Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Poor call from Farrell naming POM captain , we needed a fresh start a new era after WC , someone young/new like Ryan , but naming POM strikes of sentimenatilty , its professional rugby. POM has been a brilliant servant to Ireland and Munsetr , but really his time is up , happens to everyone, could possibly be used a squad player in certain matches rather than ever present captain.

Not doing him a disservice , stated he has been an Irish legend , but after the WC failure a new era should commence , and making POM captain at 34 does not do that , absolutly have him part of squad , but captain - We'll wait and see who right.

Not sure I'd agree... Hodnett has plenty of pace, maybe it's his running style... he kind of barrels along, like a turbocharged prop! I'd have him down as arguably our fastest forward to be honest along with Barron and Aherne. What impresses me most with him is his workrate, he's a real dynamo - and his power, he packs a lot of it in attack and defence. More than a fella of his size should imo.

Farrell doesn't rate him for whatever reason so far, which is a pity.

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Likely 2024 6N starting team and their age at 2027 WC

Porter 31

Sheehan 29

furlong 35

Ryan 31

Beirne 37

POM 38

VDF 34

Doris 29

Park 35

Crowley 27

Aki 37

Ringrose 32

Lowe 35

Hansen 29

Keenan 31

its clearly not only POM who’s unlikely to make the 2027 WC.

I said France were so so until 20/21, thats when they landed on a squad that didn't change a great deal until the WC.

France have lots of talent coming up. Scary good.

I get it is one game , but beforehand it was called the biggest game in Irish history , the facts are we lost and played poorly . Before the game I thoght Farrell was the greatest , but after the game some of his shortings cme to light , lack of use of squad players, and conservative on selection. Nothing against O'Mahoney he has been an Irish great , but he is 34 , I would like to have seen a more riskier selection process, which I cant see happening from Farrel.

I dont think Irreland will win 6 Nations, think ther will be an emotional hit on players, that has been ecident post WC , and is understable , losing a game of that magnitude has to have an impact on any human or player - thats just my amateur thoughts.

Of those 19 in 2020 only Gros and Lucu were selected for the WC. Landed on eventually, I should have said. It kind of reinforces the point some people are making, that there aren't any guarantees in test rugby. You can rebuild the team immediately after the wc and see success in the 6N as France did in 22, but it doesn't guarantee anything in the WC.

That's the mandate and the model. The only weakness I perceive, and others here have challenged it, is that insisting our best team takes the field for every big game (or game against tier 1 opposition) means we never have a great amount of faith in our wider squad when it comes to the WC. For whatever reason (fewer games mainly) being in perfect condition of the 6N does not translate into perfect condition for the WC and while the 6N remains the rhythm around which the team operates we will always have a difficulty adjusting to the different challenge the WC poses.