Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

I think you've missed the context. It wasn't in their own half, because Leinster didn't clear their lines.

My point is that, some of those kicks were deep in Leinster territory, so even if Leinster do clear their lines, the LAR put in is still in the Leinster half. I think that's objectively true.

Nonsense. Leinster gifted massive territory repeatedly through poor kicking, and gifted possession to go with it by kicking out on the full.

And LAR gifted Leinster a 3-try head start. That works both ways.

If people want to believe that had no impact in a one point game that's up to them.

I never said it had no impact. My point is I think the maul had the biggest impact.

I can only take from this that you think territory is relatively meaningless in rugby.

Nope.

...so will leave it there.

Yep.

What areas do you think Byrne is better? And what areas do you think Crowley is? How how does the relate to how Ireland play overall? Or the balance of the bench selection?

Someone earlier said, if we were chasing the game, they'd want Crowley coming off the bench. Absolutely. If you need a spark of magic, or someone to streak through a gap in a tired defence, then that ain't Ross Byrne, it's Crowley.

But what if we want the out-half to close out the game? Or to come on after 10 minutes when Sexton gets concussed again? What if we want someone to keep the shape of the team, get the forwards into the positions they need to be in, and keep the backline moving? Then maybe Byrne is the guy you want. Crowley has certainly shown encouraging signs he can do this, but 'signs' are all they are.

I honestly don't think Farrell will pick his bench for versatility, he's shown no inclination to do so up to now. I think he'll pick the 22 that he thinks is the second-best out-half. Crowley's ability to play 12 doesn't matter if Bundee Aki is wearing 23, as he almost certainly will be.

Can you quote these posts laying the blame on Byrne for the exit strategy? I didn’t see any. I saw plenty blaming JGP and Lowe though.

Farrell picks his bench for impact, as opposed to Schmidt who picked his bench to cover for injuries. And I'd 150% be in the Farrell camp on that. Aki has far more capacity to change a game with 20 minutes to go than Jimmy O'Brien.

How many games under Joe did the no.23 (guys like Larmour, McFadden, Felix Jones) come on and actually make an impact? Very few. Fitzgerald v Argentina is the only one I can really think of. Now how many games under Farrell (in a much smaller sample size) have we seen Aki or Henshaw come on with 20 minutes to go and really add something to the team? I can think of loads. England away last year. 1st and 2nd tests v NZ, Australia last year. Wales and France this year. Those are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

And if a wing gets injured, Ringrose just moves out there and Aki comes into the centre. It's hardly a major reshuffle.

The 8pm start for the Italy game is some balls

Yeah true enough if a wing gets Injured as i said Ringrose can filter out there and i do think that if ringrose is missing aki starts 12 and henshaw starts 13.

What I was saying was that crowley and Jimmy o brien offers more cover than the byrne and aki combo.. I wasn't just focusing on aki v job.

if Keenan gets injured/concussed as we saw v England this year JOB or maybe even crowley can slot straight into Full back. Hansen maybe can cover full back I'm not sure he played there much this season for Connacht. Lowe hasn't played there in Ireland.

Ps England away last year by the time henshaw came on England had been playing with 14 men for over and hour. Easier make an impact.

Wales this year Bundee came on for 20 minutes. Wales were down to 14 men for 10 of those. He Made no passes, 2 tackles and made 7 metres.

France this year. Bundee came on for 15 minutes.. made no passes 3 tackles and made 8 meters and conceded a turn over.

The 1st test v Nz we lost. Played 24 minutes. Made a total of 2 metres and got a try.

2nd test. Ringrose got injured early so aki was on for an hour. Played well. But not really the impact sub situation we are talking about.

I think Hansen and Lowe played joint most minutes for ireland in the 6 nations and keenan rarely comes off so very difficult to say a back 3 sub made an impact this year as there has been no situation where we have had one coming on for 20 minutes similar to Aki.

Which comes First the chicken or the egg? Hard for a back 3 player to make an impact off the bench if there are none picked there... but Jimmy o brien did very well v both South africa and England last season when asked to come in as injury cover for mid game for keenan and mccloskey.

Maybe, I was assuming he was referring to the 5 between JGP and Lowe.