Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

In the last two years, he’s started two European Cup finals, won a grand slam and went to the RWC, none of which he’d have done if playing in England

I've said it before about Harry - but to me the questions around him all seem more to do with his mentality and mindset and maturity, more than his physical talent. He definitely had some real misfortune with ill-timed injuries that stunted his progress, or robbed him of some chances, but I feel if you could take Ross' leadership and mindset and transplant it into Harry's skillset, you'd have a great 10.

I do think Harry was unfortunate last season not to be backed after steering the ship relatively well in Ross' absence, but he responded to that by travelling to South Africa and playing like a complete drain against the Lions, with awful body language and a sense of just not giving a ****, rather than seizing the chance to go and prove himself. He got another chance in what turned out to be a relatively important late season game up in Ravenhill, and let himself down again with some bad mental errors that cost Leinster a win.

He's in an unfortunate position now - because there are three other guys all fighting hard for that jersey and all three seem to have a step on him right now. I think the time has probably come for him (given contracts are typically negotiated over the next couple of months) where he should be considering a move to Galway or Belfast.

Kelleher is out of the November series with an ankle injury. Awful for him and Ireland. We've nobody close to the same ability now he and Sheehan are missing.

Bit opportunity for maybe a younger hooker to stake a claim. Might be too soon for someone like Gus McCarthy, but he has looked good for the u20's and on his Leinster appearances to date. One I'd the standouts for Emerging Ireland too.

It's unfortunate for Irish rugby to have two very average Kiwi out halves starting in an interpro and Harry Byrne playing 4 minutes off the bench for Leinster.

Think a decision needs to be made on Jamie Osborne very soon. Excelled at fullback for Ireland dieing the summer, but was also brilliant at 12 for Leinster against Munster. Really impressed by the gain line stopping hits he was making. Put in a huge hit on Nankivell around the 60 minutes mark that stopped a Munster set piece attack in Leinster's 22. Led to a turnover penalty.

Osborne must surely get the 23 jersey at least for Ireland. Think he's also pushing for a starting spot. Too good to ignore.

Don’t think a lot was clarified in terms of Irish pecking order from the two interpros.

Some guys will be frustrated with themselves that because of injury or otherwise, they probably slightly failed to put their absolute best foot forward.

Hooker is a very real concern - none of our first four choice hookers played this weekend, and Sheehan & Kelleher are definitely missing. Awful timing for Herring & Stewart to be down too.

Don’t think any of the Munster forwards (Beirne an obvious exception) showed anything to suggest they warrant inclusion. I was pretty disappointed in Hodnett - some of it is the role he’s asked to play, but baffled at passages of that game where Munster are getting turned over the breakdown repeatedly or being forced to rely on slow ball, but the open side is just standing out on the wing waiting for easy carries. The gulf between JvdF and him was still vast IMO on yesterday’s viewing.

Behind the scrum, feel Ben Murphy continues to put his hand up. I’d have him int the squad right now. To me he’s leapfrogged a lot of guys and there is more merit to capping him against Fiji than rolling out JGP or Murray for that game.

For me on a Western POV, you have Bealham Hefferan Joyce C.Prendergast B.Murphy Forde Gavin Hansen who should be in the extended squad (no Aki, yes, he's more for Connacht than Ireland future now)

Joyce will be nowhere near the squad with Ryan, McCarthy, Beirne, Baird, Henderson about. Tom Ahern too

Not sure why Gavin would be included at this stage.

Aki will be picked.

I meant Hugh Gavin yeah

You seem to have done a nice job of summarising why the headline is pretty accurate. I'm not sure that counts as clickbait.

I’d love to see Andy Farrell be bold and play Heffernan at 2 and Dylan Tierney Martin on the bench.

Yeah Murphy has a very ceiling