Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Today was his swansong too. Unlikely we'll see him, Healy or POM in a green jersey again. Three wonderful players from out most successful period of international rugby.

I'm worried most about replacing Healy. We need to find an international level loose head fast!

Agree fully, hence my worry! My biggest fear is an injury to Porter. Healy currently is a 10-15 mins option.

JGP has been superb for us over the last 2 1/2 years. The fact that he was still superb for us when shifted to the wing against Scotland in the World Cup and against England last week is a further bow to his crown. In both games he came off his wing and made great passes which led to tries. Dupont has been the only better scrum half in the world over the same time period. He’s an attacking player who tries to create things so of course at times they don’t come off, but apart from that, where’s the hyperbole?

Something is badly off with the Irish team at the moment. Attack has been miles below what it's previously been over the last 3 games. Guys making basic errors under no pressure. No depth in key positions. Lots of players 30+ and well past their best. Major reebot needed over the next 9 months or we'll have fallen miles behind by 2027.

I think Milne will get a run out in S.A. There's a chance to rest up lads and blood a couple. I'd like to see Casey get both starts and Baird/ Prendergast also. Osborne will get in, I believe and it would be a good testing experience for Jager/O'Toole. New caps I hope to see; Ahern, Osborne and McAnn.

Just to be certain on how poor we were in the 5 and 6 nations prior to the late 90's is that we still hold the wooden spoon title for most number of wins with 25 wooden spoons, we haven't won one since 1998, of course Italy joining took a bit of pressure off the other teams. Wales on the other hand are going the opposite way.

Good post and honestly would be very surprised if Crowley is our starting 10 at the next World Cup. Just don't see the quality in him. I think so much of the stagnation in our attack comes from his inability to take the ball to the line and fully commit defenders, something Sexton was a master at. Crowley did it once in the entire game as far as I can remember at the end of the second half on 43 mins. It was incredibly noticeable watching the France v England game how much flatter Ford & Ramos played v Crowley and their first step was so often forward rather than sideways and entirely static. Problem is the defenders just know he is going to pull the ball back and can offer the soft shoulder to him knowing there is little chance of him taking it up hard or inside. He has a huge amount of work to do.

I don't think anyone expects a replacement for Sexton but I agree with some of the criticism of Crowley. He definitely is not a world class number 10 in the making and his decision making, execution and penalty taking has been poor. Don't think anyone can dispute that.

He strikes me as a below average fly-half.

Do we have much choice right now?

Probably not.

Could he improve?

Maybe.

A long term replacement for Sexton?

I don't think so.

I find it bizarre seeing people trying to downplay Crowley and McCarthy’s first serious run in the first team. Think both of them did great generally as part of the team and had super individual moments. They’ll continue to improve with more experience but both are definitely up to this level.