Keatley staying with Connacht

[An Tarbh]

Ian Keatley has signed a 1 year extension to his deal with Connacht, so obviously nor return to Leinster on the cards just yet. I'd still expect him to be a Leinster player though in 2010.

Elsewhere Fionn Carr has also signed a 1 year extension to his contract.

 

[MunsterMan]

Good stuff! O'Connor, Muldoon, Keatley, Carr, Murphy, Wilkinson, Mathews, Duffy, Tau'auso all staying. A new coach would be nice though!

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MunsterMan @ Mar 18 2009, 08:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Good stuff! O'Connor, Muldoon, Keatley, Carr, Murphy, Wilkinson, Mathews, Duffy, Tau'auso all staying. A new coach would be nice though![/b]

with Bradley being kept the hell away from the other provinces as well.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Mar 18 2009, 07:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I'd still expect him to be a Leinster player though in 2010[/b]

You could be onto something. Keatley has been very smart in just signing for another year. Come 2010 he may be able to take his pick of Munster and Leinster. O'Gara will be 33 and nearing the end of his career so Keatley may be drafted in as his backup initially and replacement after the 2011 World Cup. In Leinster, Jonny Sexton may not take his chance next season. Keatley may have the chance to take over a backline with some stellar talent coming through the ranks. Another year in Connacht is the best thing for his career right now.

 

[An Tarbh]

well Leinster may well have someone lined up to come in and replace Contepomi hence no move for Keatley or they're gonna give Sexton the season to nail down the spot, as long as Nacewa isn't our starting flyhalf next year I'll be a happy camper.

 

[MunsterMan]

You are right Snoopy, he will be able to play Munster and Leinster off each other for the sweetest deal possible in 2010, should have a few caps by then too all going well.

Sean Cronin is signed up with Connacht next year too, so looking good for the westies. Hopefully they can finish above the lowest ranked Welsh team

 

[An Tarbh]

not entirely out of the question that they could do it this season, they still have 2 games to come against the Dragons while the Dragons also have to play the Blues as well who'll be going all out to avoid the playoff where they're likely to be without their Lions tourists.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Mar 18 2009, 08:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

well Leinster may well have someone lined up to come in and replace Contepomi hence no move for Keatley or they're gonna give Sexton the season to nail down the spot, as long as Nacewa isn't our starting flyhalf next year I'll be a happy camper.[/b]

Agreed with relation to Nacewa. To be honest, I'd prefer to see a new top quality scrumhalf brought in to the ranks rather than a replacement for Contepomi. A partnership of a top scrumhalf and Sexton could prove a better combo than Whitaker/O'Donohoe and a new flyhalf.

If I was in charge of Leinster recruitment I'd like to bring in a top quality scrumhalf and second row plus an experienced backup Number 8 and flyhalf. O'Kelly is on his last legs I fear and while Hogan and Toner are good players, neither are truly top quality. If as expected Elsom leaves, Sean O'Brien is capable of stepping up as the starting blindside with Keogh and Jowitt as decent reserves. There remains no backup for Jamie Heaslip at 8. A backup 10 is needed in case Sexton isn't up to the task. Contepomi and Elsom are unique players who will be impossible to replace straight up. Strenthening other areas significantly is the only way of covering their loss.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

Sean Cronin is signed up with Connacht next year too, so looking good for the westies.[/b]

I think Cronin is in exactly the same position as Keatley. In another year he'll have his pick of the provinces. At Leinster both Jackman and Fogarty are in their 30s while Blaney is nothing more than a competent backup. At Munster, Flannery is in his 30s and the backups (Fogarty and Essex - I think Sheahans as good as gone) are nothing special. Cronin will be in an enviable position - start for Leinster or compete strongly for Munster. Ulster have Rory Best as their starter and he's still pretty young so I'd be surprised if he ended up there. Either way, he'll be an international contender in 18 months time (perhaps sooner).

 

[MunsterMan]

A Leinster fan once told me poaching Frank Murphy and Ian Keatley would be top of her recruitment priority list, worth a thought.

 

[O'Rothlain]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Mar 18 2009, 02:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

well Leinster may well have someone lined up to come in and replace Contepomi hence no move for Keatley or they're gonna give Sexton the season to nail down the spot, as long as Nacewa isn't our starting flyhalf next year I'll be a happy camper.[/b]

Yeah, I really hope to see Sexton starting. And Nacewa hasn't done much this season, disappointing. He was good back in Auckland.

Even if Connacht have to be a training grounds for the rest of the provinces, I'm glad they are there. The few matches I've seen them in have been really good. I'm always looking to see them grow. It would be nice if they can get competitive enough to retain their talent.