Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

They clearly do based on the last page.

I'd expect Carbery to start, but I just don't think he should be given the opportunity anymore. He's had so many chances and underwhelmed that I'd like us to try Ross Byrne again. Just to see if he can pull out something better.

They do. Leinster play a lot more conservative and direct when Ross Byrne plays. They don't go wide as much and use the driving maul and pick and go a lot more. Because it suits Byrne's strengths, and he doesn't suit an expansive, high tempo game. If Ireland are going to move towards that sort of game, then there's a case for R.Byrne. But that sort of game won't win any trophies.

Carbery will start at 10 away to Wales. And I'd argue Wales are now favorites for that game.

And the Racing and Gloucester games. Pretty much every game Byrne plays.

Then look at the games Sexton played. In the Sharks, Munster and Connacht games Leinster opened up more and played a lot more rugby.

If sexton misses the whole of the 6 nations it will be a blessing , I don't care who Ireland replace him with

We need to see how Ireland perform without sexton for a full tournament, let's see who his back up should be for the world Cup and how the squad perform in his absence for the whole 6 nations.

I believe if farrell does not rotate his squad for the 6 nations he will regret it come world cup. He needs to really test his squad depth

There's no universe where Sexton being absent is a blessing in disguise. He's our most important player and any possibility of a trophy depends on him.

Leinster could potentially get away with it, but you need that extra quality at test level and Sexton is the only fly half who has it.

I'm really annoyed at Sexton, honestly. How many of his head injuries have been from this same crappy tackle technique? A guy playing some of the best out half rugby on earth still hasn't learned how to tackle safely, it's a real failure.

Anyway, it makes the Ireland situation interesting. Joey is the presumptive starter, followed by Crowley and Frawley/RB, I'd say. When is the squad announced?

Then they’ll have earned enough XP to afford the relevant upgrades to their crucial stats. If they’re lucky they might also unlock some new special abilities too.

I don't see the World Cup as the be all and end all like some seem to. I want Sexton to be fit for every Six Nations game as I think we've an excellent chance of winning the tournament if he starts at least 4 of the 5 games.

If that means we've some undercooked 10's going into the WC so be it.

I just don't think the World Cup is that important. It's a recent invention and doesn't hold the same cultural importance to me the soccer tournament does.

If the choice in this context is between a Six Nations victory with Sexton playing most games, or losing him for a few games, playing a different 10 and risking a tournament victory I'm picking the former every time.

I just can't see Sexton being absent as a blessing in disguise.

I just don't think the World Cup is that important.

I think you’re in a small minority so, tbh, Clegg.

If the choice in this context is between a Six Nations victory with Sexton playing most games, or losing him for a few games, playing a different 10 and risking a tournament victory I'm picking the former every time.

But that’s not the choice; playing Sexton gives us the best chance of a tournament victory, but it doesn’t guarantee us anything.