Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Yeah there are two scenarios;

1. IRFU pays the contracts directly as per the current CC system.
2. IRFU gives money to each province based on the numbers of international players they have, but each player is contracted directly to the province.

The net result is exactly the same, but the optics of scenario 2 are much, much worse from the "IRFU are only interested in Leinster" perspective because suddenly the IRFU aren't giving money to 12 Ireland players, they're giving the money to Leinster. There would be an absolute meltdown.

Right, and this begs the question, at what point do optics and fan sentiment determine how the IRFU approaches the funding problem, like how sensitive is the IRFU to public opinion? Thats a bit of a slippery slope because, yes, people are pissed off, but they also don't really know wtf they're talking about. The priority for the union is A) keep winning & B) keep building from the bottom up. I'm not sure where on the list ?) keep fans happy, is.

• Andy copied the Leinster head coach's homework, Lancaster's in this case.
• Andy is incapable to integrating players from other provinces, because he's a vibes guy.
• Lanny left, shortly followed by Catt.
• Andy is now copying Nienaber's homework (it's what he does) which is the 2019 Bok playbook.
• Irish players are now Boks light.
• Leinster will get pumped in the business end of the Champions cup
• IRFU will need to cancel Nienaber's contract and get Lanny back to Leinster, or pay Lanny a ransom to be an attack coach.
• Lanny tried an on-ball game with Owen Farrell at 10 (not good)
• Lanny wouldn't work as a national coach, because the Leinster guys need to rep his system constantly at their club to play at an acceptable level.
• Connacht and Munster play more like Ireland used to play than Leinster do now.
• Some hybrid of Lanny's system with a more kick focused game might work.
• Sam is an off-ball 10, Jack is an on-ball 10 they get selected according to the game plan.

Somebody has been on the sauce for a few days it seems.

Leisnter getting pumped in the Champions Cup final to peak saracens, LaR and toulouse is a damn side preferable to losing to the world powers zebre, edinburgh and castres.

I’d love if Farrell rang up Lancaster and got Him involved in some capacity. Would probably need him in for the summer to have a decent impact for RWC

Thats true but other countries are now beginning to see how to deal with our forward surges (other than Sheehan). It also makes for turgid viewing. I personally hate mauled tries. There should be some disincentive - maybe no conversion allowed?

I do actually. A better game to watch.

It's a bit OTT but accurate in a lot of it.

Prendergast clearly did not have the upside that the coaches were expecting.

In hindsight, it was a pretty giant gamble that didn't come off.

Compounded by having the worst scrum in the 6N.