So you've an issue with the tone of the posts?
Do I need to point out the obvious here….
No, it's clearly not the tone of the posts - it's the continued suggestion that there is some sort of grand conspiracy that is keeping Jack Crowley out of the Irish shirt. The continued suggestion that there is bias at play in his non-selection. The continued suggestion that anyone who doesn't agree with this line of thinking or is in anyway critical of Crowley is "gaslighting" people or doesn't have "functioning eyes" etc.
Do you accept the fact that, regardless of your own views on the out half situation, that up to now, it would appear that the Irish coaching team rate Sam Prendergast more highly?
and, if you do accept that, do you believe that those are genuinely held beliefs of the coaches, or do you share the view that there must be some sort of bias at play?
Yeah I don't feel strongly about it, but you've a 26 year old guy who's never been more than average and who doesn't look to have blown the coaches away in the summer, versus a guy who's 22 and looks like he might (emphasis; might) be something special, it seems like we want Farrell to be doing the latter.
I don't disagree with you on the centres btw but tbh the next cab off the rank is Osborne who's already there. I am not quite as big on Gavin or Cooney as others.
I'd disagree with you there aloof, I actually think it could be a blessing in disguise. Force Farrell to try out some of the younger lads who are showing promise. I'd love to see Gavin backed against one of the SH teams, and given Porter's scrummaging issues, I wouldn't be overly worried if someone else came in.
Whatever about other posts, nothing in the post you took issue with suggests there was bias at play. It suggests a mistake was made:
More nonsense. It's amazing how Crowley is no longer of the required standard now that Prendergast is no longer seen as a dead cert going forward. I suppose it's easier to dismiss both players than for people to admit that a mistake was actually made. It's certainly eye opening though that people would so happily declare a fella who led Ireland to a 6 Nations in his debut season, including our largest ever away win in France, as not being international quality. How quick we are to throw players on the scrap heap. The same player also led his side to a league win down in South Africa after away wins in the quarter's and the semi's but sure he's clearly not up to par.
I think this is overly simplistic. I accept that they obviously thought Prendergast was a better fit for the new game plan they wanted to play, and /or thought he was in better form when they selected him last Autumn. That's a more nuanced position.
That position is also subject to change, btw.
I've said countless times at this point that no, I don't think Andy Farrell is biased.
But similarly, do you accept that cohesion / partnerships / systems / familiarity / continuity are a real thing when it comes to putting 15 rugby players on a pitch together, or a squad together? I do. And I think that sometimes is a consideration.
Yeah, I absolutely do. I don't doubt or deny that has probably been a factor in why marginal decisions around Irish selection will more often than not err in favour of the Leinster player at this moment.
I don't necessarily believe though that that would be the basis for selecting the primary playmaker in the side; more often that not (for me), that would be one of the very first names you jot down and you kind of fill in around that person.
I also don't think Prendergast had necessarily much more familiarity or cohesion really with the likes of JGP/Henshaw/Ringrose/Lowe when he initially broke through to the Irish squad; as he hadn't featured a huge amount for the Leinster first team at that time, and Crowley had had the benefit of being around those guys in Irish camp since late 2022.
I honestly don't know though.
I do agree, I don't think Andy Farrell or the coaches are biased in anyway.
I think both players are flawed in different ways, but think right now Prendergast's defensive flaws are far more glaring. If we had a RWC QF tomorrow, I think I would probably pick Jack Crowley for that game if I was selecting, but it's pretty marginal to me.
Like you've suggested, I would also like to see both play 2 tests each from the start this November.
And I wouldn't disagree with very much of that whatsoever, FTD. Happy days.
I think that's part of the reason why I expect Prendergast to get 3 starts here, keep the status quo. If that happens, hopefully Crowley will at least get some decent gametime from the bench, but that plan is always open to change in the case of cards, or injuries elsewhere.
Fwiw, having Crowley on the bench always gives us the option to go 6/2, so be interest to see if we go that way. We went with it vs France in the 6 Nations, but the less said about that game the better….
I think this is viable and the IRFU should try and help get him to Connacht.
A few weeks ago I tuned in to watch Bordeaux v Lyon with interest; but no Carbery.
Bordeux have a young 19 year old outhalf, Joseph Laharrague (son of Julein), who they are getting minutes into.
Lancaster has good history with him and he might be convinced to come back for a reasonable amount.
https://www.the42.ie/stuart-lancaster-joey-carbery-leinster-3707133-Nov2017/
https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2018/0507/960801-lancaster-carbery-should-stick-with-leinster/
I stand over my assessment that Farrell wrongly "ditched" Carbery for the 2023 6N. The future was not Ross Byrne.
It should have been Sexton, Crowley and Carbery going to the World Cup.
edit: And Im certain the future is not Frawley either
Grass is always greener…..
Carberry has been nothing more than 'grand' during his time at bordeaux. He benches as often as he starts, and hes covered 15 on a number of occasions.
Bordeaux have already gone out and secured the servies of Hugo Reus (the ex LAR / Monty 21 yo outhalf) for next season.
So with Jalibert and Reus, and probably Laharrague given a pro contract, its hard to see Carberry been granted an extension at OuuhBayBay
For him to come back to ireland to either ulster or connacht he'd have to take a pay cut. At 29 hes no where near over the hill and woudl be attractive to French teams as a utility back.
Id love to see him at Connacht, but it would be in place of Jack Carty and not Josh Ioane i would imagine. Ioane is signed on to the end of the 2026/27 season. Carty on the other hand was only given a one year extension this summer to cover this season.
Ross Byrne playing well for Gloucster, makes a mockery of him not allowed to be picked
Ross Byrne wasn't getting picked for Ireland when he was starting Champions Cup finals for Leinster.
Give over.
Still playing week in week our for a Prem Team
Marmion playing 80 mins for Bristol, hes a better option than Blade
Hansen looks very unhappy after scoring in the last minute against Bulls. Might well be out for some or all of Nov…
Blade is still Connaught best 9 and deserves his place on the Irish panel
Tough end for Connaught but does highlight the importance of the kicking game which Sam beats every other 10 on by a distance
Hansen might have gotten injured scoring a try in the last minute for Connacht.
Looked devastated going off.
Connacht
Mod Edit
Warning issued.
looked like a bad knee injury hopefully not
Gone off on the cart. Not good.
This should not be difficult, it's on their Website, their jerseys, their fixtures, etc. It's Connacht
my bad sorry auto correct on steroids
If that's a bad injury to Hansen I think we're looking at Tommy O'Brien starting against the All Blacks now. Stockdale and Lowe play at 11 rather than 14.
Real shame as Hansen was awesome at key times and gave Connacht the opportunity to win the game
I have faith in the guy, but talk about a massive leap up. Ruins any possibility of anyone other than Osborne at 15 now you'd think.
Yeah Hansen was looking sharp so would have been a nice option at 15. Osborne nailed on now, TOB probably the big winner if Hansen is out.
Jimmy O’Brien applying for his ESTA as we speak
O certainly would be calling for a guy with 120mintues of urc rugby to be included if he moved south....get over yourself.
Milne averaged 39mins in blue over the past 2 seasons, he has averaged 68mins since moving south and yet to play into double figures.
Fair enough if leinster deemed him surplus to requirement but please don't put paddy mc up on a pedestal based on what he played to date
The truth of the matter is the third choice loosehead is going to be a weak position no matter who is picked. McCarthy coming up behind him almost certainly was a contributory factor to Milne leaving, but neither are who you'd really want to be relying on.
McCarthy has about 250 mins of URC rugby to date, or am I misunderstanding your point?
Not to speak for 50HX, but I think his point is that this…
Interestingly I don't remember many calls outside leinster for Milne to be included before now… although I'm sure it would be the same for Mccarthy if it was him that had moved south.
… is a bullsh*t argument.
120mins this season.
I was replying back to some nonsense that if milne & p mc were switched the call would be that the player down south should have been picked.
