Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Yeah, agreed. He looks a fiery type too, and was always willing to get stuck in and mix it for EI there.

Would be brilliant if he could stay healthy and get a run of games.

He does look like more of a 6 though than anything else (had seen some murmurings this offseason he might have the size to play some games in the row).

Prendergast nailed on? wouldn't agree but stranger things have happened. maybe 30 minutes off the bench but can't see him starting a game. clearly has talent but still very raw and by no means the finished article.

I think Hugh Gavin is the brightest talent there IMO, and imagine he’ll be capped on the tour next summer.

A few of these might be at the same time though.

Harry Byrne was in good form last season and got some time off the bench during the Six Nations. But judging by recent selection, Prendergast is ahead of him for both Ireland and Leinster. We're going into the 4th game of the season and I'm pretty sure Harry has only played once from the bench. All his minutes have come playing at inside centre too. Prendergast, Ross and Frawley all have starts in his preferred position. It looks like Frawley is starting against Munster and one of Ross Byrne or Prendergast will then start against Connacht.

There's a rumour going around that Ross has a knock so Harry might get a bench spot for the Munster game. But right now he appears to be 4th choice 10 for Leinster. He's even further down the pecking order for Ireland.

He had a disastrous end to last season at Leinster. Was dire against the Lions away and possibly worse against Ulster at the Kingspan. Had his most consistent season to date, but has maybe lost the faith of his coaches following those horror shows.

Going to one of Ulster or Connacht should be a no brainer. Aside from some of the negatives with Connacht, for a pretty skillful 10 who enjoys the flashy stuff, you'd surely have some cracking moments playing with their backline.

You're right on the fact that Crowely, Frawley, Prendergast won't be going anywhere any time soon, but Ross Byrne's last return to the Ireland set up should be evidence enough of how quickly these things can change. If HB was starting and playing well for Connacht he's 5th choice for Ireland at a minimum and probably 4th. There'll be three 10s going into every international squad so you're one injury away from inclusion at almost all times. If he stays at Leinster he won't be seeing meaningful minutes and is just waiting for a Jack Murphy, Cathal Forde, or even Billy Burns to play themselves ahead of him nationally, purely through their access to gametime.

Not even sure if Prendergast will even be in the squad unless Frawley gets injured.

There will be at least three out-halves selected; if we assume that Crowley and Frawley are the first two, who is third? We might go back to Ross Byrne but the SA tour would suggest otherwise. We may even see four OHs.

I'd be surprised if Crowley benches against Fiji tbh. I'd say that is Prendergast's most likely debut.

No, it won't.

They wouldn't have brought Sam to SA in the summer to now have him back behind Ross again.

I would be utterly shocked if he wasn't in the wider squad and capped this November (Sam).

I'd say primarily for Prendergast's development, but also a recognition that Ross didn't finish the season that strongly, and stylistically isn't a fit for the way Ireland want to play.

Ross also hasn't started this season on especially good form either, so for me it's very hard to see what he's done to change the pecking order.

This is the time in the calendar where there is some logic in trying out some new combos etc.

Based on current form, this is the squad I'd like to see us pick for the November internationals.

I've picked 37 players (similar to what we selected in 2022, even though we've an extra fixture this time around):

Back Three (6): Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, Mack Hansen, Calvin Nash, Jamie Osborne, Jimmy O'Brien

Centre (4): Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Cathal Forde

Out Half (3): Jack Crowley, Ciaran Frawley, Sam Prendergast

Scrum Half (3): Jamison Gibson Park, Craig Casey, Ben Murphy

Props (6): Andrew Porter, Tadhg Furlong, Finlay Bealham, Cian Healy, Tom O'Toole, Oli Jager

Hooker (3): Ronan Kelleher, Rob Herring, Tom Stewart

Locks (4): Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Iain Henderson

Back Row (8): Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris, Jack Conan, Ryan Baird, Cian Prendergast, Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney, David McCann

Some guys like Tom Ahern I've excluded because they've missed the season to date through injury, but could see him being involved if he can put together a few healthy weeks.

I don't honestly expect guys like Cathal Forde, Ben Murphy or David McCann to make it, but would love to see all three involved.

Loose head prop is a real problem - genuinely struggled to pick a third option there and included Tom O'Toole on the basis Ireland were supposedly considering him there during the summer. I have no honest idea who is the next man up there - aren't great options anywhere right now until we see what the likes of Jack Boyle can do.