Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Every single one of our imports is here because he didn't have a prospect of getting a cap for his native country, and Ireland offered an easier path. No one has ever said otherwise.

A couple of them have subsequently proved that they could indeed have got a cap at home, but most of them have not. Time will tell which category Healy falls into I guess.

But only referred to in one instance, I wonder why?

The point about some of our players eventually getting capped if they's stayed at home is interesting, and I wonder if it's true. Player development is bizarre and non linear, a couple of injuries to established players can sometimes lead to a player who was solidly outside breaking in and eventually making an international career, and similarly a good player who is on track can be discarded and passed by when they're injured. Or a guy moves club and blossoms under a different manager/culture. Would Lowe have had the time and coaching to develop his game and become a very good defender had he stayed in NZ? He had the skills and promise but in a place with a conveyor belt of great wingers coming through would he ever have become the player he is? Same perhaps fr JGP. Healy might well become a player none of us predicted in Scotland for similar reasons.

I would happily recruit as many foreigners as possible.

That's the point. You could see something similar for Beirne had he stayed at Leinster instead of moving to Wales and then Munster. In Healy's case things might work out really well for him, he definitely has the basics to become a great player but he had no realistic prospect of developing in the Irish scene. Fair play to him for going for it.

ross and harry byrne dont really fit that bill thought, much as theyve both played in the centre for leinster

great hair

i wouldnt have him as a 12/15 unless an emergency though

Haha. I love it. Take that proposal to World Rugby 😁

@Former Former Former Yes all the AB front row replacements that came on last Saturday qualified under residency. Ofa moved to NZ with his family when he 13 or 14. Nepo was even younger as his family were moved to NZ when his older brother Casey became a pro rugby player. NZ scouts are good but not that good.

If healy and Crowley traveled, Munster would have had no 10!

when his older brother Casey became a pro rugby player. NZ scouts are good but not that good.

or you could say they are that good, that they recruited one teenager to play rugby and ended up getting his (better) brother as part of the deal.

Sevu Reece would be in the ABs squad if not for injury, right? There's another one.