The writing was on the wall when the crew of aging players were selected into the squad. They have generally played well, POM having one of his best tournaments for example, but it is frankly a ridiculous choice. The gap between them and some of the younger players is slim to non-existent, and saying their experience is too valuable ignores that we're preventing these younger lads from building that experience.
Healy offers no impact off the bench so Porter is flogged so no matter how good he is a 125kg man after 60 mins is burnt. Yes O'Mahony has workrate nut lacks a bit of power in games like these that forces Doris to be our real main backrow carrying option in the backrow. VDF was quiet, he needs someone like Hodnett breathing down his neck.
The fact is Ireland go too conservative and flog the dead horse. Example is I think Cardiff 2017 a game we lost against Wales, Murray gets injured in the 1st half and he's playing on 1 arm, luckily it's near half time and they get him off without subbing him so he can be assessed, come the 2nd half he's back on still visibly injured playing on 1 arm everyones like WTF! Eventually Marmion replaces him and he has a decent showing, but any scrum half in Ireland must be looking at that sickened thinking even if i play well the coaches still won't select me the end result is lack of competition kills competitiveness.
Need to get our act together in the other 3 provinces. And the IRFU need to provide financial help to the other 3 provinces with respect to player development. There's no short term solution, it's going to be a long term thing.
Was Tom ahern named in the squad update last week?
I'd like to see Boyle and him start next week
Well that too, under the radar but the selection that was a red flag for me was Herring. Based on selections this season Gus McCarthy has been 3rd choice behind Sheehan & Kelleher but in this game all of a sudden Herring is on the bench. Now both are a big step down from the top 2, McCarthy will get there as he's extremely talented, but the fact we weren't even willing to make a selection call like that for me was concerning.
Well we we've got the evidence that their experience isnt valuable, its a mind set that really needs to change in Irish rugby if we want overcome our QF curse.
I'm sure the team next week will be largely unchanged. The message will be about giving the guys a chance to redeem themselves, and they'll probably put in a good show.
Agree, and I think that's the mindset that has to change.
Why would you be dropping our best centre, Bundee Aki? That's the guy that was in running for world player of year in '23 and player's player of the year last year.
Conan mustn't be fully fit. That's the only reason I can think of for him being on the bench and POM starting.
Leinster have a tried and trusted youth development plan and I expect it to continue producing top class players.
Which I think is a mistake. Odds are we will finish 3rd regardless of the result so it's a free hit out to develop some players in a proper 6 nations game. We rarely have a dead rubber like this to use and it would be a wasted opportunity to not make changes. Italy have a defense like a sieve so any Ireland team should win regardless.
Conan has regularly been on the bench behind POM so that isnt the reason.
The Bundee that played against Wales and the Bundee that played against France seem like 2 different players.
He got a boot to the head early on and wasn't right after.
Agree completely
Pretty much every back that played against France was poor at best.
Well then the coaches believe POM is the best option.
Agreed
Thought that Jack Crowley lad did well. Young lad, but looks to have a high ceiling. I especially like when he held up the opposition 10 in a choke tackle turning over the ball. Bit too physical for a 10 if you ask me, all of us in the know, know that that you don't want your ten getting bogged down in grunt work like tackling or carrying.
Prendergast carried for 45 metres yesterday. One of the highest on the team. Also his metres gained per carry this campaign are roughly double those of Jack last campaign. But don’t let statistics get in the way of trying to put a dig in against a kid.
yep, no need to worry so 👍
Worry about what?
😂
quality
Does that include the metres he made in reverse? I would say what? 20 metres? Did it count the distance the ball travelled after he knocked it on or what? Although, Sam would probably run 45M in one or two carries, given how deep he stands, he'd take 20M to get to the line. I've literally never seen as a bad player in a green shirt.
'You can prove any thing with statistics Kent, forfty percent of people know that!' Homer Simpson.
Seriously, the same stats have Sam down for 0 clean breaks. Perhaps he caught a few kicks in the back field and ran them back? Hugo Keenan carried for 100 meters, another powerhouse ball carrier like Sam.
Sam had a poor game, it's fine. He's a 22 year old novice in his first 6N campaign. There's no need to twist the stats to prove otherwise. He'll learn from it and improve.
Also, Keenan played really well but the meters carried stat isn't that relevant to most backs, especially if they are defending kicks in the back field.
worry about SP being way undercooked and out of his depth at International level right now.
He hasn’t even proven himself fully at provincial level yet 🤷
There, I said it out loud.
And that’s not having a go at the “kid”, that’s just my opinion on where he is at the moment.
He needs to learn his trade, as any young man does, but not by parachuting him onto the international stage.
It’s funny you mention that his post contact metres are also much better than Jacks.
That's hilarious.
He has lost a grand total of 1 game at provincial or international level this season. Media both in Ireland and abroad across the board have been impressed with his ability as a young outhalf.
What did yesterday prove? Young outhalf has a mediocre game surrounded by other players who also had mediocre games. I don’t think losing to France is the big gotcha for Sam’s career that you think it is.
I’m not looking for a gotcha moment.
My opinion is that he’s not ready. Thats allowed isn’t it ?
Shhh! You're ruining their efforts to **** on Prendergast with these pesky facts
So just to be clear, you're saying you do not think Sam should be playing international rugby against serious teams?
