel irish rugby needs to take a good look at itself and the powers that be need to get more players playing in connacht now than ever.

the country and game here need 4 strong provinces. And those squad players who need game time, esp in crucial positions like tight head should be prioritised for any province that can start them with some regular game time?

The failure to do this irks me as much as ulsters amount of overseas players. We are probably not that far behind perhaps, but I guess if the national team is the ultimate cause, then the current structures need amending.

Personally i think there are more than enough talented players around the place to make this work.

just still get the feeling the irfu are not fully on board.

I'd imagine all bar Keatley are busy kicking themselves right now, but in fairness to them, none of us thought we'd be playing HC 12 months ago either.

swift4prez wrote: I had never anything against keatley or sean leaving as it was all done fairly. cant blame players for leaving to play as you said, short carier's.
as for fionn, he wanted to leave told us all that but the fool had no team to go too. then turned around and wanted to stay after he stabbed us in the back.
as for judas, said he would sign, didnt rest is a very very laughing matter. fool.
our scrum was good last season but he got a big head.

Probably best to re-read your posts before posting

The lads who were here gave us some great moments and at least they took on the challenge of coming to Connacht when others were prepared to sit in the shadows. The news on Carr and Hagan is dissapointing, White appears to be a decent player and Hagan will struggle to get ahead of him, 6 nations time is probably the only time Hagan can expect to get more game serious game time for Leinster.

Carr was always making a dangerous move going back to such a talented back 3 at Leinster, Andrew Conway is another consigned to the A game, can't blame him for wanting to move on from Connacht at the stage of his career he was at but he should probably have looked further afield. Did well in one game against the Dragons but in such a competitive squad he was always going to struggle to hold on to his place in the first 23.

At present no-one is winning, Carr in particular is looking at his pro rugby career petering out to nothing.

I hold no animosity toward either lad, they served Connacht rugby well while they were there and I wish them nothing but the best going forward(except when they lineout against Connacht). I do believe their departures were premature, but they were probably influenced by the thought that the RWC would present them with the opportunity to get a toehold in the squad. I'm sure Leinster never viewed them as more than stopgaps for the time being, handy to have around to fill in during International periods, when injuries crop up and to fill out the A side. I would take them both back, but Connacht's uncertain HEC status would probably keep Jamie away and pride might do the same for Fionn.

I'm another one who can't understand the animosity directed at Hagan and I'd welcome him back with open arms if the opportunity presented itself. Ditto the other lads.

Carr, well I think that he got a case of Swollen Head Symdrome and being overly influenced by his Mr Ten Percent, and this is perhaps the kind of thing that will bring him back to earth and re-focus him. I recall last season where his form dipped, he was still assured of his starting place which perhaps wasn't providing the best motivation.

I did hear talk that Leinster weren't happy with Hagan's overall fitness so maybe they're just trying to whip him into shape in the A games rather than risk having him run out of steam in a high intensity match.

As for Carr he was badly advised. I don't know who his agent or management team are but they did him a disservice. You don't announce you are moving on and then start looking around, you start looking first and make sure there is a market out there for you.

Yeah the Judas stuff rubs me the wrong way. He's a young lad trying to find his way in his career. He had a massive decision to make and in the end it was the wrong one IMO. I honestly wish him all the best... seems like a nice lad.