Sam Illo

lot.

What about you, Finlay? Are you one of these people who is very sort of arm around the shoulder and welcoming? Like, you look at Sam Illo as well, somebody who I'm sure would have gained a lot from your wisdom in the game.

Yeah, arm around the shoulder, not too handsy, but, like, arm around the shoulder a bit.

LAUGHTER But yeah, we've got some really good young props coming up.

So he's gone now.

Lancaster's brought in Ger Mullin from Harlequins an Irish coach to be the attack coach so he's going to pick his own person for that role so you'd assume maybe that might be a better fit than what he had inherited initially yeah you mentioned like Billy Bohan and Sam Illo on the front row like two very exciting players as well in addition to Sean Jansen who had a really good season last year Keane I want to read you Matt Canson's quote about playing under Stuart Lancaster or kind of training under him at the moment this really got my energy going out of the new season Keane Stu has been pushing me to be world class, whatever position I'm playing.

And if I'm not doing that, he's made it very clear that's not good enough.

It's intimidating and it can be a bit scary because you're like, F, I'm one game away from sitting on the bench.

You look at the summer tour and three of the four players who got capped for the first time were Connacht players, which to me spoke volumes of the season that they just put down.

Sean Jansen, who was outstanding for Connacht last season, one of the best players in the URC, obviously made his debut impressively against Japan and was rewarded with a place on the bench against the All Blacks.

Sam Illo and Billy Bowen like you've mentioned they made their debut against Japan as well and they were they were fantastic for Connacht last season I think the battle at tight head between Illo and Finlay Beelum because I don't think Finlay Beelum is finished just yet I think it's going to be brilliant but to have two tight heads pushing each other like that can only be a good thing and just to touch on to piggyback on a couple of the points you made about Frawley like I'm super excited and I agree with Luke I think he is the sort of the signing of at the moment at least anyway the signing of Irish rugby in over the summer but it's worth mentioning that Josh Ione was brilliant for Connacht towards the end of last season and I know Frawley is coming down to play 10 but I think Ione was a real important part of why Connacht went on that run when the weather got better we know he's a he's a top of the ground player and He gave over the kicking responsibilities to Sam Gilbert, who was just metronomic from the tee.

I think he had one of the best kicking records in the league.

Okay.

Sean Jansen, Billy Bowen, Sam Illo, and Bryn Ward, who all played in the Nations Cup or whatever it's called.

Owen's on two points.

David's on one.