Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

What do you mean 'should have been going for'? When?

They aren't going to bring these people in when the head coach is away (I detest the Lions in the modern era)

It's hard to know what to think about the performance of Ireland this yeay. In most years, 4 wins is a great achievement, but that usually means we beat one of the big two away from home. This year it seems disappointing, maybe because we never really looked comfortable during most of our wins. There are always fine margins but it seems like we didn't win many of them.

We gave away stupid tries against England and it will likely cost us a place in the table. But if Finn R took the conversion from the right place, England would be worse than us. France catching a few balls against England and they had the GS, and we wonder about England potentially having 3 defeats. But now they could win. Is it just that the three or four top teams (including Scotland against England here) are just more competitive and so we will see more close competitions or something else?

Either way I think we need to look at the coaching ticket and what depth there is in the absence of Farrell

It can’t be just the one coach!
I believe Farrell is also the one who is responsible for the phase play attack.
You will also see allot of posts trying to railroad the conversation to Prendergast v Crowley.
I think it’s pretty clear this team have just got old. The edge is blunt.

Absolutely. All the tin foil hat Munster fans should look at his performance against the second worst team in the 6N and reflect on how bad he was today. He did nothing and offered nothing. They said SP was poor from the tee - well he was certainly not as bad as JC today - awful. 3/10

I was thinking the new English guy Fin Smith would be surely up there?- Finn Russell quite poor this year but maybe experience counts for a lot?🤔

He has 16 starts at 10 at 27. He may or may not ever have been good enough but averaging 2 games a year in his favoured position was never going to develop him. At least now we are identifying players earlier to gain experience in such a pivotal position. Last years 6 nations for Crowley and this years for Prendergast will stand to them. We still though seem to have to force the provinces hand to put through talented younger over barely competent journeymen though. Quite often selection for the national squad is what cements a players place in their provincial lineup. JGP being a prime example.

yay… I will guess an under 25 leinster fan?

Jacks normal percentage is high 80s/90s, so, I'm not worried. after the week he's been through, fair enough.

His passing and dummy passing, on the line (not 10 metres behind), was excellent.. tackling excellent.

but continue with your love of a 22 yr old, that isn't ready.

also the lack of bonus points against wales and France, killed us.

Yeah I was thinking along those lines too,Ford did well today as a sub- if Marcus Smith does go it will be mainly down to his versatility.

9 starts in total, all positions, in his first 3 years. Ross Byrne, a competent but very limited player, had 30 starts in his first three years. Because there was no log jam of 10s that was subsequently allowed to build up and hinder the development of Frawley, then H Byrne and then Tector. And may have done the same to Prendergast until he was called into the national squad. Same is happening in other positions. Once they have a full squad if they want to bring in the next young 10 they should be forced to release one of those older ones. A small bit of it in Munster too with Jack O’Donoghue. Are Gleeson and Quinn getting the chances their talent deserves with the same situation where a competent but not quite top level player remains. The easy way out for the coach is to pick experience and leave talent on the bench/ off the squad

I've read this twice and I have no idea what you are talking about.

Grand slam in 22, grand slam in 23, 4 wins from 5 in 24 in U20 6 nations says you don’t know what you are talking about

Aye, keep up the delusion if you like.