Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

It's a worry, yes. But at the same time what can Ireland do? Since Farrell took over they've tried Ross Byrne, Billy Burns and Joey Carbery. None of them have played well enough to bother Sextons position in the slightest.

Ireland can do, but won't.

We may lose a RWC semi for moral reason, it's a honour or a waste, whatever you think.

But as a pure rugbystic POV, we never have to forget we've lost the real back-up 10 who's Paddy Jackson. Olding may have been a contender à la Noel Reid too.

I mean we have to remember is not really a fault of "lack-in-depth" under normal circonstances

Not a great 24 hours for Mike Lowry. A bit of a stinker in the RDS and then Jimmy O'Brien equites himself brilliantly (albeit at 13) against the Springboks.

You'd have to think JOB is now the backup 15, and will probably start there v Fiji.

I’d be thinking Keenen plays again next week to build fitness along with a few other frontline players, it won’t be a different 100% 15 anyway, 6/7 changes definitely

I think we go full strength against Australia but I agree that we give some people a week off for Fiji.

I'd start Loughman but go with our first choice second row. Loughman has a chance of overtaking Healy imo for the RWC and needs the gametime to have a chance. One of the few players to come away from Friday's game with credit in the bank from Friday's game.

I also think I'd play O'Brien on a wing and start Keenan at 15. I always like an experienced 15 leading some more fringe wingers.

If we have the slightest shred of sense about us, Sexton won't play again this November. We've had a fantastic 2022. Nothing will change that. The result of the Australia game does not matter. It's literally the perfect opportunity to give a start to another 10. Our reliance on Sexton has only increased over the last 12 months. We need to give someone else a run, even if that just means just means the team learning to function with a 10 that's not Sexton on the field. Because at the moment, we can't function without him.

None of the backrows who started against NZ on Friday played well. Sometimes you just don't/can't win the collisions and that's ok. But the inaccuracy at the breakdown was a huge issue and the backrow must take a lot of responsibility for that mess.

Deegan made a decent impact off the bench. But it's hard to gauge because New Zealand were already well ahead. At the very least, he won some collisions and looked to try and run at soft shoulders, rather than head on. I thought Coombes was particularly guilty of that.

I see them taking two 12s - Henshaw plus one, probably. So McCloskey's in with a reasonable chance. He really has to beat off Aki. Or I suppose if Henshaw is absent or playing 13 with Ringrose unavailable both McCloskey and Aki could go.

Frawley could cover inside centre from another primary position, but he's not really a like-for-like replaement for the truck-it-up 12s.

Aki is centrally contracted so yes baring injury or another on-field assault he will go. But success at world cups is not born from guaranteed team sheets a year out. Competition breeds success and McCloskey should be provided with adequate opportunity given his current form. World cup squads need form players playing.

I hope Loughman gets into the squad this week. I would like to see a little mix in the squad. Something like,

1. Porter

2. Herring

3. Bealham

4. Treadwell

5. Beirne

6. Doris

7. Timoney

8. Conan

9. JGP

10. Carberry

11. JOB

12. Big Stu, if available. Frawley if not.

13. Henshaw

14. Baloucoune

15. Keenan

16. Sheehan

17. Loughman

18. O'Toole

19. McCarthy/ Molony

20. Deegan

21. Blade

22. Crowley

23. Frawley if healthy. Osborne if Frawley is out.

V Oz, I hope Casey gets to start. He's been around the squad for a while. I think a shot against Oz would benifit him more than a tilt v Fiji.

Doak would be worth a look too. But I think he's behind Blade and Casey.