Bernie and Gibson Park in reality are our only truly world class players, they play consistently at a high level
To be fair you do have a point here, we are probably over reliant on our best players.
Let’s take out Furlong, Ryan, VDF, Doris, Ringrose and Henshaw too while we’re at it. They’re all so good that taking them out of the team will strengthen our weakness or something like that.
We aren’t winning a world cup without a fit Sexton. It’s as simple as that.
Sexton played about 160 minutes of the 2015 RWC from the 5 matches played.
Part of the disaster was that he wasn't involved.
In your own words Johnny Sexton is one of the greatest rugby players of all time, you and others have posted this
Yet in 2019 he was not Just poor, his performance against new Zealand was actually dreadful stuff .
It is well known to weaken Ireland you take out Sexton, something the scots and saffers will try in the world cup, Sexton does not make Ireland strong, he makes Ireland weak. To be so reliant on one man is a weakness
He is far from the common denominator in the disasters in 15/19. several others were central to both and even then it wasnt their fault.
If Sexton has only had a good career then by that standard nearly every rugby player has had a completely crap never to be mentioned ever again by a living soul career.
People are entitled to their opinions. But when you post them on a message board you can’t expect for them to go unchallenged. If you don’t like them challenged then don’t share them.
Conor Murray is a common denominator too btw. So is POM. Is there a reason you haven’t gone after them with your opinion?
Why can't people be entitled to their opinions
For me Johnny Sexton has had a good career, but he is also the common dominator for 2019 and 2015 world cup disasters.
The sooner Sexton retires the better, it will open way more options for Ireland.
“Selecting the team a year before the tournament even starts”
I’m just going to leave this here. It doesn’t matter how many times people point out that few top teams make any real changes in a RWC year. Maybe a picture will help.
I know some people just want to have a go. Have a go at the team, the coach, individual players. And I know a lot of these people don’t actually care what the truth of the matter really is. But here it is for the record.
We're making the same mistake we made at the last world cup. Selecting the team a year before the tournament even starts.
It's pretty cool that you get to listen in to the Irish coaching team's phone calls and meetings. Tell us the 23 for the Wales game, since you claim to know.
Of course, there's also the possibility that you have no idea and you're talking sh*te. But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.
Not for the first time.
The absolute state of this post.
That wasn't the problem in 2019. The problem was a) our gameplan had been somewhat neutered by other teams and b) then entire squad was playing like garbage. It happens.
The starting outhalf is overwhelmingly likely to be either Sexton or Carbery. Neither need time to be "introduced" to the team.
He'll be turning 29 by the time that contract is up. If he hasn't been capped by that stage for Ireland, I can't see a scenario where France or England will be beating a path to his door.
He will get more exposure if Munster make the knockouts and he gets a bit more attention.
He is contracted to Munster for3 years, but if he is uncapped coming up to his contract renewal, it may be much more expensive to keep him in Ireland
So you just skating over the fact you're spewing nonsense with your disdain for the reported recovery time? K
I'm extremely skeptical that Johnny will be able to stay fit and keep up his performance levels for the 6 nations or the full RWC. When players get to 37/38, they can go downhill fast, it takes them longer to recover. We're making the same mistake we made at the last world cup. Selecting the team a year before the tournament even starts.
2022 form means little in November 2023.
I also think rushing him back from injury is a big mistake as, like Neil3030 said, It takes time and familiarity to introduce a new out half into a team, and unless we want to just be stuck Ross Byrne just because he's familiar with Leinster's system (even though we keep getting told in here today that Leinsters's system is totally different to the Ireland system)
France won’t be sniffing around him any time soon. England could have picked him when he was in England but didn’t. He’s behind some exceptional centres for Ireland. If he keeps up his form and a few injuries occur to the guys ahead of him he’ll get his shot.
I’d expect him to be called into the training squad for 6 nations. He may have to wait until World Cup warm ups for a first cap.
To me, there are different lists or tiers or ability, and it depends on the scenario.
My ranking of Irish 10s based on current ability would be:
Not going to rank guys like Charlie Tector, Sam Prendergast, Tony Butler, James Humphreys etc who have virtually no senior experience.
It's possibly a little harsh on guys like Frawley & Harry Byrne, but I haven't seen enough of Frawley playing 10, and haven't seen enough of Harry Byrne in recent times, full stop.
If I was ranking them based on potential to improve from their current position though, I'd have it:
This is why, for me, if we're trying to win games right now with Sexton out, Carbery is the guy to start, and if he's not available then Ross Byrne, but in either scenario, I'd have Crowley on the bench to get minutes into him, because I think he will be our next 10 post Sexton.
This could change, especially if a guy like Harry Byrne could stay healthy, but that would be my read of it right now.
Yeah it's a bit of a crazy thing to say Byrne only featured in big games when Sexton was injured. What team doesn't play their best 10 in big matches...
I think if Sexton was injured for 6 nations I'd start Byrne. I think he's currently the best of the rest. Carbery has been OK this season but he's still nowhere near his best(or international level) and his confidence in defense still looks really shaky.
Crowley could be the answer and I think he'll be a great outhalf but not sure he'll be there by the world Cup. He hasn't looked great at 10(still green but huge potential) and not sure he's going to get a huge amount of game time there.
Farrell has invested in Joey and I think he'll stick by him.
If Sexton is out I'd start Byrne with Crowley on the bench.
Farrell will go Joey and Crowley I'd imagine.
People said the same things about Aki before the summer tour. He's off form, not the player he was, McCloskey is better, etc. And then he was outstanding on that tour. Our best performing centre out of himself, Henshaw and Ringrose IMO.
I agree his form for Connacht has been questionable at times, but he's a proper test match animal who always delivers for Ireland. McCloskey had a good 20 minutes v SA but failed to back it up against Fiji and Aus. Aki then came on against Australia and grabbed the game by the balls and scored the match winning try, because that's what top class players do.
I think Frisch needs to get capped asap because it won't be long before the English and French start sniffing around him if they aren't doing so already,
And also because he's an outstanding centre who suits the Irish gameplan
Wolverine wouldn't have broken his cheek in the first place due to an Adamantium infused skeleton...
Also your post has quite a skeptical tone (which would be on brand for you regarding anything to do with Sexton anyway...) but you realise facial injuries are quite recoverable?
Garry Ringrose missed 6 and subsequently 4 weeks with back to back broken jaw injuries.
Brad Barrittt played against Leinster in the 2018 HC QF 5 days after cheekbone surgery of his own.
So I don't see any reason to assume Sexton isn't fully in the picture ahead of the start of the 6 Nations
EDIT: How did I manage to forget BOD breaking his cheekbone (to which he still has a visible scar to this day) against Bayone on 18th August 2007 only to return against Namibia 3 weeks later.
So yea. I'm not worried
You don't have a notion what goes on in camp and neither do I. All the outhalf options are going to be involved in training, it's not all about Sexton.
The medics and coaches will make an informed assessment as to whether he'll be fit to train by the start of camp and what his chances are of being able to take full part and then play against Wales. They'll then make an informed decision and pass that to Andy Farrell who will subsequently pick the team.
These are actual, qualified, professionals - they're not going to be making assumptions (like you did regarding Sexton's injury before the Aus game) and if the recovery time is 4 weeks then it's 4 weeks. Unless you're a orthopaedic surgeon how do you know what the damage, surgical intervention and recovery times are?
Seriously, you really are making a complete show of yourself here.
Yeah, I'd agree on both.
I really like Stewart. It's really unfortunate for him that he's come on the scene at the same time as Sheehan (who looks like a generational talent) and the also exceptionally talented and athletic Kelleher. Stewart does look like a guy though who should be included and capped.
I'd rather McCloskey, think he's in better form and is a more capable player
Frisch to me is an international centre. Has basically everything including size. We also know that farrell can jump guys up charts.
Another guy I’d like to see move up is tom stewart. Past Herring unfortunately but i love his upside and he would be a great third hooker.
I'm not sure Aki is the same player he was tbh, I'd be worried if we need him. But hopefully I'm proved wrong in the 6 Nations.
With Sexton, the drop off is substantial but it ain't gonna get much better whether he plays 6 Nations or not
Nah. We could beat France or NZ with an Aki/Henshaw midfield pairing. Ringrose would be a loss for sure. But Aki and Henshaw are proven test match animals and top class players. We'd be weakened, but still pretty strong. Most sides would love to have our depth at centre. Wales and England being two prime examples.
We don't have anywhere near that sort of depth at 10. Sexton goes down and the drop off in quality is substantial.
You've stated that Leinster have tweaked a gameplan because: a backup 10 with a lower ceiling than they'd like ; when there isn't any evidence to support that.
a backup 10 with a lower ceiling than they'd like
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