Interesting that loughman is straight onto the bench, hope he goes well.
I understand that Henshaw has a family bereavement
He should have been in the squad before Kilcoyne on form
Really hope it goes well for him Saturday
Sorry, I wouldn't drop POM, for VDF, I was thinking about how the back line would re-organise when he went off after 50-60 mins as he typically does these days. POM would likely start at 7 if VDF was injured, or maybe Doris would start at 7 and POM would stay at 6
Prendergast at 8. What can he do that Coombes can not?
I don't think Prendergast is in the plan as a primary 8 cover at all. I think Farrell is using this as an opportunity to see if he could do a job there if Conan and/or Doris were unavailable, safe enough in the knowledge that Doris is on the bench if he's needed.
Play 6 and 7 ??
Very good. Make it about Ronan O’Gara and also have a cut off Keith Earls. Top marks all round.
Coombes can definitely play 6. It’s where he played the majority of his early Munster career.
Prendergast is more suited to 7 alright tho, as I’d wager he’s quicker, and possibly a better lineout jumper too?
Personally I’d have Coombes ahead of him on carrying (and as a consequence, try-scoring) , offloading, jackalling and mauling.
At least we can now drop the Coombes name from the conversation for now, I think Coombes and Prendergast are a level below most of the Leinster/Ireland Backrow. I thought he might of gone with Crowley again at 10 and have Byrne for the Samoa hame, I hope he continues to put Doris in cotton wool.
is this kind of thing not specifically trying to stoke up some provincial mud slinging in the Ireland thread? Is that only a mod priority when it’s something that might upset the very shrewd leinster brains trust?
I hate to say it but with Kelleghers injury profile it might be better to bring Stewart who is definitely on a steep upward curve
Fair enough.
I think in terms of a 33 man squad , based on the players that are already nailed on, the need is for a player to cover 6/7 and possibly 8 at a push and that balance is what leans more to Prendergast than Coombes.
Don't want to say it but looking at the England named I think Ireland are vulnerable here. Hope I'm wrong but but there great odds if your a betting man.
Selection still doesn't make sense. Unless Farrell thinks Coombes cant even play 8.
Why?
It's a near full strength Ireland team playing at home against a mediocre at best England team.
What makes Ireland "vulnerable" ?
england in 2016 maybe.....
Billy V is a one trick pony who plays a game suited to 10 years ago. Tuilagi is held together by gaffa tape, and prone to at least one serious gaff a game. Youngs and Ford will kick the leather off the ball meaning their biggest weapon, Marchant, will get SFA decent ball. Steward is a poor mans Keenan and Dalys best days are well behind him at this stage. England playing 3 fullbacks at 15, 11 and 14 is a clear indication in how they will play. ireland will eat up that kicking game.
up front im not at all convinced that they have the legs to go full 80 at irelands tempo with a high ball inplay ratio.
Plus, i have a feeling that there will be a certain element of "minding themselves" with England. Theyre already on the plane if they remain standing.
after viewing the teams im more confident of ireland by about 20
Mod Edit: Less of the name calling please
Ireland have been vulnerable to literally every team they've played this year according to some on here, Ireland then went on to win comfortably each time.
The benefit of that approach is that the chances of you eventually being right are 100%.
Unfortunately so are the chances of you being tedious and annoying.
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I’d agree with that, tbh. Maybe not as versatile, but Prendergast is in the Jordi Murphy mold of being able to cover more positions.
And while I think, say, Hodnett is a better 7, he’s only a 7, and VdF is pretty bulletproof. (Touch wood… hate these warm-up games).
The fact you’ve Beirne and Baird there as hybrid players for 6 leans it more towards picking the guy who can cover 7 too, which is why I think Prendergast got the nod.
Coombes absolutely isn't "a level below most of the leinster/ireland backrow"
He is one of the best players in the country. He's just not the perfect fit for Farrell's particular game style.
Farrell has shown over and over again that he will pick the players that are best fitted to the leinster/Ireland gameplan. When all else is equal, the players with the most familiarity trump players from other provinces, but when everything isn't equal, ie, two players with different play styles and strengths, then he'll select the player who can slot into a role with the minimum disruption to the overall game plan.
If Farrell had Antoine Dupont available for him to select in the morning, he would probably not play him, because our team is built around a team that attacks off 10, not off 9
Farrell has shown over and over again that he will pick the players that are best fitted to the leinster/Ireland gameplan.
Which makes sense!
If Farrell had Dupont available to him to select in the morning, he would probably not play him, because our team is built around a team that attacks off 10, not off 9
Don't think I'd agree with this though. He is a practical guy, if you have that kind of generational talent you adapt your gameplan to utilise them.
Or just play Dupont at 10
"Farrell wouldn't pick Dupont" is one of the more 'out there' takes this forum has ever had.
Farrell had done a hell of an amount of work to turn Ireland into a team that doesn't always attack from 10. Every piece of analysis on us over the last two years shows we are more and more less reliant on 10, and we play off 9, 10, 15 and our wings. Heck even our props are playmakers these days
Not get cut from the squad the week of the England game, for starters?
As a long-time lurker of the forum, I really hope Former Former Former is enjoying the last 24 hours or so. Any joy the Munster mafia had at seeing him lose his bet about Kleyn has long been displaced by the salty tears about Coombes being bullied by big mean Andy Farrell.
Do TRK, OTH Prop and all the other outrage Munster pundits post here much? I bet they do. I see the Munster thread is dead quiet the last few days though.
Roll on the World Cup, I say!
Mod: Welcome to the forum. In future, try to post more constructively, rather than posts like this which has more than a hint of provincial baiting.
I'm a bit perplexed at the selection of Prendergast at 8 given that he only plays there the odd time for Connacht as injury cover. Honestly starting to believe Farrell has some sort of issues with the way Coombes plays his rugby, he's has consistently overlooked him for selection despite great club form. Coombes has been a fixture at 8 for Munster since Stander left, in fact we haven't missed Stander one bit. Which is saying a lot. I think Prendergast won't make the 33 either but it looks like he's first call up if one of our no.8s gets injured which to me is a weird call. There's definitely a top 4 back rows for Ireland, POM as a 6 only, Doris and Conan as a 6 and 8 and JvdF as a 7. We're stacked at 6 because Beirne and Baird are both good there and have played plenty of rugby there. So why choose Prendergast? It's 7 and 8 cover that we need and neither are his natural / best position.
Reading this decision points to a 19:14 split. I suppose the flexibility of Prendergast is key factor in Farrell's decision and I actually taught prendergast had been excellent last year. But as an international no. 8, he is not.
I wonder if he would get called up in the event of an injury to Doris or Conan. Given that he seems to not play the type of game Farrell desires, or isn't versatile enough position wise, perhaps Deegan would be looked at instead?
Just seems very odd to not even give Coombes a run out from the bench. Wouldn't be shocked either if one of Beirne or Baird beat out POM for the 6 jersey at some point.
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