Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Yeah agree with all of this. I’d like it to be Coombes on the bench (assuming Doris is out) but wouldn’t surprise me if it was Timoney given his ability to cover all three back row positions.

It's mad that Cian Prendergast's name never even enters the discussion, people have completely forgotten he exists.

Personally I wouldn't be surprised if he's ahead of Coombes and I'd be very confident he's ahead of Timoney.

Prendergast is next on the line

He warned up yesterday

He can cover 6 and 8

No reason to have Coombes/Tim or anyone else, if Doris is out (I pray he's not), it's Cian 20

Team for next week will almost pick itself, Herring in at 2 assuming neither make it. Baird and Conan will start, Henshaw in at 13. Only big call in the starting XV is at 9.

the bench is where it will be interesting 16,19,20 & 23 are up for grabs.

I think Coombes is likely at 20, Treadwell at 19 and 23 is most likely to be a call based on things like Henshaws fitness.

I see Tuilagi is eligible for selection. He's been a bit of a nemesis of ours in the past. Maybe he's past his best, and it takes more than one new man into the England 15 for us to start to worry about them, but I'd have preferred to see Lawrence all the same.

Prendergast was the only backrow warming up pre match on Sunday I believe, would suggest he is ahead of the others

Id imagine Healy would go to 8 and win man of the match if Conan got injured.

Not sure on ref

England caused alot of trouble last year with 14 men

I know England are in a bad place and Ireland are flying it, but the Injuries are mounting and beirne is a big loss and if Doris is missing that's another big loss at the breakdown and in carrying

Ross Molony and Tom Stewart called into squad

Is Treadwell injured?

The Molony callup suggests Baird will start vs. England. The alternative was to plonk in a like-for-like replacement for Hendy, i.e., a bigger lump. In which case you'd have seen Kleyn or Treadwell called up.

The risk is now the elements. If we get heavy rain, England could really get purchase in the scrum and set piece.

Aside from that, I think Baird will be favored due to his linespeed which was very effective at disrupting the Scottish attack. He just gets out there and makes a nuisance of himself around the 12/13 channel, even if he doesn't line up a ball carrier. England going Smith-Tuilagi would be very similar.

There was never even a remote chance that Niall Murray was going to be called in with 3-4 days of training before a Grand Slam decider having never been in the squad before. Whoever was called up needs to be up to speed with all calls, otherwise the quality of training would suffer. His time will come.