Advertisement
Help Keep Boards Alive. Support us by going ad free today. See here: https://subscriptions.boards.ie/.
https://www.boards.ie/group/1878-subscribers-forum

Private Group for paid up members of Boards.ie. Join the club.
Hi all, please see this major site announcement: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058427594/boards-ie-2026

Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

1…997998100010021003…1796

Comments

  • #29972
    leakyboots
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,739 ✭✭✭leakyboots


    Are people forgetting Casey's turnover on the ground last week? Stick him in as a 7 #groundhog



  • #29973
    Dubinusa
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,819 ✭✭✭Dubinusa


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121673873#Comment_121673873

    Yea just looked at the bios.



  • #29974
    Dubinusa
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,819 ✭✭✭Dubinusa


    I like Doak. But really he's standing still. He's not improved much since breaking through.



  • #29975
    Buer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,258 ✭✭✭✭Buer


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121676849#Comment_121676849

    Doensn't exactly pass the visual test either.....pair of them in the top right next to one another.

    Ireland Squad.jpg




  • #29976
    Dubinusa
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,819 ✭✭✭Dubinusa


    Yep



  • Advertisement
  • #29977
    Beckett Melodic Slipknot
    Posts: 186 ✭✭ Beckett Melodic Slipknot


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121675666#Comment_121675666

    Blade and Marmion effectively shared number one status for three of the last four seasons. In their final season together Blade was clearly the starter. Overall he probably picked up more starts, minutes, and an equal share of Interpros and Champions Cup games over those seasons.

    I don't think that Blade is playing quite as well as he did over the last two seasons. Two factors hurt his case:

    - Connacht haven't had the mixture of possession and backline cohesion for him to fully use his skill. We're still a work in progress in defense, attack and at lineout time.

    - He probably hasn't had the big match Interpro and Champions Cup performances the coaches look out for. We've seen pumped a few times in Europe and our Interpro wins were arguably against sides that underperformed.



  • #29978
    Yeah_Right
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,542 ✭✭✭Yeah_Right


    People saying Casey is too small, Aaron Smith only has few centimetres and a few kgs on him and he had a pretty decent career.



  • #29979
    irelandrover
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,079 ✭✭✭irelandrover


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121684729#Comment_121684729

    Aaron who?



  • #29980
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers, Paid Member Posts: 44,833 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121684826#Comment_121684826

    Don't you be dissing the greatest Highlander ever !!!

    😛



  • #29981
    Yeah_Right
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,542 ✭✭✭Yeah_Right


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121684826#Comment_121684826

    He was the best 9 in world rugby for the better part of a decade. Retired now. Obviously before your time.



  • Advertisement
  • #29982
    50HX
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 3,686 ✭✭✭50HX


    Interesting to seep o reillys team in the times today

    He has ringrose on the wing, as little change to the side as possible with a view to giving crowley as much protection as possible

    Logic to a point I suppose if the main aim is to garner an away win

    Not a great reflection of our depth in wingers if it comes to pass



  • #29983
    lawrencesummers
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,245 ✭✭✭lawrencesummers


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121684975#Comment_121684975

    Hes just looking for a reactionz

    Ringrose is crucial to our Defense and having Aki next to Crowley is also necessary.

    Keenan and Lowe are available so the backline is going to be able to handle an inexperienced 10 and winger whoever they may be (Crowley and nash obvs…)



  • #29984
    Sangre
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,233 ✭✭✭✭Sangre


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121684975#Comment_121684975

    If you want to keep consistency in a back line the last person to move is your established 13. But as noted above, likely an exercise in clicks.



  • #29985
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 32,765 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121684729#Comment_121684729

    6cm is hardly nothing...

    Obviously anyone is capable of overcoming physical limitations and it's not the end of the world. But it is going to be a limitation all other things being equal. He's clearly second best at the moment (in all possible senses of the phrase), though I wouldn't be shocked to see Murray ahead on the bench. I also wouldn't be surprised if he never really locked down the starting 9 job for Ireland.



  • #29986
    clsmooth
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,388 ✭✭✭clsmooth


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121685294#Comment_121685294

    I’d also argue 8kg (according to their profiles on the IRFU [Casey 75kg] and NZRU [Smith 83kg] sites) isn’t exactly a few kilos. It’s more than 10% of Casey’s bodyweight. Pinch of salt with the ‘official’ weights, heights etc but Smith does look significantly bigger than Casey despite being on the smaller side himself.

    That’s not to write off Casey. He has some excellent elements to his game, but it is a disadvantage at the top level where the margins are often small and a bit of bulk is always useful.

    The focus on lowering the tackle should give him an advantage when making breaks around the fringes. You’d be worried for the likes of Uini Atonio trying to react quickly and stop him legally around the edge of a ruck for example.



  • #29987
    Alessandro Vast Numskull
    Posts: 10,091 ✭✭✭✭ Alessandro Vast Numskull


    Casey would be i believe amongst the smallest 9s in modern international rugby. Hes well able but hes an outlier



  • #29988
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 36,368 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    Who's heading over to Marseille next weekend? Any meet ups planned? Anyone going to the u20s on Saturday?



  • #29989
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers, Paid Member Posts: 44,833 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121686202#Comment_121686202

    Myself and the better half are heading over. Hasn't though about the 20s games to be honest, as we were giving Saturday over to a bit of sight seeing. Aix is about an hour away from where we're staying.



  • #29990
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 2,692 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Casey has the inside track of inside tracks of anyone in irish rugby.

    If I went into a coma and woke up in three years (and somehow rugby news was my first concern) I would be pretty surprised if Casey wasn’t the starter at 9 but any one of several guys could be 10 and it wouldn’t be shocking.



  • #29991
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers, Paid Member Posts: 44,833 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    WhatsApp Image 2024-01-29 at 18.03.26.jpeg


    hard to make the case for Henderson before McCarthy looking at these stats.

    lineouts won stats are interesting for those who claim he reduces our jumping options



  • Advertisement
  • #29992
    50HX
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 3,686 ✭✭✭50HX


    Great stats from Joe mc the killer on his game is concession of penalties.

    Hopefully with experience that will improve as its a killer at top level rugby



  • #29993
    Everleigh Freezing Oasis
    Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭ Everleigh Freezing Oasis


    Was just about to post that. Which poster was it that went through one of his recent games action-by-action and concluded he wasn't very good? That was pretty funny. Pretty sure it was a Munster supporter trying to talk him down.

    A lot of it really passes the eye test as well. Beirne for example is the weakest carrier of the four which is fairly obvious but wins the most turnovers by miles and arrives at a lot of defensive rucks, also pretty obvious.

    Just to outline what categories McCarthy is leading:

    • Most carries
    • Most metres
    • Most dominant carries
    • Highest % gainline success
    • Most defenders beaten (by a factor of 5)
    • Most offloads
    • Most dominant tackles
    • Most defensive ruck arrivals
    • Fewest turnovers conceded

    And the one negative category he also leads

    • Most penalties conceded


    I still will be surprised if he starts though tbh, Farrell is a continuity type of coach.



  • #29994
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 2,692 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    The one thing about McCarthy’s stats is that he gets to a ton of rucks and isn’t super effective. But as a carrier, he seems to be the choice.

    You could make an argument for picking any one of Ryan, McCarthy and Henderson from those numbers i feel. Play one alongside beirne, one on the bench?



  • #29995
    Dubinusa
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,819 ✭✭✭Dubinusa


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121691421#Comment_121691421

    I wouldn't think Beirne is locked on this week. He was very poor v Saints. Didn't have any real dominant impact.



  • #29996
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 2,692 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121691468#Comment_121691468

    I see what you mean, but i was just going off the chart. Obviously there would be more to it than that.

    It seems like he is the most unique of the 4 though which is either good or bad. His turnover numbers especially.



  • #29997
    redmca2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 296 ✭✭redmca2


    Henshaw was on TV3 news conference from the Ireland camp this evening.

    Does that imply he'll be playing? Ringrose on the wing?



  • #29998
    jacothelad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,045 ✭✭✭jacothelad


    When are the teams announced? Wednesday?



  • #29999
    Pudsy33
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 11,048 ✭✭✭✭Pudsy33


    Yeah, Wednesday for a Friday game



  • #30000
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 32,765 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121691394#Comment_121691394

    I still will be surprised if he starts though tbh, Farrell is a continuity type of coach.

    Farrell was a continuity type of coach in the last year before the World Cup. He absolutely was not prior to that.



  • Advertisement
  • #30001
    Alessandro Vast Numskull
    Posts: 10,091 ✭✭✭✭ Alessandro Vast Numskull


    Of coarse his carrying looks better than the others hes freed up to do just that whereas the others arent and its not theorgsme anyway. Mccarthys ruck work is poor going off of that. Hes exactly what you dont want against france in particular



Advertisement
Advertisement