Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

I see a few posters answer this in the way that I would so no point in repeating.

I'll return some honest questions for or others who hold your opinion:

1. Did Crowley perform at a 'world class level' during last years 6 nations? If not, why is the bar for SP higher for you?
2. Was Crowley performing consistently at a 'world class level' during this season prior to the 6 nations starting? (Consistently being the key here, not one off games).
3. Do you want young players with potentially high ceilings to get opportunities to start during the 6 nations or simply stick with the tried and trusted to minimize risk?

Go back and listen to Matt Williams on the post match analysis after the NZ game and read the post match posts here.

So Matt Williams' opinion equates to being 'castigated' by the media?

Aki is probably our second best back, JGP is ahead of him and Keenan is level or 3rd best.

Lots of mistakes and running down blind alleys.

I did go back and listen and you are looking for offence in a reaction that encompassed the full team performance, and that was clear. Just because it didn't leave Crowley out of the criticism. you think it was all about him. Which is quite strange. And for the record Prendergast was widely criticised Saturday, just not with the "worst 10 ever to play in green" hyperbole which I think is the only reaction that would sate your blooodlust for a 22 year old

And if posts on boards are your standard for rational analysis I have pity on you. And just because some idiots in the autumn spouted nonsense about a players performance does not automatically mean that another players performance should equally be judged unjustly because he is not "your player". They they did it so I am justified line of argument.

I presume you are talking just about the France game? After I settled down I felt Keenan was our best back followed by a tie between JGP and Bundee.

If you are talking about this year then JGP, Lowe and Aki are far and away the best ones.

Osbourne was decent, as a third centre and I would not be unhappy with him replacing Aki in the long run, but for me as a winger he doesn't have the instincts of a Hansen, Lowe or Nash (Or a Larmour, O'Brien or Daly for that matter)

Wasting your time asking for evidence. Empty, unsupported nonsense is the only game in town.

For all the fretting about Osborne, he wasn't exposed for pace once during the game. He had a very solid game, in his 3rd/ 4th best position. He needs to be given time at 12 or 13, wasting his talents on the wing imo.

Ageism at its finest.

I don't care what age a player is if he's the best we've got.

Did you not read the last line of my post. And I'm not going to type everything he did wrong. I just gave a couple of examples.

If you're going to make a claim that a player was 'very poor' because he made 'loads of mistakes' - then you better bring the evidence.

Because the evidence suggests Osborne actually had a good game despite being out of position.

that’s fair enough actually.

They are professional players too, so however unlikely, they need to prepare as if they are going to play.

Tough one to get right mentally though as it doesn’t happen very often.

Did Declan Kidney handle the Out half situation better than Farrell/Easterby.

When he took over in May 2008 Ronan O'Gara was the 10 in situ.

In November 2009, when 24 Johnny Sexton made his debut against Fiji and kept his place v South Africa and broke his hand in that game. O'Gara started the first 6 Nations game, Sexton came on as sub. The next 3 games Sexton started and O'Gara came on as sub.

Farrell brought Prendergast in at 21, if you are good enough, you are old enough, did the Irish Coaches had a duty to bring him along in the same manner as was done with Sexton ?

I am trying to write this as a neutral, but question the selection and management decisions. both on and off the pitch. They must be the first international Managers to sent a player out to the media mid week and drop him for the week end.

Did Andrew Porter need to play 250+ mins in the Autumn Series, did that help develop Props

Did Doris need to play was it 42 consecutive internationals.

We alternate 3 players between 12 + 13

Did we need Healy & O'Mahony, I can understand Murray as Casey was out.

Rather than spending so much time arguing Prendergast or Murray, should we be looking at the teams that are beeing selected and the succession policy