Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

My ratings across the tournament for the Irish players.

Porter 6.5 solid and consistent at set piece but no longer a difference maker in the loose.

Healy 8 completed his limited role with customary consistency. A legend.

Kelliher 7 a nuts and bolts hooker always decent. We missed him when he got injured.

Sheehan 7.5 delivered on the final day after a sub par ( for him) outing against france.

McCarty 6.5 contributed well when called on, looks to have a lot of composure and professionalism, some bulking to be done.

Bealham 8 couldn't have contributed more, a player most observers would have had in the only in an emergency category has stepped into the shoes of one of our best and never took a backwards step. Lions reward ?

Clarkson 7 baby steps in this most challenging of positions, showing good promise.

Furlong 10 how good was it to see this legend back in the front row yesterday. There's life in the old dog yet. Needs a run now for Leinster to remind everyone of the quality.

Ryan 6 Never lacks for effort but needs to find a way to impact the big moments. A player of rare physical quality in Ireland but needs to go to AWJ school to learn to dominate.

Beirne 7 always a threat when Beirne shines Ireland shine. A little of the glitter missing this time around.

McCarty 6 Has the raw talent and bulk, a player for the future for sure but he is needed now. Seems to be playing the carrier role may be more suited to the enforcer.

Pom 6 screaming at the dying of the light. Go well and thanks who now will get upset at the least of outrages.

Jdvf 7 peerless in terms of effort, is the impact diminishing? We certainly hope not. Perhaps a Lions swansong?

Doris 8 has the tools to be the Alpha needs more from those around him to allow him to swagger. Stands out nearly every game as a difference maker.

Conan 8 seems to be benefiting from the break last season. Brings power and smarts and a very important player for us in the absence of pom going forward.

Baird 6.5 Didn't shine in his 1 start but added plenty from the bench when given the call. There looks like there's more but let's see it.

Jgp 7 quality with a few glimpses of dodgy decision making, not getting the armchair rise of the past from his pack. Less influential than last year.

Murray 7 solid and reliable. No sentiment in his selections. Best of luck

Prendergast 6 flashes of brilliance show a huge potential but basics win games. Needs to win the games not every moment, get the basics right and add the flash after. Looks diminished by the poor selection policies and the media coverage.

Crowley 6 A partner to SP in the master class of how to mess up two good players with bad selection policies Solid if unspectacular nuts and bolts 10. Far more valuable than filling a utility role.

Bundi 8 There's a bundi shaped hole coming at 12 and our centres don't look the same without his hard carrying and attitude. Lions trip.

Henshaw 6.5 better outside bundi than inside Ringrose but a better 12 than 13. Figure that one out.

Ringrose 6 Ireland's shooter but has he taken one shot too many. Struggling to put his stamp on things this year.

Lowe 9 Makes something from nothing which has been very necessary in this Irish attack. Boot, power, attitude and skill. Badly missed when out.

Mack 7.5 Plays so much rugby in every game. Prone to the odd error and lacks a little power but has the smarts to keep defenses in trouble. Chase and high ball work very important to Ireland.

Nash 6.5 Good straightline winger unlikely to get many chances to shine and needs a few moments to happen for him. Will lose out to inferior players who have a point of difference if he doesn't.

Keenan 8 Never a bad game, less influential in this edition of Ireland's attack but consistent and unchallenged.

Osbourne 7.5 12, 15, 14 Has it all but where and instead of whom. My monies on 12 this summer. Perhaps a 12/13 combination with Henshaw.

Coaching 4.5 Can't help feeling that the 10 situation has been exceptionally badly managed and rubbed off in the team. Prendergast with Crowley off the bench was the smart call with. Blunt attack, misfiring power plays, lowered skill level. Changes may be required in playing strategy and coaching personnel.

Time to widen the pool and begin a serious rebuild.

Did SP get the 6 Nations missed tackles record in the end? 😅 You're in for some shock when you look at Ringrose's stats too. 5 made, 5 missed.

Hansen and Lowe have been poor the whole tournament defensively. At least they upped the ante after half time in attack a bit

It wasn't even a week ago when you were similarly 'outraged' about comments you'd found on the internet about Crowley post the NZ game

The side being static often has something to do with the 10 as they should be controlling the backline.

Its mad the bollocking Prendergast has been getting, even when he plays well but Crowley gets a free pass after Ireland's worst performance in years.

People seem to be forgetting that Prendergast was on the field yesterday as well!

He came on for what 20 minutes and clearly looked a step down from Crowley in terms of open play.

For all the talk about elite game management and passing from Prendergast, it's only really led to points in the England and Scotland games. You can at least see the attacking threat when Crowley is playing.

Baird has nearly 30 caps and has never really laid claim to a jersey in any of his performances. I think he'd be better off concentrating on becoming a loose head lock because as a 6 he doesn't work. To be honest I'd put Aherne in the same boat, just because he's pacy doesn't mean he's a back row. Should also play as a loose head lock. I haven't watched enough of Izuchukwu other than 1 underwhelming performance vs. Fiji to comment.

McNabney at Ulster is the one to look out for as a blindside.

Bit of a left field suggestion from me here but would there be any merit in trying a Prendergast 10 and Crowley 12 combination over the summer? It would require a physical 13 to make gainline success but perhaps having 2 playmakers in midfield might give us some sort of cutting edge in attack? The current selection of centres were hopeless this year in that regard. Would Osborne make a good 13 in that selection?