Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Paul Smeenus · 04-06-2025 11:38AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123513765#Comment_123513765

We underestimate Georgia at our peril. A bunch of kids won't beat them.

Mr Tickle · 04-06-2025 11:39AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123513729#Comment_123513729

I was thinking the same, but I don't know who I'd put in their places. Blade has more to offer than any of the other 9's I can think of.

A lot of the minutes here are going to go to getting Casey some of the game time with Prendergast that he missed out on in the 6N. Then Murphy will pick up some experience. I can't see any 3rd choice 9 getting much game time unless there's an injury.

ionadnapóca · 04-06-2025 11:46AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123513801#Comment_123513801

This team would not only beat Georgia. They'd probably beat them by 10-15 points.

Jimmy O’Brien; Tommy O’Brien, Hugh Gavin, Jamie Osborne, Calvin Nash; Sam Prendergast, Craig Casey; Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Thomas Clarkson; Ryan Baird, Thomas Ahern; Cian Prendergast, John Hodnett, Max Deegan.

Playing Blade, Frawley, Henshaw and Henderson would actually weaken that side.

sydthebeat · 04-06-2025 12:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123513829#Comment_123513829

Georgia are ranked ahead of Wales and just behind Italy

the last time our "first teamers" played both of those teams we won by an average of 7 points.

I do not at all expect a second string irish team to beat Georgia by 15 points. I expect it to be a very tight one score game.

ionadnapóca · 04-06-2025 12:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123513883#Comment_123513883

They did beat Switzeralnd 110-0 alright!

Yep. It could be closer than 10-15. But Blade, Frawley, Henshaw and Henderson arent going to help!

awec · 04-06-2025 12:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123513765#Comment_123513765

I wouldn't be surprised if they don't start.

The head coach is away with some of the coaching ticket, along with a lot of the senior players.

They bring the likes of Henderson and Henshaw to give experience to the lads as to what an Ireland camp is like, what is expected, how to conduct yourself etc. You need a few lads the inexperienced lads can look up to, follow and take instruction from.

Podge_irl · 04-06-2025 12:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123513790#Comment_123513790

I assume Crowley/Prendergast will get one start each, but in that scenario I would hope they would bring e.g. Jack Murphy or something as the third 10.

Paul Smeenus · 04-06-2025 12:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123513829#Comment_123513829

I really doubt that team would handily beat Georgia.

ionadnapóca · 04-06-2025 12:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123513989#Comment_123513989

I don't think it would be handily done either. What team would you pick?

Paul Smeenus · 04-06-2025 12:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123514002#Comment_123514002

Well, I meant it wouldn't win by 10-15.

How many of those players would be earning their first senior caps? Are there any established partnerships - or even players that know each other relatively well?

The front row, maybe, but I suspect that, against Georgia, that front row goes home in a bodybag.

Group selection for the RWC 2027 is in January next year - plunging down the rankings as a result of losing to Georgia will hurt, with only about four international games in 2025 after that.

I'll wait to see what squad's announced before I'd propose a team.

awec · 04-06-2025 02:03PM

Lol neither Henshaw nor Henderson selected in the end, I take it all back!

SaoPaulo41 · 04-06-2025 02:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123513829#Comment_123513829

Georgian pack would completely destroy that Irish pack, would be very messy

sydthebeat · 04-06-2025 02:13PM

Big honour for Craig Casey

SaoPaulo41 · 04-06-2025 02:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123513765#Comment_123513765

It's Georgia and Portugal you say almost dismissively, I think Georgia will beat us , they are a very very good team.

bingobango12 · 04-06-2025 02:20PM

Pretty happy with that. Henshaw gets a summer to rest while Gavin gets some experience on a tour. Glad to see no Henderson, penalty machine or else injured the last few years.

Interesting to see academy 20 year old Stephen Smyth selected. Is Hodnett injured? Would have had him and then Penny ahead of Kendellen but all in all a good young squad.

aloooof · 04-06-2025 02:20PM

Delighted for Craig Casey, and well deserved:

The touring party will be led by Munster scrum-half Craig Casey who is set to become the 112th captain of Ireland since 1875.

Forwards (18):

Tom Ahern (Shannon/Munster)*
Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(27)
Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)(51)
Jack Boyle (UCD/Leinster)(2)
Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster)(6)
Gavin Coombes (Young Munster/Munster)(2)
Max Deegan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(2)
Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(1)
Alex Kendellen (UCC/Munster)*
Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)(4)
Paddy McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)*
Michael Milne (UCD/Munster)*
Darragh Murray (Buccaneers/Connacht)*
Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(16)
Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht)(4)
Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley/Leinster)*
Tom Stewart (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(2)
Nick Timoney (Banbridge/Ulster)(3)

Backs (14):

Shayne Bolton (Connacht)*
Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(captain)(18)
Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(24)
Nathan Doak (Banbridge/Ulster)*
Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(8)
Hugh Gavin (Galwegians/Connacht)*
Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(19)
Ben Murphy (Clontarf/Connacht)*
Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(10)
Jimmy O’Brien (Naas/Leinster)(8)
Tommy O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)*
Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(7)
Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(8)
Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster)(38)

Training Panellists:

James McNabney (City of Armagh/Ulster)*
Jude Postlethwaite (City of Armagh/Ulster)*
Zac Ward (Ballynahinch/Ulster)*

*denotes uncapped

KevinK · 04-06-2025 02:32PM

Excited to see that squad play

Do we look a little light at second row? Some great players nmaed that I am looking forward to see play but they all seem like lighter loosehead locks. That said if the decision was made to move on from Henderson I'm not sure who else could have been considered.

Great to see Casey as captain

S. Smyth maybe the most surprising inclusion. Hopefully he takes his chance. And not like there were many very obvious replacements.

Maybe surprising to McCloskey still involved but obviously they value his experience ina position with lots of potential new caps

Hodnett and Forder probably the most unlucky to lose out.

Quin_Dub · 04-06-2025 02:39PM

Kendellen ahead of Hodnett is unusual and probably the only real surprise. Both very good players , but I'd have Hodnett comfortably ahead at present.

aloooof · 04-06-2025 02:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123514484#Comment_123514484

Hodnett was brilliant on Saturday past, but I don't think he's had as impactful a season as he's had in previous years. You'd imagine Nick Timoney will get the nod at 7 given the selections. Kendellen maybe brings that extra bit of leadership in what is a comparatively young and inexperienced squad.

Paul Smeenus · 04-06-2025 02:49PM

Are there any heavier, strong-scrummaging TH second rows in the selection?

Izzy, Ahern, Baird - what side does Darragh Murray play?

ionadnapóca · 04-06-2025 02:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123514356#Comment_123514356

Maybe I am underestimating Georgia. I haven't seen them play since the RWC.

It's actually Portugal who I was more impressed with. I was thinking that would be the trickier game.

Neither team should beat Ireland all the same.

Even the uncapped players that might play v Georgia they are all established at provincial level.

Tom Ahern (Shannon/Munster)*
,Tommy O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)*, Alex Kendellen (UCC/Munster)*
Less so Hugh Gavin (Galwegians/Connacht) & Ben Murphy (Clontarf/Connacht). I would like to see Murphy come off the bench in both games and Gavin to start beside Osborne in 1 of the games.

RichieRich_89 · 04-06-2025 02:56PM

Notable non-inclusions:

Loosehead: Jeremy Loughman

Hooker: Rob Herring, Diarmuid Barron, Lee Barron, Dave Heffernan

Tighthead: Jack Aungier, Oliver Jager, Scott Wilson

Second row: Iain Henderson, Edwin Edogbo, Diarmuid Mangan, Fineen Wycherley, Evan O'Connell

Blindside: Alex

Openside: John Hodnett, Will Connors (inj.?), Scott Penny

No. 8: Sean Jansen, David McCann, Brian Gleeson, James Culhane

Scrumhalf: Conor Murray, Caolin Blade, Fintan Gunne, Matthew Devine, Ethan Coughlan

Outhalf: Ross Byrne, Harry Byrne, Jack Murphy

Left wing: Diarmuid Kilgallen, Finn Treacy

Inside centre: Robbie Henshaw, Cathal Forde, Charlie Tector

Outside centre: Thomas Farrell, Sean O'Brien, James Hume, Hugh Cooney

Right wing: Robert Baloucoune, Jordan Larmour

Fullback: Michael Lowry

Shoot, a feller could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff.

ionadnapóca · 04-06-2025 02:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123514348#Comment_123514348

Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)(51)
Jack Boyle (UCD/Leinster)(2)
Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster)(6)

Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)(4)
Paddy McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)*
Michael Milne (UCD/Munster)*

Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(16)

Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley/Leinster)*
Tom Stewart (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(2)

There is no combination in that front row that Georgia wouldn't destroy!

ionadnapóca · 04-06-2025 03:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123514542#Comment_123514542

I missed that Kilgallen didn't get selected. He was definitely worth a look at 11. Thought he looked very sharp v SHARKS

Podge_irl · 04-06-2025 03:17PM

Thought they would have brought Lee Barron over Smyth as a "reward" for moving to Munster. Though neither has played much.

Podge_irl · 04-06-2025 03:18PM

Also feel bad for Farrell on a personal level but its the right call.

Jump_In_Jack · 04-06-2025 03:20PM

Squad breakdown as I see it:

FORWARDS:
LHP: Jack Boyle, Michael Milne, Paddy McCarthy
HKR: Gus McCarthy, Tom Stewart, Stephen Smyth
THP: Finlay Bealham, Tom O’Toole, Thomas Clarkson
LHL: Ryan Baird, Tom Ahern
THL: Cormac Izuchukwu, Darragh Murray
BSF: Cian Prendergast, James McNabney
OSF: Nick Timoney, Alex Kendellen
NO8: Max Deegan, Gavin Coombes

BACKS:
SH: Craig Casey, Nathan Doak, Ben Murphy
OH: Jack Crowley, Sam Prendergast, Ciarán Frawley
LW: Jacob Stockdale, Shayne Bolton, Zac Ward
IC: Stuart McCloskey, Hugh Gavin
OC: Jamie Osborne, Jude Postlethwaite
RW: Calvin Nash, Tommy O’Brien
FB: Jimmy O’Brien

Out of the above squad, in my opinion, the best possible 23:

FR: Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Finlay Bealham
SR: Ryan Baird, Cormac Izuchukwu
BR: Cian Prendergast, Max Deegan, Nick Timoney
HB: Craig Casey, Jack Crowley
CE: Stuart McCloskey, Jamie Osborne
B3: Jacob Stockdale, Jimmy O’Brien, Calvin Nash

Bench: Tom Stewart, Michael Milne, Tom O’Toole, Tom Ahern, Gavin Coombes, Nathan Doak, Ciarán Frawley, Shayne Bolton.

bingobango12 · 04-06-2025 03:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123514591#Comment_123514591

Missed that myself. Thought he would be travelling for sure. Copped no Tom Farrell either but I suppose at nearly 32, it doesn't make much sense to give somebody their first cap now.

Paul Smeenus · 04-06-2025 03:24PM

Agree with that team bar having Nathan Doak ahead of Ben Murphy. And possibly Deegan ahead of Coombes.

shimmieandshake · 04-06-2025 03:27PM

I'm torn here. Would like Big Stu's experience, and he deserves to get more caps, but I think Osbourne/Gavin at 12/13 is a stronger bet moving forward.

Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

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