Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

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.

Now do every other team.

We're never nearly as bad as you constantly make out, TRC.

But it wasn't just an ordinary game , biggest game in Irish history, and the reality is we failed , I'm sure thats how the players saw it, if they had played well and won , they would have made a final , now its yet another WC knockout defeat , thats how many casual rugby/ sports people will see it too. and yet , I agree we played well in the groups stages and prepartaion seamed perfect, but when it came to pressure knockout rugby , its yet another knockout defeat.

Pom appears to be an excellent defensive lineout operator. He bases himself at the front and can read the opposition jumpers very well.

I agree he is probably a better line out option from 6 than other "back row" options of Conan, pender etc.

But I'm not sure he is a better line out option than the Hybrid 4/6 like Bierne, Baird or Ahen.

South Africa went after Ireland lineout in the world cup as they had 3 excellent lineout options. 3 big men over 6 5. And 2 more giants on the bench.

Ireland had 2 2nd rows around 6 5 and a back row of all under 6 3. It made the lineout easier to defend for South africa winning 6 of irelands lineouts.

Either was it looks like we won't find out now that pom is captain and will no doubt start all important games at 6 for the foreseeable.

I and probably probably most would differ - the World cup is the big one , with the world powerhouses included , plus it only happens once every 4 years - knockout is a differnet beast to group/league rugby

I'd prefer a world cup. Imagine the novelty of wee Ireland winning a world title.

We are in a very curious place where our players that are getting older are still very much a step above the incumbents right now but they will almost certainly be too old to play in the next world cup, or they will have diminished significantly. I didn't expect too much change tbh, consistency is important and we only have four teams in which players can gain experience in as opposed to France and England. I'm not even sure there will be too much change in the summer either.

My brief long-term thinking about who needs replacing:

We have no Loosehead depth. Loughman is a fine enough player but I would prefer our second choice to be better, and Healy being there is worrying. Will McCarthy or Boyle be ready? They will be young in prop years but old enough to make impacts. Will injuries catch up to Furlong? Bealham is good but is there anyone kicking down doors for a call up at tighthead? Bit worried about prop.

Hooker is fine.

Beirne and Henderson will likely be too old to make an impact, but are hopefully still capable of providing a veteran presence when needed. McCarthy is biting at their heels already, Ahern is going from strength to strength now that he's getting an injury free run and Baird can play there if needed. Are Murray or Edogbo international standard? Not sure.

Couldn't guess our backrow a few years from now. POM won't make it and I have doubts about JVDF and Conan, but I'm not too worried. Baird is playing his best rugby now at 6 and finally seems to be coming into his own (and possibly overtaking Conan?). Timoney is the man in pole position and will be a good age at the next world cup. He is in form, big enough, explosive and the coaches clearly like him well enough, but can he make an impact as a first choice international? I am doubtful. Hodnett is playing incredibly - do the coaches not like something about him (eg. too small?) or is there just too much competition. Connacht fans were equally critical of Prendergast's omission but I haven't seen enough of him. Brian Gleeson will be young still by the next world cup, but no younger than Doris making his break through. McCann started off the season like a man on a mission but I'm not sure on his best position and he needs to be playing at an even higher standard for a longer period of time for me. There is much to be said about will connors finding great form after that nasty injury, I had doubted he’d make it back to this level. He will be young enough and I don’t think too many people would be overly upset about him starting for Ireland right now.

Halfbacks - will Park still be first choice? Is Casey definitely good enough? Do we have any highly rated 9's coming through? Doak gets mentioned far to much in these conversations for me. Decent player, not sure about his international prospects though. Lots of pressure on Crowley right now. Definitely has his flaws and has a different style than we have been used to with Ireland but I think he will be steady. Lots of hype around Prendergast, probably too much for someone just starting out with three international flyhaves in front of him. Not convinced by either Byrnes but I like Ross as a veteran presence and someone to do a consistent and reliable job when called upon.

It might be a tournament too far for Aki and I worry about Henshaw's injuries and how they'll impact him in a few years. He will be 34 so could still feature but I have doubts he will age as strongly as Aki has. McCloskey has never been particularly rated and will be 35. Who's next? Jamie Osbourne surely would have featured in the squad if not for injury, the rest are fighting amongst themselves at the minute. Hume has re-found form but I need to see it over a more sustained period of time, and Munster fans are singing Frisch's praises. Would love for a younger, unestablished centre come through in the next two years to provide better competition (Forde, Postlethwaite, insert Leinster prospect here). Ringrose should still be an excellent partner to have though.

Lowe will probably not be the same player at 35, so a wing spot should open up but I'm not sure anyone knocking about right now has his kind of impact. Lots of decent players, but standout internationals? Not really imo. Would love for a decent backup to Keenan to emerge. Very little depth there.

Wow, that was a ramble.

I think lh will be fine. Porter will be 32. Then there's Loughman who is becoming very good and Boyle, who could become a great player. Don't forget Milne either!

Th, I doubt Bealham or Furlong survive until the next world cup. Pole position would be O'Toole, who's very good, Jager and Aungier, who is playing well.

Hendo and Beirne will be old and have a lot of miles on the clock. I would think that Edogbo, Ryan and McCarthy will be the top 3, with one of the Murray's and Ahern.

Backrow will be interesting! Timoney will be 32. Connors 31. I reckon Hodnett or Penny will be involved by then. McAnn and Gleeson could be involved. I really am a fan of Quinn also. Fantastic looking prospect. Doris will only be 29 and Deegan will be 31. Plenty of options.

Scrum half is a worry. We will depend on someone breaking in. Out half will be ok, imo.

Centers should be different by then. Aki will be past it. Henshaw likely done too. Ringrose could be there but, he's injury prone. I'm guessing, Forde and Osborne could be the center partnership. Back 3 is worrying. Hanson, Keenan are great but there's really nobody else close to them.