Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Oh definitely, our forwards were particularly poor v France, almost like they were disinterested or out of sync or something but we came out second best everywhere really

"A chance to really play"

In a dead rubber???

Hes "really played" plenty behind the Irish pack last year.

A 6 nations and URC winning 10

If the Irish coaches wanted to see more of him they'd have played him. They didn't. They wanted SP.

Now they want to save face and rescue the mess they created themselves.

Nobody's buying their BS.

Nor is Crowley I'd imagine.

Clearly you have an incredibly short memory if you think this is their worst 6Ns in years. Likely 4 wins out of 5 ffs

Keenan was starting for club prior to 6N's, he had a good consecutive run of pro14 games including the semi & final

He then played a quarter final of CC.

It was looking v likely that he would remain a starter for Leinster post his 6nations debut.

I agree with you that Farrell doesn't see Crowley as the 1st choice 10, that's his call to make

Dead rubber? Explain that one please.

I've seen a few throw away comments like that, can only interpret that as either a defeatist mentality or not really understanding how the 6 Nations works, and what it means to the IRFU finances.

Ireland are first up this weekend, and can literally take top spot with a win. A win with a try bonus point would put Ireland 3 points clear at the top. The bigger the points difference the better as it would put Ireland ahead of England if it came down to points difference for second place.

So, a big win tomorrow would put all the pressure on England to win away in Wales with a bonus point to overtake us, and it also would mean that France would have to draw with a try bonus point or win at home against Scotland to take the Championship. There is also the possibility that England will get a win with a try bonus point and that could put even more pressure on France. If either France or England lose we would move up to second place, if both lose we would take the third Championship in a row.

Now the likelihood is that both England and France will win and possibly win well, but there is no way the match against Italy is a dead rubber. We are up first, and there are a lot of possibilities, everything to play for still. First team to win 3 in a row is still possible.

Hopium. It's a dead rubber.

Ireland are coming 3rd.

If anyone in the IRFU thought any different they'd start their best outhalf who they clearly believe to be SP.

Nope. It's a last gasp asre covering exercise.

Which literally nobody fails to see beyond.

Contract expiring: Crowley & Conan.

Are Lowe, Osborne, Kelleher and S.Prendergast contracts also expiring?

15. Hugo Keenan - CC 2025/26

14. Mack Hansen - CC 2026/27

13. Garry Ringrose - CC 2027/28

12. Robbie Henshaw - CC 2027/28

11. James Lowe - Leinster Apr 2023 / (PONI?) / EXPIRY 2025?

10. Jack Crowley - Munster Dec 2022 / EXPIRY 2024/25

9. Jamison Gibson-Park - Leinster Feb 2022 / (July 2024 CC TBC)

1. Andrew Porter - CC 2024/25

2. Dan Sheehan - CC 2025/26

3. Finlay Bealham - Connacht 2025/26 / (PONI?)

4. James Ryan - CC 2027/28

5. Tadhg Beirne - CC 2026/27

6. Jack Conan - Leinster EXPIRY 2024/25

7. Josh van der Flier - CC 2025/26

8. Caelan Doris - CC 2026/27

Replacements:

16. Gus McCarthy - Leinster Academy Yr 2

17. Jack Boyle - Leinster May 2024

18. Tadhg Furlong - CC 2026/27

19. Joe McCarthy - CC 2027/28

20. Peter O’Mahony - Expiry 2025

21. Conor Murray - Expiry 2025

22. Sam Prendergast – Leinster Aug 2023 / EXPIRY 2025?

23. Bundee Aki - CC 2025/26

Jamie Osborne - Leinster Mar 2023/ EXPIRY 2025?

Ronan Kelleher - Leinster Apr 2023 / (PONI?) / EXPIRY 2025?