Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Keenans first real season was 19/20 in which he played 886 leinster minutes inc a CC 1/4 v saracens & pro 14semi & final all 3 as starter

Sam P first real season was 23/24 where he played 69 minutes of CC rugby, 478 minutes in total, 2 urc games as starter

There's a definite step down in coaching however. Richie Murphy's Ireland sides were very well drilled and every player was comfortable in possession and knew when to take contact and when the pass/offload was on. This side can't seem identify when there's space to actually play. The games against France and Wales were instructive for that. Both times we played against 13 or 14 men and couldn't manufacture a line break or finish a try scoring chance.

This, and the poor performance of POC and Goodman in the senior set up, pose a serious question to Humphries and the IRFU. We cannot afford to carry coaches who are not up to standard imo. We ought to be more demanding of the standards we hold our coaches too.

Held up over the line, is it poor attack or better defence

Then add in how we wasted our opportunities when we got into the opposition 22

Perfect conditions for rugby in Rome.

Today is the day Ireland will actually score that try in the first 20mins.

Italy are going to get pulverised by the Irish pack and Hansen & Lowe will have a field day.
Strongest Ireland side to play Italy in Farrells tenure.

Should score 7-8 tries.

Italy 17 - 52 Ireland.

Today is also the day that the longest losing streak in International rugby comes to an end.

England have gambled with a 6-2 and picking players that are not Test standard in their positions. Markus Smith at FB and Tommy Freeman at 13.

And today finally is the day that 7-1 blows up.

Scotland will score early and France will start flapping.

Ireland Champions.

I hope you're right. But no. I don't see either of those results happening, which now make me worry that I agree with your Ireland/Italy one....

Scotland are everything Ireland are not, for better and worse! Bundles of pace in the three-quarters and fullback. Scotland score early AND then IF France get an Injury in any of those positions - It’s on!

When you look at the team selected it does look like he's been dropped and imo rightfully so. It's a team of established internationals.

If Sam fixes his defensive issues he's going to be a great player and hopefully for a long time. Even a blind man can see how good he is offensively.

We get a chance to see how Crowley does and he must feel he's under pressure to perform to be seriously considered for the starting 10 jersey moving forward.