Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

He lived up to the hype, it just probably took a bit longer to do it. He debuted at 25 and didn't break into the starting XV until the 2020 6N when he was 28 (although he should have been starting at the 2019 RWC). But 15 tries in 30 caps is a very respectable strike rate and better than most Irish wingers.

If you watched back the 2022 European cup final, Doris was our best player, he consistently made tackles on La Rochelles big carriers behind the gainline. Him and James Ryan are probably Leinster's best two players at clearing the ruck and he is a very good playmaker from 8. Was also probably Ireland's best player in the 6 nations. Also think Doris had the most turnovers for us in the New Zealand game IIRC. The "Borrowed time" Isn't true considering hes the most versatile backrow we have. Farrell absolutely flogged him playing him in meaningless games before the tournament and our entire backrow looked absolutely exhausted in the New Zealand game.

If any of Leinsters and Irelands Backrow need slagging off for not turning up it's Van Der Flier. He hasn't turned up for a big game in a long time. I'll always be critical of players that are "workhorses" who make 25 tackles in a game, from my experience those players almost always win tackles through disregarding the defensive system and simplifying the game. It doesn't work as well at higher level's IMO.

That said Long term I think one of him or Culhane will move to 7, I think the 7 position is changing to accommodate larger players playing there and 6 has really moved on to needing the body of a second row to play the positon I.E Lawes, Frizell, PSDT. The 7 should probably evolve into a 6.5 where you've got almost a combo of a traditional flanker.

TRC has a pathological hatred of Caelan Doris.

He'll never consider him as one of the best in the world despite all the evidence available.

Don't worry about it.

It's catching the ball that seems to be his problem. It's weird, he just seems to have spells where he drops too many.

"Hendersn's done"

Why do you think this? He's the grand old age of 31

they should be able to perform to a level for their province and then perform in the national setup. Farrell hs shown that he has no issue with putting players into the team when they meet those targets.

Disagree, tbh. To a certain extent, Farrell, more than any previous Ireland coach, has shown that Provincial form or exposure doesn't particularly matter to your inclusion in the Ireland squad.

Off the top of my head, Doris, Keenan, Sheehan, JGP, Crowley, Kelleher, Connors, McCarthy; all guys who had fairly limited Provincial exposure - or in JGP's case, was 2nd choice provincially - when selected.

Even in broader squads, guys like Penny were selected ahead of, say, Hodnett, who had been performing really well against higher calibre opposition.

To be clear, I'm not saying they shoudn't have been in (tho in some cases I'd have disagreed with the selection). But the point that they performed provincially first doesn't quite stack up.

What do you mean by call ups?

Getting in extended squad or getting game time?

Extended squad I can maybe see it - again it depends how you're describing 'performance'. In the past you'd get into extended squads purely for existing in the 23 of certain provinces - I'd argue the fact of simply playing in games doesn't equate to 'performance'.

I dont think there is any case to claim that there is a bigger break 'than ever before' when it comes to provincial performance and getting into the ireland 23. There were years in the past where players were playing outstanding for their provinces in huge European games and couldnt get an opportunity ahead of the guy who had the jersey. I can't think of any cases where there are such big gaps in the last year.

Murray is arguably the best line out operator in the world atm, particularly defensively and hes fairly rapid for a lock but he isn’t ready for test level.

He either needs to add 5/10kg to be an effective carrier and to be able to impact the breakdown or become similes level jackal threat as Beirne.