Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

The scrum went backwards with Clarkson on, but Gardner had no interest in penalties from scrums and just told France to use it.

Crowley was absolutely castigated on here and on the media for having a bad game behind a pack, including Archer, Scannell, Wycherly and a second year academy player on his first European start, that was getting beaten up in Castes, and played 60 minutes with his 3rd choice scrum half with absolutely zero mitigation given for the circumstances. There is no consistency to the analysis.

Habitually does not mean automatically. And thats the point. I dont know how legal or otherwise Clarkson was in the scrums yesterday, but just because a scrum went back or went down doesn't mean its a penalty. And you can definitely start to see a move away from the methods of scrum reffing that was basically "penalty to the team with the props with better reputation" whenever anything went wrong

What was most surprising and worrying was the ease with which they did it. 

Up until the floodgates opened up in the second half after the second sinbinning and questionable call to allow the try it was far from 'ease' for France. Their only other try was during the first sinbinning.

When things went bad then it snowballed, which can easily happen with a team built like France are.

Absolutely castigated by the media::

RTE: Vile insults

Jack Crowley – 6

The only real mistake, as such, was a poor dropped pass under no pressure shortly before he came off, although the out-half played it relatively safe when he had the ball, using Bundee Aki outside him to gain ground, which New Zealand were ready for. Three out of three off the tee.

Examiner: Totally eviscerated him

10 – Jack Crowley (Munster) 

If it was Ciaran Frawley that stole the headlines in the summer then it was Crowley that was entrusted with setting the right tone here, place-kicking soundly but occasional fumble and replaced earlyish. 5 

Balls: Totally annihilated his character

10. Jack Crowley – 5/10

Settled the nerves early with a 7th-minute penalty. Not always his fault but as the person in charge of the attack he struggled to run Ireland’s attack outside of their powerplays from set pieces. 100% off the tee. 

Independent: I hope his family didn't read this one.

Jack Crowley: Had to deliver but didn’t get enough ball or involvement in the opening half. Ugly knock-on in the second and departed early for Ciarán Frawley. 5

I am just thankful he is not as much of a snowflake as ye are

Thanks for digging these up.

I felt I was living in a completely different reality with my memory post that match, especially when you look at the other 10 who was treated far, far harsher.

Osborne had a much better performance than Bundee Aki who, like his centre partner, was largely anonymous.

I swear people don't watch rugby on this forum.

How was Osborne 'very poor'?

Genuinely very interested to hear how you have come to this conclusion.

"Lots of mistakes"

Such as?

I hope with the Lions etc this Summer that the coaching team are looking to introduce a lot of new talent. We are 2 years out from the world cup and 2 six nations tournaments.

In all reality we are an ageing team and a substantial rebuild will need to begin this summer.

Bedhlam, Beirne, Conan, Van der Flier, Furlong, Aki, Henshaw will be 33 or older by then. Furlong will be 34 but has a dreadful recent injury record. Not to mention Gibson Park will be 35 and Lowe 34.

We looked a slow team on sat and none of the lads mentioned above are going to get any faster.

There is no planet where Bundee was better than Osborne on Saturday, lads.

The fact nobody can list the "lots of mistakes" Osborne made is telling.

Glaring two are the kick which Dupont claimed the mark on and being beaten once in the air.

If that constitutes a 'very poor' performance then what are we really doing here?