Personally I do not think there is real 100% guarantee that POM, as team captain, actually has to start games. I think Farrell is pragmatic enough to play the best 15/23 to suit the game, and if POM isn't in that plan, so be it.
That being said, I haven't seen anything from POM in the last 12 months to suggest he's not good enough to start against France.
In a game of fine margins Ireland went Into the Nz Quarter finals with injury doubts hanging over both wingers.
Hansen clearly wasn't right and had to go off injured after 55 minutes and Lowe didn't play for 3 months after the world cup.
Earls could only manage 60 minutes in the whole world cup and was injured for the rest of it after being injured for half the previous season. He had minimal form to go on.
Getting Earls to 100 caps was the right call. Bringing Earls to the world cup over Nash who had been in great form was the wrong option. Same goes for naming Kilkoyne in the original squad.
I don't see how you can leave McCarthy and Baird out of the 23. Been two of the best players in the country so far this season.
I think Earls' off field presence was definitely a factor but it only became relevant cause it was an otherwise marginal decision. Had there been a standout back 3 player competing in good form it's a very different calculation.
I wouldn't read too much into that decision.
Think he might go 6-2 v France away if Frawley fit. It's the pivotal match
But Farrell is not responsible for player contracts, you do understand that don't you? that's Nucifora and the IRFU
If Farrell planned all along to give POM the captaincy then why would he not get offered a central contract? it been well reported that he so far has not been offered a central contract and left up to Munster to find the money.
Now the IRFU are in a situation the Irish captain could be without a central contract, also would mean(I think) they have no image rights with him....bit of an issue for advertising
You do realise that the head coach of the IRFU’s mens team and the IRFU are the same entity , don't you ?
Farrell is all about vibes etc, like did it make sense to have Earls at the wc? It was great to see earls finish his career at a WC but would any other coach have taken him?
Having POM as captain etc goes in with all the good vibes etc. Something Jackman said SA went big into for last WC
Does POM deserve it for his contribution to Ireland? Yes
Is he a good captain at international level? Based on the few times I seen him with it I would say the verdict is out
Could he move on at end of season and someone else come in? Yes
Could Farrell have used this to get POM a central contract when the IRFU refused and Farrell can use to show he has the players backs and even more better vibes? Oh now that’s an interesting angle isn’t it 😂
Peter took a bang to the hip. Taken off 5 minutes later and munster fell apart like leprosy..
Hopefully not too injured as you don't want to wish an injury on anyone but its just another question mark over the decision to make him captain.
He's been out for 3 months. With a shoulder injury. He's just managed about 65 mins in 2 club games since he got back and now is straight into the 6 nations carrying a knock.
What's the doubt about POM? Was he taken off last night for injury, as it looked like he just cannot do more then 55-60 anymore
I think Prendergast should be called up if there is any doubts about POM. Don’t see why they have the smaller squad this season compared to usual anyways.
Can youse two please get a room.
Agreed; an infintesimally small part of the case.
So where's the problem.
Yeah, like I said in my original post that you responded to - it was only part of the case
POM was getting plenty of praise from posters here for his part in how Munster performed last week, using it as part of the case for him to be made Irish captain.
Like I said, one match last weekend is an incredibly small part of the case for him to be made captain. Nobody was suggesting otherwise.
He has a decade or more of experience which is obviously a way bigger factor than anything that's happened in the last 2 weeks.
Unsurprising that you were very silent when posters were using a single match to strengthen POM's case but chirp up now.
The single match today isn't a standalone, it is more evidence of concerns. For one, it looks like POM's body struggles to last a full 80 minutes at this point.
No one performance dictates the selection of a captain. No one was suggesting as much.
As I said, POM has a career of demonstrating his leadership credentials. One performance against Toulon, nor one performance against Northampton was going to sway it.
One match last weekend is an incredibly small part of the case for him to be made captain.
With the makeup of the team with POM locked in and not able to really do 80 min, Conan provides a lot more cover than Baird does. We already have a 5/6 cover with Beirne.
AF doesn't seem as stressed about it so it could be something he does. It would likely however at some stage come back to bite us, like some of his other approaches
It was used earlier in the week and it was as dumb a thing to bring in then as it would be to use the performance this week to say why it was the wrong decision.
In any 5-3 split, you pretty much never cover all backrow options. This isn't new.
Nobody was making the case for him to be made captain just because of the Toulon game. Or even in any large part because of the Toulon game.
They were making the case for him to be captain because of a career where he has show his leadership credentials time and again over a decade or more.
One ok performance doesn't negate that.
Wishful thinking from you
Might be better to use POM to cover 678 from the bench.
He seems crocked anyway. Might not make the French game.
Doris would cover 7 in the case of Conan on the bench. Not sure what they'd do in the case of Baird.
I reckon Baird could cover 7?
We're then relying on POM to cover 7 and 8 when he cant really last 80 at this stage
I would think Conan might miss out. Baird will be a better fit v France, imo.
Just made a similar comment in the Leinster thread but it's entirely possible, and I would say even likely, that neither Baird nor McCarthy will make the 23 against France.
Starting back 5 of pack: Ryan, Beirne, POM, VDF, Doris
Subs: Henderson, Conan
Agree with trying to get them both in however it will be difficult with Baird unless they go 6-2.
POM is a guarantee now to start but cant do 80. If Baird is the backrow option then we're pretty stuck if Doris or VDF have to come off.
Stockdale is very low on brain cells.
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