Japan team out https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/1456238659078926336?t=svaS2LAOg7CLtPpmrt2zWQ&s=19
we rely on credit in the bank. James Lowe saids hello.
This is a very strange argument. James Lowe has six caps, the last of which went very badly for him and resulted in him being dropped for the England game. By what measure does he have credit in the bank with Farrell and Ireland??
And form in the URC means precisely f**k all. The standard is usually so low that it's no predictor of test ability at all. Like, Ross Byrne would have 50 caps if we were picking on league performances.
You play well for your province, you get a call up. From there, some guys get into the national team, some don't. This is why we have a coaching team and don't just put a poll up on Twitter.
Other teams take the autumn internationals as seriously as we do and if not it would only be off by a little bit. That's not Ireland's problem, Ireland's problem is when we have a problem we never look to fix the problem but instead just kick the can down the road, make excuses and hope the problem fix's itself. During the last RWC cycle it was clear at the start of 2019 that our issue was our lack of evolvement in our play but instead of looking to fix the problem the media starting pushing excuses like "can we stand up to the English and South African packs", I knew we were screwed once that excuse started being paddled. In the end the QF versus NZL we played pretty much the exact same XV that we would have played versus England in February if the same squad of players were available which goes to show how little was done to fix the problem and deservedly we got our pants pulled down and got beat in a similar fashion to the way England beat us.
The difference with France is they aren't afraid to throw someone in when they are seen to have potential, I look at some of the players they call up and we could only dream of an Irish coaching staff being as brave in selection.
Even look at NZL who have named Josh Lord in their XV versus Italy, a player with 5 super rugby appearances in his career, do you think we would have done the same thing if he was Irish? Not a chance.
NZ have just finished the Rugby Championship, their first team has had plenty of run outs. This is our first match in 5 months and a run out for the first choice 23 a week in advance of the NZ game makes complete sense. If we did anything else I'd have been very surprised.
Again, I think people have the misconception that I want us to field a completely alternate XV, which is not the case.
I'm happy for us to play our 1st XV this weekend, just not Sexton at 10.
But how in the hell are Lowe, Conway, JGP and Herring in our first XV?
Irish wingers like Larmour and Baloucoune must be wondering how many opposition tries Kiwi Lowe must be directly responsible for before he's dropped.
Andrew Conway is a "winger" who scored 1 try in all of last season.
Why are quality Irish scrum halves like Cooney and Blade cast out for NZ reject JGP?
We have 2 of the most talented young hookers in the NH left out for South African Herring
I would be happy to have a largely full strength side, but make some alterations to see A) If a player can step up against tier 1 opposition and B) If a player can fit right into the Irish starting XV. It would be perfect for someone like Balacoune or Frawley.
Ireland team out https://twitter.com/IrishRugby/status/1456244927344660498?t=EiEO_2b18GU8mEIpdTn47g&s=19
Sexton is going to be starting against the All Blacks, so like everyone else this weekend - he needs a run out with the team to build a bit of cohesion.
Lowe, Conway, Herring and JGP are in the team because they are either better than the alternatives or are better suited to the game plan than the alternatives. I'm not getting into a debate about the merits or otherwise of project players.
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 13 caps
14. Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 25 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 34 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 31 caps
11. James Lowe (Leinster) 6 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 99 caps CAPTAIN
9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 10 caps
1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 37 caps
2. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 13 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 49 caps
4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 22 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 37 caps
6. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 9 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 32 caps
8. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 20 caps
Replacements
16. Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne)*
17. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 109 caps
18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 16 caps
19. Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 63 caps
20. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 76 caps
21. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 89 caps
22. Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 24 caps
23. Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 93 caps
*denotes uncapped player
Only 7 forwards from Leinster. THIS WILL NOT DO.
I really like that pack. It's ultra athletic and has a lot of very good ball players in it too.
Ladies and Gentlemen....
Start. Your. COMPLAINING
12 of starting 15 from Leinster. Wonder is that most players from one province?
Of course you do...it's the Leinster pack plus Beirne.
It is good though and will likely dominate Japan.
I find the second row selection interesting/surprising, would have thought Henderson would start. I'm not crazy about the bench I have to say. Not sure it packs much of a punch.
Start?
It's still the best pack we have athletically. I would maybe have gone for Henderson and Ryan at lock and Beirne in the second row. But Doris is not a bad substitute
Henderson only has half a game of rugby since the Lions, I wonder was that a factor (also the case for Murray)
Leinster vs Japan.
It's a shame that this is where we are at now.
I applaud anyone with a different angle to give out about. It’s needed here.
So the only players not from Leinster in the XV are Aki, Lowe and Gibson-Park
Gibson park is from Leinster, Beirne isnt.
Never mind, i see what you meant
Yes I am sure we'll get plenty of condescending comments about how we should all just be quiet and be happy but it absolutely sucks how lopsided Irish Rugby has become.
Only 3 players not from Leinster, and 2 of those 3 could be replaced with more Leinster men without an eyelid being batted.
Would've liked Baloucoune to be in the squad for this one. Think Conways time is up and we already know how good Earls is. Don't need to spring him off the bench.
As expected, I guess. Not what I would go with. However, Farrell is the coach and these are his decisions.
I don't believe we're going to get rolled by NZ. I think we could even win . But, for me the non inclusion of younger lads is a mistake. At least for this match!
Im excited to see how Sexton gets on here, will be of great insight...
I actually think Conway has been in good form again this year. In my opinion he deserves another shot to prove himself. This game looks like Farrell is giving Lowe and Conway the chance to play themselves back into contention. Balacoune should also get time on the pitch. The only reason I can see that Earls is on the bench is that he is covering 13.
Will we have enough walking sticks for all those oldies coming off the bench, hopefully none get back spasm as they are getting off their seat beforehand.
Ryan had
POM on the bench seems like a waste. He's really a starter or nothing. You'd think that with all the athleticism in the starting pack that you'd go for more of the same with the subs.
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