Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Ireland need to have backup at 10 who are fully up to speed and match ready

We have one.

Ireland were not a good enough team to win that World Cup, I never said that. We were a good enough team to put up a fight against Argentina with 5 injuries in the squad. The bookies agreed and had the odds close to a pick em with Argentina as slight favourites. We lost by 23 points and were never in the game. We performed well below par. Schmidt got a free pass from the Irish media as if the injuries were the only reason Ireland lost.

I’ve no idea how Crowley got POTM in that game when there were numerous forwards more deserving, but there was little from Crowley to suggest he’s ready to step up to test level. Munster couldn’t get out of their half for the first 30 mins and he played no small part in that. Even in the second, Ulster were shockingly poor and Munster only managed to sneak it at the death. Again, Crowley played no small part in Munster struggling to get on top.

The guy has a lot of potential and I’m not in any way writing him off, but he also has a lot to learn. Which is to be expected given his age and experience. And that’s the point I’m making. He’s at the start of his career and his development. He isn’t ready for Test rugby yet. Nor should he be expected to be. He isn’t leapfrogging Carbery yet as some suggest he should.

Here’s the thing tho; I’m not sure Ross Byrne is capable of making a break like that.

.....

And the hits just keep on coming with this latest classic: False Equivalence.

Is it really so hard to have a rational, reasonable and objective discussion in here these days?

2015 and 2019 are wildly different scenarios. In 2015 we had won a 6Ns and were playing well until a load of injuries fecked us against a decent Argie side. In 2019 we were crap all year and were crap in the QF against a class NZ side. The two aren’t even remotely the same. But people need to have their hot takes I suppose. 🙄

I'd be worried that this break will become an albatross around Crowley's neck. It wasn't anything to do with his ability as an outhalf and in fact he played pretty poorly at 10 against Ulster, but now if he isn't a test-level 10 very soon, people will be wondering when he's going to "replicate his early form". Also worth noting that at test level, I doubt the opposition forwards would be as disinterested in tackling him as the Ulster lads were.

I remember JJ Hanrahan scored a lovely try in the corner in the last minute to beat a French team (Perpignan?) - and everyone thought, this is the guy, the successor to ROG - but again, a lovely try in the corner had nothing to do with being a good OH, which JJH patently was not. Yet for ages, it kept coming up, remember that try, remember that try...

Crowley looks to be a very solid player and Farrell seems to see something in him, but perspective is needed.

Ok, but I don’t see the point.

Equally, put Ross Byrne at 12 and he’s still not capable of making that break.

Of course it is.

But if speed and footwork was what we need from an OH, Carbery would be first choice for Ireland.

I'm optimistic about Crowley as an option for Ireland, but to be honest I was more optimistic before the game against Ulster and his 20 minutes at 10 against Leinster.

I’m not saying that’s all we need from an OH any more than you’re saying, say, RB’s cross-field kicking is all we need.

But it is a big point of difference between them.

And I think Crolwey suits Irelands attacking game plan more than RB. (I think RB would’ve suited Schmidt’s style better).