Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Many thanks for proving my point.

Many thanks for proving my point

SP looks lost a bit when under the pump and he knows he has to tackle; look at his body language for about 30 seconds before the Welsh try at end of the first half.

With the play in hand he looks like he was born to do it; like he's playing a different game to everyone else.

Improving his tackling in the long term shouldn't be difficult. In the short term he's going to be targeted, just like ROG was. I think he's going to have a great career.

Isn't rugby great that it was a role for a player like SP, in the safe field as Joe McCarthy and Porter etc.

Delighted for Wales and the tournament in general. A big Irish win wouldn't have been good for either. The 6 Nations needs Wales going well.

Excuse me?

A point was made that if anyone missed tackles like Prendergast has they'd be out of the 23. I countered that point showing it to be untrue.

Go full maga? What on Earth are you talking about?

I said he was fine. I never said anything which you're implying.

Just a bizarre post from start to finish.

One bad game and Frawley has been dismissed completely. Still think he’s a decent player. Crowley is been badly treated I feel he should be at least getting 20 minutes off the bench at 10, not 8 minutes at full back.

Overall, it was an average enough performance but in fairness Wales showed up. Thought Osborne done well at full back particularly in the second half. Bealham has probably become one of our most important players over the last 12 months hasn’t let the side down.

Gibson Park very good again, seems to be getting better with age, also O’Mahony and Aki also played very well. A wins a win. A lot to work on but some positives as well.

Wales lost that game by millimetres, they looked sharper, handling was better, more dangerous in attack….Ireland were sluggish but managed to eke out a win.

Same performance will end in a loss to France.

yes zero chance of a France win if we play anywhere close, major change in gear and accuracy required. Home match will help for sure. A couple of selection quandaries now for Easterby . Most fascinating team selection for quite a while .

Out of curiosity, was this always your view of Frawley?

Last year were Leinster fans not calling for him to be the 10?

(apologies mods, I know it is an Irish thread)

I would have Crowley and Frawley as my two 10s thiis year and next year, and Sam in a couple of years when he learns how to tackle.

I’m not sure it was a leadership issue as most leaders on the field do it in action not in words. There was no leadership and an absence of quality playmaking . Can’t put that on Sheehans shoulders it’s a team requirement and only JGP & Bundee really laid down the gauntlet

This is my worry. What does Crowley do now? Clearly the management have made the call at out half. Crowley isn’t even getting on the pitch in that position. I thought we’d have two really good out halves for the next World Cup but Crowley mightn’t be available. If I were him I’d take the inevitable big money options from the Premiership or France. Not in a fit of pique but in a hard nosed professional decision. Munster are going nowhere, unfortunately. Keenan is locked on at full back. Sam is younger than him.

The Welsh lineouts rarely straight so I think they picked up on it early

I certainly wouldn’t be throwing the baby out at this point with Crowley, who says he doesn’t get selected for France. It’s both essential and also in the managements interest to have 2 strong 10’s which means a confidence reboot for Crowley is required. Many would feel he has been treated unfairly but he has reacted with strength of character which doesn’t go unnoticed. Getting Sam the match needed game time will stand to his and our collective benefit but there is no sense to having only one primed 10 at any juncture as we learned to our detriment in RWC