Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Not the case at all and pretty standard stuff. Tens are always targeted, big runners sent at them, force them to make big tackles again and again,wear them down and fatigue them to the point where they are making silly mistake and need to be pulled.

Ross Tucker a science and research consultant for World Rugby, had a very interesting podcast on player development about 12 months ago.

He wasn't making your back row argument, but he did make a compelling argument that the current system common in all sports was confining nearly all late developers to the scrap heap. The younger that age group is picked for "elite/development squad" the worse the problem is. The top 20% in a group of kids at 14 will be a very different group at 18 if they are exposed to the same training inputs.

I'll have another search later, but can't find it currently

I assume you have never played the game at any level. Not the case at all. 10s and playmakers in general will always be targeted for rough treatment, even at J3/4 level.

Hoping that we can build from this tournament, towards the WC. 2 years to bring in players with pace and power to challenge at the top end.

Need to trawl the south sea's again for player's. We have to face the fact we are nowhere without them.

I'm continually baffled by the appointment of Goodman. The two times Ireland have faced top four teams under him - NZ in November and France today - the attack has floundered. Top quality opposition just shuts it down without much difficulty. Scoring the second and third tries today is hardly a good reflection as France had quit playing because they were so far ahead. Why anyone would look at Leinster struggling in very much the same manner to break down Toulouse and the Bulls last season and think 'Yesss, we need some of that for our team' is beyond me. Goodman getting that gig is the definition of failing upwards.

The defence is a fair way short of where it needs to be too. 34 points conceded in the 2nd half isn't far off the scoring rate France had for 80 minutes against Italy. Although the 7 points from the interception can be put down more to Ireland's poor attack.

Chastening defeat.

seeding for the next world cup will be pre-2026 6 nations?

then we need to experiment like lunatics.

Baloucoune has, or at least had top end pace. But he's a player that never really kicked on from his initial promise. He's 27 now and it feels like his development has completely stalled.

Ulster will do that to a player

This was the week to start James Ryan ahead of McCarthy. At least Ryan can do the basics of lock forward play without giving away brain dead penalties and getting sin binned.

I'm beyond incensed about 'Big Joe'. He needs the hair dryer treatment. Bags of ability and physicality but his attitude, mentality and workrate are miles off. He's been bigged up by the media and has failed to deliver in a big way in the last 12 months.

James Ryan is criminally underrated. Him and Beirne work so well together as a lock pairing because Ryan is willing to roll up his sleeves and melt into rucks and tackles for every game which allows Beirne to loiter for the poach. Big Joe is doing his best Neil Francis impression at ruck time.