Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

explain also why we picked a bunch of unfit chaps just back from injuries who were miles off the test match pace - just asking

When your lineout doesn't work, and it's an integral part of.your game then your in trouble.

When your 10 is average and you have several players playing for the first time in weeks, if not months, then you lose.

SA have a bomb squad.

Ireland have a bum squad.

The crowd were awful silent. No atmosphere at all.

A very poor performance from Ireland, notably in the line-outs and the penalties conceded. Some of the players looked like they’d never been in a lineout before which is inexcusable for professional players.

Lots of 6/10 performances tonight which won't cut it against NewZealand, even in their current form.

JGP was outstanding, VDF and Beirne were tireless. Bealham out on his feet when he came back on (and was definitely angling in for that penalty before going forward, as much as we may not want to admit). Lacking outstanding moments of class or incision. Doris was grand, Ryan was grand, lots of just "grand" performances but nobody really taking the game by the scruff of the neck bar JGP.

Good to have Lowe and Hansen back as a wing duo - both had good moments. Crowley has a very very average game. Frawley had a stinker but I'd be hypocritical to throw him under the bus - he deserves another shot and we know from the South Africa game that he does have bottle. Today was just a bit of a blip for him. I would leave Prendergast until the Fiji game.

Bench not ideal either (not helped by the O'Toole situation). Was surprised to see POM only coming in with ten minutes to go, hard to make an impact with that little time.

Overall, discipline and errors killed us. We lacked any real attacking platform (not helped by a misfiring lineout) for a lot of the game and the penalties really killed us especially in the second half.

TH cover will be an interesting predicament if O'Toole and Furlong are both out. Clarkson going to get a look in?

For all those blaming the outhalf for losing the game, the possession stat of 33% to Ireland is the most telling.

Ireland's front 5 were not up to it tonight as against England in the 6N this year.

The offensive lineout will always be an issue when the hooker is inconsistent with his throwing (the opposition know this so will apply pressure). Closing the gap needs to be dealt with on the field by the captain and or pack leader, the coach sitting in the box can do very nothing once as the referee has blown the whistle to start.

The defensive lineout was built around POM's natural athletic ability and his reading og the opposition setup. I am sure he did his homework and studied the opposition before matches as well.