Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

It's not a trial. I don't need CSI. It's my opinion.

Alternatively if anyone thinks Wales/Italy or England are good teams have at it. My eyes are the evidence.

You know what this debate needs? Some good old pseudo contrarian, "all I'm saying is" energy.

I'm happy to help.

Ireland did not "bottle it" or "choke" in the world cup. However I'm increasingly convinced that the counter narrative is going too far the other way. That is, in the context of gleeful mockery by the "HAHA WORLD CUP BOTTLERS" Delegation (HWCBD), defenders of the Irish side have mostly settled on a narrative of "thems the breaks", "we lost a close game", "NZ are a great team", "if Kelleher scores that try", "it is what it is".

We lost to a very good team, but it was still an upset. And I think that aspect is being lost in the above counter narrative. Argentina are currently ranked #1 in men's Soccer. If they had lost to Belgium (#4) in a soccer World Cup quarter final, the world would have considered that an upset. Argentina would be hugely disappointed and would need to find out why a team inferior to them (albeit marginally) beat them in a hugely important game. And nobody would consider this a hysterical over reaction.

But such reflection seems less accepted for Irish rugby. And I get it, the HWCBD are insufferable. You are reluctant to give them an inch. But as time rolls on, and as we dismantle opposition in this years Six Nations, it does hold our RWC exit in context. And I think outright acceptance of the latter is itself guilty of undervaluing ourselves in the present moment. And ultimately guilty too of allowing a very irritating cohort to indirectly control a narrative.

Again it's an opinion. But just to point out the fact that France are absolutely muck. Drew with the Azzurri! I fully expect Ireland to win this week. They should do comfortably.

The betting handicaps are certainly one way to assess the degree of upset. But they would also be pricing in market expectation of an upset given that it was Ireland in a QF in the RWC. Anyone's guess as to how many points that took from the spread.

Fact is, as you say, we had won close to 20 games in a row, were #1 in the world, had beaten the team then ranked #2 in the pool stage, faced a team ranked #4 where we had recently won a tour. Removing the context of the QF, that speaks to a likelihood of victory higher than what a 3-4 point spread would predict, imo.

But we lost. And I'd rather not capitulate to trolls, reflect on it maturely, acknowledge the disappointment, and identify the specifics of what went wrong. (Podge lists one such reason above).

You misread me. I'm not saying what you are implying. My hopes for this 6nations are well below usual standards, due to the loss at the world cup.

Ireland should and will complete a grand slam. They are the best team involved... by a big margin. I'm just not as invested this time. I've been unable to get past the loss. I would say there's similar feelings in N.Z.

Delete

Looks strong

No Ringrose, maybe not at 100% yet and Frawley needed to cover at FB

Hugo Keenan still a Twickenham doubt as Andy Farrell set to stick with 6/2 bench split

Rúaidhrí O’Connor

March 07 2024 02:30 AM

Andy Farrell is set to stick with a 6/2 bench split of forwards and backs for Ireland’s visit to Twickenham when he names his side this afternoon.

The coach will give Hugo Keenan as much time as possible to recover from his knee injury, with Ciarán Frawley on standby to remain in the No 15 jersey if he doesn’t make it.

If he does, then Frawley is likely wear the No 23 shirt and Farrell will be forced to choose between fit-again Garry Ringrose and incumbent Robbie Henshaw, whose form has been excellent alongside Bundee Aki in midfield.

He’s set to keep his spot and the most likely scenario would see Frawley continue at full-back with Keenan being given another week to recover for the final game of the Six Nations campaign against Scotland. In that scenario, Ringrose would wear No 23.

Such is Farrell’s faith in the bench that was first trialled against France in Marseille, with Ryan Baird’s form and Frawley’s versatility allowing them to roll six powerful forwards on during the second half.

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It is expected that Farrell will name an unchanged pack from the one that proved too strong for Wales, with Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong in the front-row and Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne in the second-row. Peter O’Mahony will captain the side from the back-row, where he’ll join Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris.

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Behind the scrum, Jamison Gibson-Park and Jack Crowley will continue at half-back, with Aki and Henshaw in midfield and James Lowe and Calvin Nash either side of the full-back.

If Frawley has that role, it’s expected that Ringrose will come on to the bench at Stuart McCloskey’s expense, while Finlay Bealham is battling Oli Jager for the reserve tighthead spot.

Rónan Kelleher and Cian Healy are expected to be named as replacements, with James Ryan, Baird and Jack Conan covering the other forward positions, while Conor Murray will join Frawley or Ringrose in the reserves.

England are reportedly set to hand Exeter Chiefs winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso a first start after losing to Scotland.

Steve Borthwick is expected to retain George Ford at out-half, while powerful lock George Martin is likely to be drafted in to partner Maro Itoje.

Possible Ireland team to face England: C Frawley/ H Keenan; C Nash, R Henshaw, B Aki, J Lowe; J Crowley, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, D Sheehan, T Furlong; J McCarthy, T Beirne; P O’Mahony (capt), J van der Flier, C Doris. Reps: R Kelleher, C Healy, F Bealham, J Ryan, R Baird, J Conan, C Murray, G Ringrose/C Frawley.

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