Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

My impression is not particularly, and certainly not as much as Loughman and Wycherly. He looks for contact rather than the passing option a lot. (And he's had some scrum issues too this season).

His last start was vs Sharks. He's down for 10 carries and 1 pass over 59 minutes.

Josh Wycherley came on for the remaining 21 minutes and had 3 carries by 6 passes.

Now, there's possibly an element of having to force it more later in the game but to me, that would be fairly typical of his season.

I don’t believe that Archer is a consistent international standard tight head although his form has been brilliant the last few months.

But when I hear of untouchables, reputation over form etc. then we are back to the 2007 World Cup and we might as well prepare ourselves for an early exit. Which is probably the most likely outcome given the draw we have.

Osborne is also a better player.

"He's 27" isn't an argument for picking a guy.

There have been suggestions of untouchables for every coach since Eddie. Murray and POM in recent years, until they got dropped. This form player or that form player should be picked. To be honest is complete and utter BS. Rugby is a professional sport, that is results driven. Coaches don’t pick on sentiment.

Furlong is most definitely off form but you are comparing him to a level of performance Archer has never nor ever will achieve. Furlong playing poorly is probably still a far better performance than Archer playing well. We just know he can play a hell of a lot better.

Couldn't agree more.

Comments on here about Frisch are missing the point so spectacularly, perhaps it just hasn't been made yet.

We're talking about the initial 40+ squad. Frisch would have needed at least two injuries to make the plane. I think even the Munster fans who have closely watched him all season would struggle to put him in ahead of the main 3 and a more versatile 4th man who provides broader cover in the backline for short term injury.

But suppose injury does strike two of Ringrose, Henshaw and Bundee. You have now squandered the AI, 6N and now the summer camps to have Frisch up to speed with the systems. You're basically signalling at that point that you're happy to start Frawley or Osbourne for the rest of the World Cup, over a specialist centre who was one of the best players for the league winners.

If that's your opinion then it is what it is. But apply the right context.

I think this is the exact right context.

I don't think anyone has actually argued that Osborne is being picked for the player he will be a year from now. No one should be in this squad based on anything other than what they can do in September and October 2023.

Equally, if Osborne gets abducted by aliens tomorrow, who comes in? It could just as easily be Hume, or Tom Farrell, or Stewart Moore. The assumption that Frisch is next cab off the rank, or has lost out to Osborne is entirely untested.

BTW, your "what if injury strikes two of Ringrose, Henshaw and Bundee" scenario completely overlooks the presence of Stuart McCloskey. He would play alongside the last man standing from the first choice trio.