Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

CalmaftertheGav · 15-06-2025 12:36PM

Also seeing Clarkson’s performance the last two weeks combined with Boyle & Milne’s the last month or so makes me more optimistic that against Georgia we’ll have a good chance of getting at least parity at scrum time, not all the time as the Georgian’s can scrum but enough that we don’t get pulverised!

eagle eye · 15-06-2025 04:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123544231#Comment_123544231

What position is he going to play moving forward? Like he's always been known as a lock who can step into the back row when needed.

Will he keep starting for Leinster in the back row when Doris is fit?

jacothelad · 15-06-2025 05:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123544231#Comment_123544231

He also gave a very impressive interview as POTM. He avoided all the usual gobbledygook and seemed to speak mindfully and with thought and care.

Podge_irl · 15-06-2025 05:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123546576#Comment_123546576

He is 100% known as a 6 who can step into lock if needs be.

That would be why he started 2/10 games at lock this year, 1/18 last year and 3/13 the year before.

Dave_The_Sheep · 15-06-2025 06:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123546654#Comment_123546654

Actual facts aren't really that important though, are they?

eagle eye · 15-06-2025 06:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123546654#Comment_123546654

He always played lock until McCarthy came along.

First player up for the senior squad on the Leinster website. Guess what his position.

Screenshot_2025-06-15-18-27-44-615_com.android.chrome.jpg

AbusesToilets · 15-06-2025 06:34PM

This thread was really missing another bout of EE denying reality in the face of facts.

Podge_irl · 15-06-2025 06:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123546840#Comment_123546840

McCarthy has been around for 4 years at this point which is the majority of Baird's professional career so it's fairly irrelevant. The man is a 6, whatever some web admin of the Leinster Rugby website put down (they also have Doris as a flanker to show how reliable it is). He has 60% of his starts there, and over 80% in the last 3 years. He was an underage lock who transitioned full time to a backrow professionally but can cover second row in an emergency if needs be - that is how pretty much everyone sees him.

ersatz · 15-06-2025 07:20PM

Whatever about the Lions, the Summer Tour is going to be fascinating. Hoping for a few new caps and players getting deeper into the mix. I'd love to see Kendellen, Bolton and TOB in green.

Podge_irl · 15-06-2025 07:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123546996#Comment_123546996

Yeah, can't wait. The Portugal game is going to be a bit of a damp squib I think, but the Georgia game is a proper challenge.

Kendellan isn't in the squad is he? I think he's basically been jumped by TOB which I couldn't argue against given the last 2 months. Though TOB will probably fall apart before the tour somehow. He brings something completely different in terms of pure pace though. Him and Bolton could be a great pairing.

50HX · 15-06-2025 07:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123547005#Comment_123547005

Kendellan is picked.

Not only does TOB bring real gas he also has a great physical side to his game.

He made the first try yesterday.

There is dog in him which v few irish wingers have naturally.

Kilgallen is another with gas & fight in him..hope he gets a full season nxt year so we can have a proper look.

irelandrover · 15-06-2025 07:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123547005#Comment_123547005

How would TOB jump ahead of kendellan? Isn't that two entirely different positions?

ersatz · 15-06-2025 07:31PM

It will be such a epic game for Portugal, that will make an occasion. Those lads will have been thinking about this game since it was announced, getting a cut at one of the top teams at home, etc. Any kind of tight game will be a big win for them.

Podge_irl · 15-06-2025 07:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123547028#Comment_123547028

I was mixing up Kendellan and Kilgallen like a fool

eagle eye · 15-06-2025 07:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123546864#Comment_123546864

He's known as a lock everywhere. Find me one respectable location where he's down as a back row and only a back row player.

Edit to add: From the Irish rugby.ie site, the summer tour squad.

Screenshot_2025-06-15-20-02-32-076_com.android.chrome.jpg

sydthebeat · 15-06-2025 08:05PM

Some people never learn.

salmocab · 15-06-2025 08:13PM

if it looks like a duck

Quacks like a duck

But has albatross written under it on the internet, then it’s……

eagle eye · 15-06-2025 08:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123547159#Comment_123547159

Where do you think he's going to play on the summer tour?

I'd be very confident he starts in the second row with Izuchukwu.

salmocab · 15-06-2025 08:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123547191#Comment_123547191

he might do covering while the second rows are in Australia

aloooof · 15-06-2025 11:06PM

I suspect there's little point, but just gonna leave this here…..

Occupied positions by Ryan on start team :

Back Row : 40 times ( Blindside Flanker 60% )
Lock : 27 times ( Lock #4 22%, Lock #5 18% )

For me, the big area Baird needs to improve is his tackling. He has all the attritubes you could want from an athletic 6 but he seems on occasion to get caught defensively imo.

It's an interesting one cos it's probably one of the most open positions post-POM's retirement, and Baird has generally been next cab of the rank but there are a few guys who will think they can put their hands up for the spot.

sydthebeat · 15-06-2025 11:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123547191#Comment_123547191

Erh...

Theres only one tight head lock traveling, so no, the second row combo will NOT be Izzy and baird.

eagle eye · 15-06-2025 11:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123547756#Comment_123547756

Baird has played both for Leinster.

sydthebeat · 16-06-2025 12:00AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123547815#Comment_123547815

Three years ago was his last appearance as tight head lock for any team at 5.

Since then he's started 4 times for Ireland at 6 and once at 4

Claiming that's his position "moving forward" is starching the elastic to a ridiculous length. But ridiculousness is par for the course with your claims, Pollock as an 8 and Izzy as a lock "going forward" was ridiculous pigeon holing and this is more.

Have you zero concept of a hybrid player?

eagle eye · 16-06-2025 12:12AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123547876#Comment_123547876

Izzy has only played lock since I said that. Pollock played 8 a number of times this year. If they are playing the position it's not pigeon holing.

Izzy will play lock for the rest of his career. Pollock will play 8 many times over the rest of his career.

As regards Baird, I asked the question where is he going to play moving forward. I was told that he's a back rower but in the eyes of the people at Leinster and Ireland, and everywhere except boards.ie, he's considered a lock.

I never said there's no chance that he moved permanently to the back row but I'm not sure it'll happen.

I'm quite confident in my belief that he'll play lock on the summer tour.

But of course if he does you guys will come up with some excuse to say you are right regardless.

Of course I know what a hybrid player is but there's always one position that coaches see as that players primary position and I believe that's lock for Baird.

sydthebeat · 16-06-2025 12:17AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123547898#Comment_123547898

If they are playing the position it's not pigeon holing.

If you say their position is x and not y then that is exactly pigeon holing them, and you've done it 3 times now....... despite the eternal facepalm moment that these are.

Why you even begin the arguments is beyond me to be honest because they are so easily debunked.

I'll ask you again, do you believe hybrid players exist?

Akrasia · 16-06-2025 12:20AM

If Baird is ahead of Coombes that is a symptom of the absolute hole Irish rugby is in right now

sydthebeat · 16-06-2025 12:20AM

Ps, what jersey did Izzy wear in his last two game of the season??

..... When Henderson was fit again....

eagle eye · 16-06-2025 12:33AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123547905#Comment_123547905

Izzy is a lock and he'll play there for the rest of his career. He played second row a bit as cover for injuries because he wasn't starting in the second row at the time.

Do you disagree with that?

I believe Pollock is going to play 8 for Northampton. He did a great job there and I don't see anybody better than him there to play the position.

We already had this discussion. You seem to think that Callum Chick is being signed to start at 8 for Northampton, I think he's signing as depth.

sydthebeat · 16-06-2025 12:49AM

He played second row a bit as cover for injuries because he wasn't starting in the second row at the time

?? Zero sense to that??

Do I think Izzy will only play second row for the rest of his career, absolutely not. Will he end up his career in the row, probably because it's a less athletic position than back row. Is he currently a better lock than back row? Absolutely not, he has the athleticism and the physique to be a top class 6. Has he played second row for Ulster this season as cover, absolutely. When Henderson is fit, Izzy plays in the back row.

Will he play in the row this summer for Ireland, most likely... As our starting first choice locks are away with the lions. Does that pigeon hole him into being a lock for Ireland, absolutely not

aloooof · 16-06-2025 01:04AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123547927#Comment_123547927

Izzy is a lock and he'll play there for the rest of his career. He played second row a bit as cover for injuries

And Baird will play 2nd row this Summer as cover because we have 3 locks on Lions duty. But you seem to want to use this as evidence he's primarily a lock…? Bit contradictory, no?

Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

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