Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Fair to say that Russell's contributions over 5 matches merits his inclusion. Earl played really well in 2 matches and yet was nominated for Player of the Tournament.

Worried by the lack of a real break the Leinster forwards and Tadgh Beirne have gotten and are going to get 2023-2025.

Ireland have played 13 Tests since the start of this season:

Porter - Ireland; Played 11 (603 minutes) / Province; Played 8 (517) Total = 1,120 minutes

Sheehan - 9 (400) / 11 (572) Total = 972 minutes

Furlong 11 (545) / 7 (322) Total = 867 minutes

Joe McCarthy 9 (504) / 11 (784) Total = 1,288 minutes

Beirne 12 (782) / 10 (790) Total = 1,572 minutes

vdF 12 (694) / 9 (540) Total = 1,234 minutes

Doris 13 (838) / 9 (610) Total = 1,448 minutes

Kelleher 10 (266) / 10 (357) Total = 623 minutes

Baird 9 (329) / 10 (740) Total = 1,069 minutes

Conan 8 (229) / 8 (320) Total = 549 minutes

Doris played every minute of 6N, and also started all of Ireland’s 5 WC games.

Leinster hopefully have 3 more games in Europe, 6 more games in URC (Plus 3 more playoffs games finishing on the 22nd June), SA tour 6th & 13th July, 8th Nov v NZ, Arg, Fiji & Aus 30th Nov. Plus 2024/25 URC & Europe season start

Taking a conservative figure of 8 more Leinster games for the remainder of the calendar year and 4 Ireland games = 960mins

Worst/Best Case is 12 more Leinster games this calendar year and 5 Ireland games = 1,360 mins

e.g. From start of this season to end of 2024 Doris could play 2,408 minutes or 2,808 minutes if Leinster make both Finals.

Then the 2025 fixtures: 6N, Europe, URC, Aus Tour, Nov Int……..

I'm all in favour of resting all the Irish forwards that are In Bold v SA.

It wont happen of course.

My guess is:

if Ryan injured I think Ahern would go.

Baird would go as a 6.

Penny and Connors wouldn’t be selected, Timoney probably would, or maybe Hodnett instead.

Sam Prendergast won’t be selected.

I think there’s a good chance Larmour won’t go unless O’Brien will still be injured by then.

Osborne won’t be selected.

Frawley will go as the utility back.

The provinces name a 30 man squad for their tours to SA for the URC. I assume Farrell would have bring a larger squad as they wouldn't be like a provincial squad training together, week in, week out.

I think so, South Africa have a busy schedule with Wales June 22nd, Ireland July 6th & 13th, and Portugal July 20th, a few weeks off and then into the Rugby Championship away against Australia August 10th.

I think they wanted to keep it as a mini-tour as their players needed some bit of a break after the World Cup campaign.

Although they could nearly field two completely separate teams I suppose for the Wales and Portugal matches compared to the Irish matches.

I’d say back row is going to be:

6) Baird and Prendergast

7) Van der Flier and 1 more

8) Doris and Conan

The second 7 could be Timoney, Connors, Penny or Hodnett.

I’d go with Timoney.

Of the other 3 I’d say Hodnett is the outside bet, as he hasn’t had a chance yet.

I don’t have any strong opinions between Connors or Penny, both would do a good job if called upon.

For the outside backs I'd say Osborne may be behind Larmour if O'Brien were injured, but Osborne would be a suitable injury replacement for any of the centres. I don't really see him as anything other than a centre personally, he could be a great 12, better creator/distributor than Henshaw, not sure he has the pace you'd want for an outside centre or back three at international level.