Transfers 2014/15

[TRF_stormer2010]

Do they realize that he isn't eligible for Ireland?

Probably not. They should have poached Tongan Malakai Fekitoa!

They would - but Jared Payne is already covering that spot in the centres .

I love it.

On the transfer. If you are willing to take in someone as old as Mills I'd rather go for Mark Gerrard; what he has (exceptional positional play and probably the best kick returns I've seen) you don't lose as fast with age as what made Mills a great at his peak.

If Connacht can dig up a 10 they're going to have a very tasty back line. Marmion at 9, Aki and Henshaw in the centres, Muliaina at the back, two of O'Halloran, Pooleman, Carr and Leader on the wings. Very tasty indeed.

It's Poolman. If you're gonna make these players something other than what their nationality of birth and development suggest at least don't try to change their names as well.. actually it doesn't matter really

 

[Feicarsinn]

Dainéal Ã"'Poolémáín I believe, if we're being proper.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

On the subject of poaches, it has appeared on another forum that Ulster have signed Brendon O'Connor from the Blues. He's Irish qualified already.

Mils Muliaina has been signed in a player-mentor role. With due respect to Mark Gerrard, he doesn't have the experience at the very top which the blatant poach from Samoa has (All Blacks selectors saw Muliaina's potential at the age of 2 and paid a fortune to get him over). Connacht have a very inexperienced backline next season and needed somebody who's been there, done that.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Do they realize that he isn't eligible for Ireland?

Personally I don't think he is a very good pick up. He is experienced but got injured every time he got on the field for the Chiefs this season (when he wasn't injuring himself in training....).

I'd have to agree. He's been quite disappointing, not really worthy of a spot in the Chiefs 23. I feel like whenever he's been on the field he's done very little (though perhaps that's because he's been used on the wing...), and he hasn't been on the field much at all.

 

[big ginger 8]

As a coach? He couldn't be good enough to walk into one of the best sides in the country?!

He did play in a minor final before....

Muliaina is a good signing for Connacht, even if he's not on the pitch all that often he can bee very beneficial to what is a young team.

If O'Connor has signed for Ulster it's a bit annoying. He looks a decent player but his job is going to be to replace Doyle (where is Doyle off to again can't remember for the life of me) as back-up to Henry and a regular Rabo player or at least that's how I understand it. I don't see how Conor Gilsenan one of the top prospects in Irish rugby couldn't have done that job. I know there are other factors and maybe he thinks he'll be able to start at L.I. next year, but seeing the likes of him, Farrell and O'Connell leave Ireland is annoying.

 

[munstermuffin]

On the subject of poaches, it has appeared on another forum that Ulster have signed Brendon O'Connor from the Blues. He's Irish qualified already.

Mils Muliaina has been signed in a player-mentor role. With due respect to Mark Gerrard, he doesn't have the experience at the very top which the blatant poach from Samoa has (All Blacks selectors saw Muliaina's potential at the age of 2 and paid a fortune to get him over). Connacht have a very inexperienced backline next season and needed somebody who's been there, done that.

Has taken Parks coaching role it seems. And will probably be relied on hugely for experience

 

[Big Ewis]

how weird is it going to be for a guy like Muliaina to be in and play for Connacht ??...looked so random on the news today. He's going to feel so disoriented at first.

 

[Groundhog]

Milia ins should do a job on giving some of the younger lads a leg up. Not the player he was but what he can teach and his presence will be huge for them.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

how weird is it going to be for a guy like Muliaina to be in and play for Connacht ??...looked so random on the news today. He's going to feel so disoriented at first.

how could connacht able to sign a player like Muliaina ? i would really like to see him at edinburgh rather than connacht

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

how could connacht able to sign a player like Muliaina ? i would really like to see him at edinburgh rather than connacht

Well then how could Edinburgh sign someone like him?

 

[Groundhog]

Obviously you'd like to see Muliaina playing for Edinburgh...... You support them.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

how weird is it going to be for a guy like Muliaina to be in and play for Connacht ??...looked so random on the news today. He's going to feel so disoriented at first.

The pressure of having to go to places like Toulouse and win, I'm not sure if he'll be able to handle the pressure!

 

[Feicarsinn]

This signing kind of hints that the IRFU is seriously targeting getting all four teams into Europe for 2015/16. Aki and Muliaina could be big assets at the other provinces, but the fact that they've gone to Connacht is indicative that the IRFU wants the westies challenging Scarlets, Cardiff, Edinburgh, etc. for 6th or 7th place. A few more decent signings and they'll certainly be in with a shout. They could do with an extra back row, loosehead and maybe a little more quality at 10, but aside from that they look quite strong:

15) Muliaina
14) Poolman
13) Henshaw
12) Aki
11) O'Halloran
10) Ronaldson
9) Marmion

8) Naoupu
7) Heenan
6) Muldoon
5) Clarke
4) Kearney
3) White
2) McCartney
1) Buckely

Aye, there are worse starting XV's than that in the league for sure.

 

[Groundhog]

The IRFU have switched tack suddenly in recent years. They don't see Connacht as a feeder anymore and by that logic Im not certain if Henshaw will be moved. They are jizzing dolla billz into Connacht now. They've out signed the other three provinces for Aki already.

 

[Amiga500]

This signing kind of hints that the IRFU is seriously targeting getting all four teams into Europe for 2015/16.

Hopefully.

I know its a thorny subject, but if Connacht weren't asset stripped every time they developed a player (from scratch, from damaged goods, or from "not-quite-ready for the big-time") into something with a lot of promise - then I'd be more confident that they already would be challenging the other 3 provinces... never mind some of the others in the league.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Hopefully.

I know its a thorny subject, but if Connacht weren't asset stripped every time they developed a player (from scratch, from damaged goods, or from "not-quite-ready for the big-time") into something with a lot of promise - then I'd be more confident that they already would be challenging the other 3 provinces... never mind some of the others in the league.

I dunno. Connacht developing their own players is a pretty recent thing. You say they've been stripped of the likes of Cronin, Hagan, etc. but had those guys not been pretty confident that one of the other three provinces would come in for them if they impressed then my guess is they would have gone to the Premiership rather than out west.

It's all hypothetical of course anyway.

 

[munstermuffin]

It should be noted his legs aren't as fast as before and expectations shouldn't rise too much but someone like Henshaw will be worth weight in gold for getting his knowledge

 

[munstermuffin]

I dunno. Connacht developing their own players is a pretty recent thing. You say they've been stripped of the likes of Cronin, Hagan, etc. but had those guys not been pretty confident that one of the other three provinces would come in for them if they impressed then my guess is they would have gone to the Premiership rather than out west.

It's all hypothetical of course anyway.

On that they all left other 3 provinces for game time and development further. It's not as if Connacht did it from scratch being honest

 

[Peat]

On the subject of poaches, it has appeared on another forum that Ulster have signed Brendon O'Connor from the Blues. He's Irish qualified already.

Which other forum? Man, I'm gonna be annoyed I didn't get to look all clever with my guess...

On paper, the Mils to Connacht one is fantastic.


Also, I agree with Feic re Connacht
edit

He did play in a minor final before....

Muliaina is a good signing for Connacht, even if he's not on the pitch all that often he can bee very beneficial to what is a young team.

If O'Connor has signed for Ulster it's a bit annoying. He looks a decent player but his job is going to be to replace Doyle (where is Doyle off to again can't remember for the life of me) as back-up to Henry and a regular Rabo player or at least that's how I understand it. I don't see how Conor Gilsenan one of the top prospects in Irish rugby couldn't have done that job. I know there are other factors and maybe he thinks he'll be able to start at L.I. next year, but seeing the likes of him, Farrell and O'Connell leave Ireland is annoying.

Doyle's off to Brumbies - counter-poach!

The big thing for all those guys is game time. Gilsenan turns 22 into a month and hasn't played any First Class rugby. If he's to have a career that'll fulfil his dreams, he needs to start racking up some appearances and experience now - and that goes for Farrell and O'Connell as well. Those guys go to another big provinces, and they're still in the depth chart; maybe a bit higher, but they're not scrapping for a first team place. They go abroad, they get the chance.

Tbh... to be a bit soulless about it, this move sees Irish rugby increase their player pool slightly, which makes it good. Only mild risk is Gilsenan going native in England and that seems pretty mild.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

This signing kind of hints that the IRFU is seriously targeting getting all four teams into Europe for 2015/16. Aki and Muliaina could be big assets at the other provinces, but the fact that they've gone to Connacht is indicative that the IRFU wants the westies challenging Scarlets, Cardiff, Edinburgh, etc. for 6th or 7th place. A few more decent signings and they'll certainly be in with a shout. They could do with an extra back row, loosehead and maybe a little more quality at 10, but aside from that they look quite strong:

15) Muliaina
14) Poolman
13) Henshaw
12) Aki
11) O'Halloran
10) Ronaldson
9) Marmion

8) Naoupu
7) Heenan
6) Muldoon
5) Clarke
4) Kearney
3) White
2) McCartney
1) Buckely

Aye, there are worse starting XV's than that in the league for sure.

mainly the italian teams and the dragons