Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Delighted with the win although expected an easier ride. It's a sign of an excellent team who can dig out a win even when playing poorly. One thing from me from the match is that Sheehan is not captain material...a great player but lacked leadership yesterday. Captain is such a pivotal role and not for everyone

Always? No, like everyone else I hoped he’d develop into a good OH but I gave up on that quite a while ago. If you’re bored, you can find plenty of posts from me arguing that his cameo in South Africa last summer was evidence that he’s not a good OH and the drop goals were a distraction.

You’re implying that I was previously hyping up Frawley but am now talking him down to make Prendergast look better. I can assure you I’m not.

“Leinster fans” are not a single entity.

Quite a few forward passes missed I thought and that was probably the most glaring. Maybe it's just not Ridley's thing.

I'd have no issue with Crowley starting at 10 but I honestly don't think Frawley is in Prendergast's class in that position. He missed 8 tackles and made 8 yesterday which is probably 8 more than ROG made in his career and is more than Anscombe and Russell combined managed. That's not meant to be a dig at ROG, it's just what you often get with a 10. Of course it's an area Prendergast can improve in but he brings an awful lot to the table and his mental strength is really impressive.

You do post quite level headed and are not prone to reacting like a 12 year old girl.

I'm sure there are plenty of people here who'd disagree with that…

But I can't get too worked up about Prendergast v Crowley because they're both good options. It genuinely is a good problem to have.

Prendergast had a shocker in defence yesterday but it's hopefully a blip because he's been generally OK. He's still a fair bit off Crowley in defence and there's no point saying otherwise. On the flip side, he can do things in attack that Crowley cannot and I absolutely see where the coaches are coming from in giving him as much game time as possible.

If France look to be clicking in attack again today, I think they'll have to consider if Prendergast is too much of a risk in two weeks. As of now, I'd be 95% certain they'll stick with him.

Many would feel he has been treated unfairly

He hasn't though.

He had the jersey, another guy came along and took it, it's up to Crowley to take it back now. Same as it is for literally every other player who's ever played test rugby. "Fair" is exactly what it is.

Ross Byrne was firmly the second choice leading up to the RWC and in pole position to be Sexton's successor… then Crowley blew past him. That wasn't "unfair" on Byrne, it just is what it is.

I can see Crowley as our no. 12 in a year ortwo.

JJ Hanrahan appears to be coming back to us, not sure how I feel about that other than feeling glad that Billy Burns is being moved on.

Personally I'd prefer Ross Byrne to Harry but Ross has himself sorted with a move.

It’s not disingenuous - do people even know what that means? It’s 100% factual.

The point is Byrne was ahead of Crowley until he wasn’t, Crowley was ahead of Prendergast and now it looks like he’s not. It’s the same for everyone.

People may not like this or agree with it but it isn’t “unfair”

I’d say Crowley would be absolutely mortified if he knew people were using the term “wasteful scandal” on his behalf

Is there a link to youtube or is it on a television channel?

Try england, after a good session of too-ing and fro-ing…

good defenses by both teams.

13 mins

7-0

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