Why?
It's a near full strength Ireland team playing at home against a mediocre at best England team.
What makes Ireland "vulnerable" ?
Selection still doesn't make sense. Unless Farrell thinks Coombes cant even play 8.
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.
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.
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
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?
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.
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.
Very good. Make it about Ronan O’Gara and also have a cut off Keith Earls. Top marks all round.
Play 6 and 7 ??
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.
Prendergast at 8. What can he do that Coombes can not?
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
He should have been in the squad before Kilcoyne on form
Really hope it goes well for him Saturday
I understand that Henshaw has a family bereavement
Interesting that loughman is straight onto the bench, hope he goes well.
Henshaw was at 13 against Italy.
Haven't seen Henshaw either to be fair...
That's worrying alright. Fingers crossed he's just got a niggle.
Delighted for Earls. There will be no O'Gara 'I made my century from the bench' boohooing from him.
I dont think he should be in the squad!! but he continues to go up in my estimation.
Pretty clear the coaches are biased towards Connacht
(Province/Club/Caps)
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD)(30)
14. Mack Hansen (Connacht/Corinthians)(14)
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD)(50)
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians)(46)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(20)
10. Ross Byrne (Leinster/UCD)(19)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(25)
1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD)(53)
2. Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne)(17)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf)(66)
4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne)(39)
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD)(captain)(53)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution)(94)
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD)(50)
8. Cian Prendergast (Connacht/UCD)(2)
Replacements:
16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch)(35)
17. Jeremy Loughman (Munster/Garryowen)(1)
18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers)(30)
19. Joe McCarthy (Leinster/Dublin University)(2)
20. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College)(29)
21. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen)(105)
22. Jack Crowley (Munster/Cork Constitution)(4)
23. Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster)(99).
The flow of the games is in Irelands favour - There are two weeks between the SA and Scotland games which gives everyone loads of time to recover and then another full week to a QF.
Based on the selection for this weekend I think we'll see a mostly 2nd string team for Samoa and then a mix against Romania and Tonga with the latter starting team a bit stronger , then full bore from then on out.
No sign of Ronan Kelleher at all. Starting to think he may not travel. Potentially world.ckass player if he could ever stay fit.
If we win our first 3 games, then we could (Farrell might not of course) rest some key players against Scotland in order to be fresh for the QF.
Someone posted here about how previous world cup winners all had a soft final group game. I don't think it's ideal (having?) to be going full pelt against Scotland. To expect to do that for a further 3 consecutive weeks successfully is a big, big ask.
Ideal world we win our first 3 games, we put out a mix of second and first string players against Scotland in a game we don't have to win (but still should win in this scenario imo), and we've a reasonably fresh first choice team to play the QF and beyond.
Optimism anyone? I've plenty here 😂
With the exception of Prendergast ahead of Doris that is pretty much the strongest possible starting 15.
Very interesting to see how he goes at 8.
This has the feel of a game where either England are galvanised with all the off field stuff this week and give Ireland a tough game, or they get absolutely pummelled. I am ofcourse confident but this is probably the only game this warm up where I do enter the game with some reservations. I am also really excited to see how Prendergast goes at 8.
Strong team
Coombes obviously isn't impressing in training. My guess is Faz prefers athletic types over brawny types.
I hope Loughman gets into the squad this week and has a blinder.
The only way Coombes was going was instead of conan . Conan is obviously fit to go , and based on Conans appearances during the 6N, rightly so.
Coombes is and will always be a key player for munster , but happens to be behind Doris and Conan in ireland selections at this stage of his career.
prendergast is a different player to Coombes and can play across all back 5 positions at international level (v tier 2 teams), so naturally is a more flexible option at this stage.
As a munster supporter, i think Coombes is Fantastic within 5m of the line but still not athletic enough in D.
Id trust in AF’s choices at this stage , based on where he has brought us after the Schmit reign.
