Torquemada for backup OH it is
They clearly do based on the last page.
I don't see why Farrell would change the order of things now, he had an opportunity to do it during the AIs and didn't, Sexton getting injured hardly changes that.
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.
Carbery hasn’t played badly either. In the occasions he has come in for Sexton last season, he played a solid game. Contrary to a lot of the narrative, he has been performing fairly consistently for Munster, not pulling up trees, but none of the other backup options are either. Carbery is second choice on merit, whether people like it or not.
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.
The recent Munster Leinster game was a prime example tbh; very direct, lots of one out carries.
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.
Has there been any news on Sexton's injury and how long he is expected to be out for?
All home matches.
The last home match that Ross Byrne started was the Gloucester game and there's no way you can say leinster played tight that day.
Before that in home games against ulster we had 7 line breaks and 30 defenders beaten against 16 defenders beaten with 9 line breaks last night.
When compared like for like there is not a huge world of difference in how leinster play with Johnny versus Ross , other than johnny being very very good at rugby.
If Sexton misses significant time, we will struggle to compete with the French. But in a world cup year, it could be a blessing. Sexton is 37! He's fantastic, he's the best out half in the world and he's liable to have a drop in form at this age.
Rugby takes a toll physically and mentally. At 37 years old, Sexton has played a world class level for 2 or 3 years longer than most of us expected. The gold rush will dry up eventually. It's a credit to the man that he's been this good for so long.
While I don't believe Carberry is in this class, a run of starts may help him. I can't see Crowley getting a start as he hasn't started much at 10 for Munster. Ross Byrne would be an option. A bench option at least. Our world cup dreams rely heavily on a soon to be 38 year old. The risk of a loss of form is there. It's more likely that Sexton does go into some kind of tailspin soon enough. Hopefully, not too soon. The injury could be devastating for Leinster too. I hope not.
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
What's he been doing for the last two years then??
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.
Yup, its ass backward "logic". All Sexton missing gets us is a reduced chance of winning trophies.
It will be great for all the Sexton fanatics to eat a bit of humble pie when the sky doesn’t fall down without him.
Exactly and that is why it is so important to see all viable options before the world cup
Sexton furlong porter van der flier and Gibson Park are all crucial to Ireland and the drop off from them to their back ups is massive , nothing can change that but as many minutes as possible of the genuine pressure of 6 nations rugby
Childish post.
I think Sexton is one of the best 10's (and maybe the best) in the World and far better than any other 10 in Ireland. People can decide whether that makes me a fanatic or not but nothing would make me happier than if we won the six nations or grand slam without him, in particular because he's about to retire.
You're confusing a genuine acknowledgment of his talent with the petty grievances you project onto others.
We’ve seen them.
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?
France started Ntamack at 10 in 2019 despite only having 4 starts from a possible 27 games at 10 for Toulouse.
Ntamack is a good player though
France were a **** show for years leading up to that. We'd be dropping one of the best and most in form Outhalf in the game to do that.
And that's ignoring the fact that we recently started munster's third choice Outhalf against Australia.
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.
Where
I hope farrell won't make the same mistakes as schmidt.
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.
But surely doing something in a world cup which we havent done before is surely far more important than not performing at a world cup yet again would be far better for irish rugby?
We've done everything in world rugby bar perform in a world cup knock out game. surely if we want to be as good as we like to think we are then that has to change. Sexton not involved at all against Italy and not starting against someone else shouldnt be the end of the world.
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.
Sexton not playing in the six nations has absolutely no guarantee of a better impact on how we will do in a world cup.
Will playing Ross Byrne / carbery / Crowley at home against France in March make it more likely that we can beat France away in there following October?
Would shipping a loss at home in that game actual hinder our chances away in October?
Or, if given the choice, would sexton starting both games increase our chances in both games?
If sexton is out for either or both, then you deal with it. However in both cases we are lesser for it.
I just don't think the World Cup is that important.
I think you’re in a small minority so, tbh, Clegg.
But that’s not the choice; playing Sexton gives us the best chance of a tournament victory, but it doesn’t guarantee us anything.
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