Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

I know there were personality clashes the last time he was in Ireland camp

Maybe there were, but Cooney was the one who decided to publicly criticise the national coach about his exclusion.

For a fringe player allegedly hoping to get back into the team, it was an extraordinary thing to do.

He'll never wear green again and barring a massive injury crisis, he's no loss.

You may be right on the first two points.

But to say he's "no loss" I think is untrue. IMO he's without a doubt in the top 2 scrum halves in Ireland, and arguably the best. If he was to declare for Scotland I think he'd walk into their XV. Casey and Murray are ahead of him in the Irish pecking order, but would Ulster take either of them ahead of Cooney? Not a chance.

Surely 2 years is long enough for him and Farrell to put whatever grievances they had aside in the interest of the national team and for Cooney to have maybe matured a bit.

So what's the plan if Keenan and Lowe are unavailable? I assume that Stockdale is going to miss the international windows. Conway hasn't played, so should not be considered?

I'd go RB and Hansen. Maybe JOB on the bench and little Mike at fb?

TRC10... you gotta be carefull..!

unfortunately I am not knowledgable enough of other provinces. Bayern, is the man for that... But there is an Ennis scrumhalf, that i think is brilliant... so Casey and Murray are probably worrying about this guy....

whats the craic with other provinces?

Apart from the time when he was nominated as the European player of the year and being named on the Pro 14 team of the year and as Ulster player of the year. Apart from that time.

Murray was playing like a drain at that time (arm or shoulder injury was ruining his passing game), but we were told he'd play himself back into form. After a dozen or more games he still hadn't.

With 3 weeks to go until we play the boks, what’s the starting 15 in people’s minds? Mine would be

Hansen Lowry Baloucoune

Henshaw Ringrose

Sexton Casey

Beirne Doris VDF

Henderson(if fit) Ryan

Porter Sheehan Furlong

bench

Herring,

Healy

Bealham

O Mahony

Conan

Murray

Frawley

Mccloskey

Reckon Healy is done.

Keenan (Lowry if Keenan isn't ready), Hansen, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe, Sexton, Gibson Park (when is he due back?)

Porter, Kelleher, Furlong, Beirne, Ryan, Conan, Van Der Flier, Doris

Herring, Healy, O'Toole, Baird (Henderson if fit), Coombes (plenty of options here), Casey, Carbery, McCloskey

The No.23 Jersey is interesting, I was thinking Jimmy O'Brien, but then we've no Centre cover. McCloskey covers centre, Ringrose covers wing, Carbery and Hansen (I think) covers FB.

Not sure if I've forgotten anyone.

There's a few other lads that should be looked at as well.

I'd also like to see Stewart, Ahern, Doak and Crowley get a go against Fiji, but it's unlikely, Ahern may have a chance and maybe at a push Doak if Gibson Park is injured, but this is more hope than expectation on my part.

It should be a good series anyway. It's important that we don't fall into the old trap of thinking that the squad that was good enough to beat NZ in July 2022 is necessarily the right squad to compete for a WC in the Autumn of 2023. Not sure what that means for November 2022 though.

1. Furlong
2. Kelleher
3. Porter
4. Jenkins
5. Beirne
6. O'Mahony
7. van der Flier
8. Doris
9. Casey
10. Sexton
11. Hansen
12. Henshaw
13. Ringrose
14. Baloucoune
15. O'Brien
16. Kelleher
17. Henderson
18. Healy
19. Bealham
20. Gibson-Park
21. 
    
22. O'Mahony
23. 
    

Can Jenkins play?

who is 22?

POM was one of the players of the series in the summer and now he doesnt even make the 23? riiiiight......

John Cooney hasn't been part of an Ireland squad in years. He's clearly not getting called up now.

Of course. But barring a complete change in selection policy, Cooney isn't getting selected and everyone knows it. We should at least post likely squads.