Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Wouldn't have Ramos anywhere near the team. Keenan is miles as a FB, and I feel Ramos is anonymous at 10 at international level.

Barre is class, think he could be 15 for France for a long time.

It's actually ridiculous that they don't run away with the 6Ns every year.

Yet! Because our time is going to come to an end sooner rather than later. Look at the age profile of the squad. Allot of guys blooded by Joe Schmidt with Healy, Murray and O'Mahony from the stone age.

Ireland is Dads army in comparison to the French. I think Ireland will win the Grand Slam but this is a purple patch.

Well they did win the Grand Slam in 2022!

its the next generation that are truly special.

I know what it is.

Count them (incl Healy, Murray and O'Mahony) and compare it to the French.

Old by comparison.

Which is the point I was making.

The player profile that produces backrow and centres seems to be one that we always have coming through in quality. Wingers and 2nd row are bit more scarce

@AbusesToilets Because they aren't as good as Ireland are, which has categorically been proven the last 2 times they've played.

@Ersatz Not really, they are the second-best team in the tournament so have finished 2nd the last to years as expected.

While good talent there, the vast majority still have ALOT to prove before they can be classified as "Scary"

Keenan is a nailed-on starter, granted that doesnt necessarily mean he'll start at 15. Whatever the fans/media think about him, he's a coaches wet dream and cant see him ever being left out on form. If Kinghorn is seen as the better 15 I'm certain they'll stick Keenan in the 14 shirt or vice versa, Kinghorn has been playing on the wing for Toulouse a lot this season. The Right-wing position isn't the strongest position so could see a situation that both are put in.

Potentially 3 6N in a row (if we beat France) is a pretty long purple patch…the ironic part is it's clearly France who are going backwards…possibly the negative side of being early specializers that French/English players tend to be in rugby, i.e Better than average at a young age…but eventually it catches up with them and they end up being burnt out and past it by the time they reach their late 20s.

No offence, but we've been hearing this for about 5 years now…nothing has happened…this was also said about the 2018/2019 generation and right now with most of those players between 25-27 i've yet to see what any of that is based on.

I suspect its the same guff about the next generation also.

He is nailed on; it's a pointless discussion.

I have a great reason, he's the FB in the NH. Anyone who was in any doubt just watch the Scotland v Ireland game from a few weeks ago.

Like I said in a previous post, if Kinghorn is selected it's almost certain that it's WITH Keenan rather than INSTEAD of Keenan as none of the RWC options are on the same level for me.

Two years ago, I’d have said Keenan was nailed on, now I’d rate him as “probable”. Kinghorn, M Smith could run him close.

I don’t think anyone is in Lowe’s class, especially if Feyi Waboso is still out.

I realise it would never even occur to you but there's also some Ulster players doing pretty well. One was a development player with the senior squad a few weeks ago.