Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

I hadnt heard any of the talk /hype about sheehan, who was rating him so highly?

I know some people are getting an awful twist in the knickers because im asking a question about a leinster player but before last weekend i had never heard of the guy and apparently thats akin to a crime in these parts.

Your unable to comprehend the difference between a complaint and a question.

In fairness one person beside Laurence made one provincial comment, Laurence made a couple making sure that this looks like it was provincial. His question was answered by several people and he kept probing looking for the angle he really wanted.

nobody answered the question, nobody referenced his ability in games, his stats or impact, until his mistakes and contribution in the japan game were mentioned and that he is big.

As i said i dont know anything about the guy, which is reasonable because he has very few caps and instead of discussing the player what came back was “red glasses” and other nonsense.

This guy could start at the weekend so surely hes up for discussion?

The biggest question over Sheehan vs Herring is what they're going to bring.

While a young hookers set piece ability is overly criticised by some people it is a factor. And it's something Rob Herring is peerless at on this island at present. His throwing from touch is top notch and dependable. Around the park he wont let you down defensively and that's about as much as I can say he offers conclusively against the very best.

However, against the All Blacks you cannot hope to ride out the last 20 and let them come at you. Because they'll come at you in spades and eventually find a way in. It's inevitable.

Will Dan Sheehan fit the game plan of bringing it to the All Blacks in the last 20, stretch them out wide, win the collisions and beat them at their own game? He definitely will add more in that facet than Herring regardless of experience etc. He is a far superior athlete.

Tough call for Farrell to be honest. There's huge merit in what both of them bring. I'm sure glad I don't pick the team

looking good in the Pro14 playing with the Best team in the league is one thing.

Doing it against NZ is an entirely different prospect, he has the advantage of being an unknown quantity for opposition, but 25 minutes against a terrible and badly beaten Japanese side is the extent of his international experience and that counts for very very little.

Im all for giving young lads a chance, but this is a massive massive step up for any player with such few caps.

Hopefully he swims if selected not sinks because we need players of his age profile coming into the squad and contributing on match days

I never mentioned his age.

Its his inexperience that is the question. If he had performed in tough hcup games then its a step closer to what is coming saturday.

If he plays saturday then we will see if he is good enough!

A while ago I rewatched Ireland v NZ game from the World Cup. One thing I really want to see from Ireland this weekend is a much improved defence.

In the quarter final we made so many basic errors. Ringrose and Henshaw, who I think are two of the better defensive centres in the world, were dismantled. The All Blacks weren't even particularly creative in that game. Some pull back passes and reversing of play but they ghosted through our midfield and fringe defence.

I recognise that they could do this because they took us apart up front and our backs had no time to set themselves in defence, but a lot of basic errors were made regardless.

Still no team announcement.

Could someone be an injury doubt?

There was a delay on the team for England in March and it turned out Connors was injured.

Good chance without the injury he'd be our starting 7. He was getting better and better each game. Hopefully he's not long getting back up to speed when he returns