Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

That explain's why it's such a stupid sounding point. They are only 5 point favourites because its only a 1 score game either way, the reason's you are giving for a comfortable SA win aren't very convincing, it seems its based on everything going wrong for Ireland and everything going right for SA…i.e little to no objectivity whatsoever.

Except we've seen that Ireland don't need these players to be competitive. Ireland don't rely on certain players to be fit to win games, that's why they've been top 2 in the world for 2 years now and why they are still only 5 point underdogs. And like I said before you are basing the 8-10 point favourites prediction factors that in theory are still debatable how much of a hinderance they will have on Ireland and then chosen the worse case scenario in all of them which again would indicate you are not being exactly objective here.

There's a reason why its only a 1 score game in the odds, because it is a 1 score game and so long as Ireland dont have a shocker like they had at the end of the 6N then they will at the very least be competitive in the series if not win the game.

You're prediction is based on every negative factor coming to the fore for Ireland and ignoring the reality that the likihood of this happening isn't very high based on recent history. It conviently ignores all the negative factors affecting SA, such as they have a brand new attack and defence coach and the fact that traditionally SA don't start seasons very well (likely because a lot of their players play in Japan and around the world and usually need time to either get up to speed and/or build continuity again). But I find it convenient how you've picked out all the negative factors that could affect Ireland, which have yet to be proven if they either ARE going to affect Ireland and/or how much of an affect they are going to have, but then conveniently ignore any negative factor affecting SA, which have actually been proven to be an issue in the past, and the fact there is still question marks against settled Irish side if their attack/defence will click after such a short space of time together.

In end I look you're argument which lacks analysis or objectivity and I look at the recent evidence and the odds and I find that the odds are looking ALOT more accurate in this case.

If Ireland have a off day, like they had v England & Scotland in the 6N, then we could get smashed by 15points ofcourse but as long as Ireland play well they should be in with a shot in both games.

It's not really, I mean when you have to put a SH on the wing when you've gone with a 6/2 split then shouldn't that be evidence that going with a 6/2 split wasn't a good idea?

Show me where my evidence is thin on the ground? I mean for example when we lost to France don't you think that maybe…just maybe…we lost to France because they are a really good team and were playing at home so the chances of losing that game were very possible regardless of who was at 10? I mean we were 2 point underdogs going into the game even before it was reported Sexton was out and considering we lost by 5 maybe we shouldn't be blaming Carbery and accept we just weren't good enough on the day, conceded far too much stupid penalties and were sloppy at the break down and got punished for it…

Judging by the fact you are looking at all the evidence that will hurt Ireland chances and not the evidence that might be in their favour would indicate to me that you are being overly negative, maybe not as much as Iona but still.

If the players are switched on it shouldn't because the excuses of this being a long season are for small teams, Ireland arent a small team so should be going into this expecting to give it their all and then see what happens.