42 - Crowley to start , said with absolute no doubt conviction
There is room for both 10's but it needs to be managed a damp sight better than it has for both their sakes
This 100%
Crowley starting now is absolutely nonsensical given the backing that has been given to Prendergast.
A cynic might think there's some politicking going on here with these contract talks.
Bizzare
the view inside the m50, maybe.
this 6 nations has been a disaster for Ireland. let's try an limit the damage.
Sounds like the opinion of someone trapped inside their car on the M50 everyday.
If he’s starting on Saturday this was likely preordained from a while ago
It’s very unlikely this is a desperate gambit to keep him here and even less likely that Crowley would be swayed by it.
Simplest explanation is usually right. It’s Italy, that’s when we rotate.
That would be the Welsh game this time. With the break week and all.
What are we going to learn from Crowley starting now?
This would have been a good game for Prendergast to finish off the 6N with a flourish.
Why would it be nonsensical, Ireland has traditionally changed the team a bit when playing Italy, we've nothing to lose now so you could expect even more change than normal.
Of course there's politicking happening with contract negotiations, there always is. I said at the time that Sexton choose to leave that it actually strengthened the IRFU's hand, threatening to walk may mean you'll have to walk.
I shocked to read though that the stumbling block seems to the duration, why couldn't they offer a 3yr contract and keep him at home.
What would we have learned from playing him against Wales? Why do we need to learn anything?
what would we have learned about playing him ever?
why do we need to learn? Ever?
I presume your joking!! Prendegast has had enough chances, enough is ENOUGH!
From Thornley:
Porter Sheehan Bealham Ryan Beirne Conan Josh Doris Gibson Park Crowley Lowe Henshaw Ringrose Hansen Keenan
Bench:
Boyle Herring Furlong McCarthy O'Mahony Murray Prendergast Aki
Be pretty disappointed if Osborne doesn't make the 23. Aki doesn't offer much cover from the bench and frankly I think Osborne is better this season. Same with POM. What does he offer in this game that is more valuable than giving Prendergast or Izuchukwu a game?
Would have started Aki over Henshaw, and not to be contrary but Aki offered a lot off bench v Wales . Agree with you about POM.
I would certainly hope that's the reason rather than pre-ordained or 'Italy' nonsense. Italy will be a challenge and given our current form is no certainty.
That’s my point. We don’t need to learn from every single selection.
We’re (apparently) rotating our centres, no one will ask what we’re going to learn from playing Henshaw at 12.
Would like to see Osborne start at 12. Think he offers us another dimension with his offloading game in midfield. Wouldn’t have Healy or POM in the 23.
And that was my point…we don’t gain anything from Crowley selection. Sticking with Prendergast is just logical at this stage.
im not even in the political boundaries of my sillly little country, silly little man.
I don't mind Crowley starting. I also don't buy for one second that he's thinking of leaving. If he is because the pressure is on for his spot in the Ireland team then good riddance. However, there's nothing in his character that tells me he would give up so easily.
Osborne at 12 is the one I want to see.
Osborne is a player we really should be trying to get as many minutes into as possible. He has the ability to be an excellent 12 or 15.
Ireland management seems to want him at fullback, but he has the size and footballing ability to be a brilliant inside centre.
Think he's much better in the centers. Has a lovely gliding style of running and a great ability to get the ball away in the tackle.
There's zero chance there was a preordained plan to start a player at 10 for the opening four games and then rotate him out for the grand slam decider with a trophy to collect. Could you imagine?
The defeat has clearly caused a change of thought in the selection if Thornley's team is accurate.
I agree with you on Osborne's strengths as a centre. He's also an excellent offloader which imo is a rare thing in Irish born players.
I think Farrell and his staff have seen the lack of options at fullback and are pointing Osborne's development in that direction for the moment. Keenan aside there's no other established 15 in the country that we can rely upon. Makes sense that Osborne is given a crack. Can still use his footballing skills, but we also then get the chance to use his kicking game. He has a bigger boot than Lowe.
Not Sure Aki has 80 minutes in the tank anymore. Only done it once this seasom for ireland and that was the first game of the season.
Id prefer to see Osborne 23 or even 12 with henshaw 23.
Will be interesting to see where Osborne plays v harlequins if everyone is fit and Barrett is back too.
Lowry? Haley? Shane Daly? None of them worth a shot?
Where has it been suggested he's leaving because of the pressure for his Ireland spot?
I don't think so, no.
Lowry maybe had the chance to establish himself as a counterattacking threat unlike any other fullback we had. But he seems to have plateaued in recent seasons.
I feel the presence of Barrett and sentiment will keep Osborne consigned to the bench at best this season, unfortunately
It was me who used the term “preordained”, but what I meant was that it’s not all this talk about Crowley’s contract that has spurred the change as was suggested and I don’t think it’s a reaction to anyone’s performance against France. I don’t think it’s any harm to freshen the team especially after a loss. The only guys (apparently) coming in are those who are very close to the first XV anyway; Ryan, Conan, Crowley, Ringrose. There’s no left field selection that shows we’re cleaning house after last week. I think McCarthy definitely deserves a day on the naughty step for his stupidity but POM and Aki didn’t do anything last week to deserve to be dropped.
I am glad we’re picking Boyle though, hopefully he gets a decent run.
