Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Disappointed with the performance. We showed a much improved ability to keep possession tho - but did little with it in the back line. I think the Aussie defence deserves a lot of credit, really nullified out attack and smothered chances. They conceded ground but very little line breaks. The lineout was much improved from an awful start of the series, but killed so many hard fought for positions. I an hopeful we are going to improve a lot in performance against England, otherwise it could be a mauling.

Name one other player he has treated like that since he got the job.

I am not missing your point , i am just saying Farrell has followed this approach on no other player. I could accept you have a point if there was a history of Farrell doing this.

My theory is that everything was fine with Crowley and Farrell until Johnny sexton joined the management team and has got into the ear of Farrell, sexton has such an ego he believes Ireland can only be successful if they play sexton rugby - a 10 who is the alpha and calls all the plays and even has a say in how the team is selected.
There is no doubt he had a say on Pendergast getting the nod.
Sexton has to go immediately.

Coombes, stockdale, Lowe, vdf

first I heard of it.
I can’t remember Farrell dropping any of them while they were first Choice and playing well for a complete newbie and then publicly humiliated them.

my theory might upset some but. I think I am on the right track.

aw come on, you cant dispute what we’ve seen with our own eyes, sp wasn’t ready to carry the game today , Crowley showed everything required for an international 10 in only 15 mins on the pitch.

Great to see POM have a great game , there’s life in the old dog yet

Disappointing to see some of the comments on here about SP. He’s a 21 year old who’s started against a tier one team in a game we won and given a very good account of himself. Was he perfect? No, but he’s shown that he’s more than capable of mixing it at this level. The same sentiment applies to some of the comments about Crowley earlier this window who hasn’t been at his best this season in red or green but had a great cameo when he came on today helping to change the momentum and seeing the game home.

I reckon Farrell will be delighted with the two of them and the character they’ve shown this autumn, Crowley playing himself into form and showing exactly the reaction he would have wanted to see from him after Prendergast got picked for today and Prendergast’s ability to step up to this level and rebound well from mistakes made during the games (the YC last week and dead kick and the penalty he slotted after a poor conversion attempt today).

The future looks bright at 10 for Ireland. Now for the easy bit-sorting out our rucks, accuracy with ball in hand and the lineout.

I'm amused. Forever we call for young players to be developed and build a squad. Then we select a young player to do that very thing and people complain that he's not the finished article.

Christ, what short memories everyone has. Sexton was not the world class player he became at the start, but our biggest failing was putting all our eggs in a single basket. Crowley is clearly first choice, but what happens if he's injured? Take a step back people and realise that we have actually tried to blood young talent (like we were told we never do and that the likes of France do) and still won the game.

Our issues go deeper than 10 at the moment but SP has been exposed to a better level opposition than just a token Fiji cap.

fair point if there was more young players and not just Prendergast being developed against nz argies and aus. For example If Casey, gus McCarthy and both prendergasts started today then fair enough
that’s where your point falls down.

now you’re just using sentimentality as a defence for SP.

The pack have been well tossed around in all the games bar Fiji , and that gives a poor platform to any back line. SP was well marshaled by Oz and needed to vary his game more than he did. Some nice kicks aside(bar the missed conversion), he never challenging the OZ 10, 12, 13 after 15 mins.

Games against top tier opposition require a 10 who can adjust to the oppostion and vary the game in real time . SP should be played at 10 for leinster in order to hone this skill., he was well able to do it in the U20s , so no reason he cant do it at senior level.

It’s over to Leo to develop him at 10 for ireland until the 6N.

PS where does Frawley go from here ? He not gong to be starting for leinster and Ireland any time soon. His bench spot will be under pressure with Barrett on board .