Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

I don't think we'd care too much, but people absolutely used to complain about Wales' fourth AI test removing players from the ProX and there was no shortage of schadenfreude when their fourth test against Aus results in them dropping to 9th in the rankings for the World Cup draw. Course we have followed them on that by having a fourth AI ourselves now.

I think the timing is about the only place you could conceivably put it. Realistically you need to have the frontline players back before you can gut the provincial squads like this.

I'm not close-minded to the benefits of it, but it just fundamentally rubs me up the wrong way.

The frontline internationals would normally be back around this time anyway, so I wouldn't consider it early. I imagine the timing is done pretty much for that specific reason. Though I would wager the LvM game would normally be their first one back, they might be in a round early I guess.

Ultimately though, for me it doesn't depend on the results. I don't like that they are doing it. I'm aware it is an essentially emotional viewpoint, but it is essentially dragging a large chunk of players out of the provinces because the IRFU just don't think the games are that important. And I think that attitude stinks.

Well there was no EI tour this year for one. But that also doesn't really change anything.

No, the frontline internationals in a non-RWC year typically didn't return before Weeks 6-7, whereas now the impacted weeks are weeks 2-4 of the URC season here, so that's definitely a little earlier than usual.

The season has been shoved a bit later though. Round 6 is October 26th and the last week before the AI window. Pretty sure they'd be back well before then regardless.

The squad looks reasonable. Personally I'd rather Prendergast was establishing himself at Leinster, and I'm sure some Ulster supporters would think the same about Izzy and McCann. I think all 3 are likely to get capped at the least against Fiji anyway.

At least from my perspective I have very little else to complain about re the IRFU and I didn't like the EI tour the first time round either.

It absolutely objectively had successes and I think it massively contributed to Crowley being picked against Australia. I just wish everyone took the domestic league more seriously.