Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

jesus there’s some bitterness going on here.

They didn't really have proof, Sexton admitted it himself, which is the reason why the suspension was halved.

He apologised to the EPCR guy Tony Spreadbury because he had shouted/"sprayed" at him too. There was no indication that Johnny was also apologising for his actions towards the refereeing team.

Such is indicated in TS's statement: "I received a text message from Johnny Sexton explaining that he wished to apologize for the way he had spoken to me during the match... Sexton did not mention the match officials during the call, so I took his apology as being solely to me personally; rather than as a general apology to the match officials"

Though the report does indicate that Johnny is going to apologise directly to the ref team too.

Interesting from the legal perspective if nothing else!

If Sexton was ready to go 100% I wouldn't be surprised to see a utility back who could cover 10 (if one was good enough I don't think Frawley is. I mean Id class him as Leinster's 6th choice Centre and maybe 4th choice 15).

Hopefully people have regained consciousness now. To be clear, I meant "I wouldn't be shocked" in its literal sense.

I think Byrne and Crowley will go, but I absolutely don't think anyone else will be brought in ahead of Frawley if it came to it. I can't see any way Carbery (or anyone else) takes no part in the training squad but is parachuted back into the middle of the tournament and Frawley rides the pine. That really doesn't fit with Farrell's MO.

I also think people have forgotten just how highly Frawley is (or was, anyway) regarded at out-half by Farrell despite a negligible body of work for Leinster.

Maori tour - Frawley started both games at 10

Emerging Ireland tour - Frawley identified by the mgmt pre-tour as a key player they wanted to look at (as an out-half)

New Zealand 'A' game - Frawley started at 10 (then gets injured...)

Six Nations - Frawley is brought back into the Ireland squad for rounds 4 and 5, only a couple of days after his first game for Leinster in 5 months (since the NZ A game).

If Frawley is doing the business in training, I don't think it's out of the question that he goes in the 33-man squad tbh. He is clearly very highly rated by the Irish coaches, they have backed him to a greater or lesser degree at every turn.

To be clear, I meant "I wouldn't be shocked" in its literal sense.

But, by any measure, it literally would be a shock selection.

As for this:

Hopefully people have regained consciousness now.

c’mon like…

It's really hard to know exactly what would happen in the very unlikely scenario that we ship two injuries at outhalf and are forced to go to our 4th choice option to wear the 22 jersey.

On the surface, it would appear highly unlikely that we'd consider Frawley the fourth choice. There was obviously an appetite to look at him at 10 a year ago but a lot has changed since then.

But when you step back and look at the overall picture and evidence on hand, it's probably more likely that we initially think. The main reason being that he's in camp now. Carbery hasn't been in camp since 2022. I would imagine it's less likely for him to come into the 23 having been outside of proceedings for the guts of a year. He would be unfamiliar with tactics, set plays etc.

I would guess that anyone who will feature in the RWC is currently in Carton House barring an exceptionally bad injury run.

But, by any measure, it literally would be a shock selection.

It would be a surprise, but not a shock. To me, anyway.

I suppose a positive from Sexton missing the warm-up games now is that both Crowley and Byrne should be able to start at least one of the games and Frawley should be able to get some minutes there too.

Pb