Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

I hate this line that comes up about Crowley.

"part of a 6 nations winning team"

So were a lot of other players. That doesn't mean they cannot be rotated out. It is not like he dragged Ireland kicking and screaming to the title.

A line usually trotted out by the same people who normally complain about conservatism and not giving chances to any new players.

Farrell and Ireland are in a no-win situation with a small minority of people. It is what is and they're not for turning.

the form thing isnt really true though. he was fantastic away to northampton right before the 6Ns and away to ulster before christmas, a relatively poor game away to castres in europe is colouring people's perception a bit (although the team in general was well below standard that day). even going back to the AIs, he didnt do anything too special against NZ but again the team in general was well below par for the majority of the match, but he was played very well against Argentina and when he come on against Aus.

so, taking the below standard goalkicking out of the equation, the 'bad to average' form isnt exactly true either

You simply cannot take a goal kickers stats from the tee out when assessing their performance. I dont believe you'd be trying to exclude his goalkicking if he was going 100% every week.

How would you describe Crowley's form from the start of the season up until the start of the 6 nations including goal kicking?

Prendergast did start his test career on the bench, even that was after touring SA and getting no game time.

He went through the exact same process as everyone else. This toxic bollicks about media hype, preferential treatment and all that is just lads being salty.

Worth remembering that Jack Crowley got a much faster elevation to the national team than Prendergast. Funny how that gets forgotten so much.

Mof Edit

Warning issued.

gatland was pretty good at that too. but gatland was considered a very arrogant manager.

Hard to say, but that Leinster team beats Ireland. Jodie & RG / Slimani game changers, Jordie is at a different level. Tadgh B, Mac & Bundee all starting in any team in the world but this Leinster team for the all jip the coaches got for strategic changes on defence , are at a different level

The difference is, he won't get an armchair ride at international level against tier 1 teams.

But it's the coaches fault if he underperforms 🙄

When playing for Ireland he won't be playing behind an absolutely dominant pack. Last night peoves nothing IMO.