Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

You’re on a roll the last few days, Richie.

Munster fans have been raving about Farrell for the last 12 months or more.

Watching Leinster there tonight unfortunately reminded me of watching Ireland in the 6N just gone. Getting held up over the line, making heroes of the opposition's defence and running down blind alleys into huge hits. It's worrying that it isn't changing and I fear a chastening AI series is coming up.

Leinster tonight had the lion's share of territory and possession, a dominant scrum, took their own lineout without much fuss and yet lost by 17 pts at home conceding a BP and registering no points themselves. Also went 74 mins without scoring before getting a late consolation try when the game was up.

If the alarm bells aren't ringing now when will they ever be? And yet the likes of Henshaw and Aki are picked for Ireland when wildly off form and the form player in the country with the past 12 monts, Tom Farrell, is left at home. This could get ugly quick.

I agree with you, he's not as athletic or dynamic as the modern day prototype backrow. But he's incredibly effective. I reckon Leinster would have liked to have had his skill set there tonight when they were camped 5m out on several occasions and came away with nothing.

He's the perfect squad player for Ireland, can play 4, 6 and 8 and yet is constantly overlooked. In fact the perfect WC player as he can slot into those positions to cover for injury, rest etc.

Also, have a look back at his carrying just before when JOD fumbled at a ruck 2m from the Leinster line. He just powers through a couple of guys twice in that phase. It's just something that so many can't do and such a weapon.

But Andy Farrell doesn't care about provincial pecking orders… right?

Whatever you think about Coombes, there's an obvious argument that with his form over the last 2 and a half seasons or so, he should have an awful lot more than the 3 solitary caps he has to his name…

McMillan, much like Lancaster at Connacht is on record as saying he was keen to give everyone in the building a far opportunity. They both have 2 starts and 2 sub appearances. And I'd go as far as saying Gleeson is one of the most exciting young prospects in the country right now, not just at back-row.

That's all part of the context too. So ya, glib indeed, I'd agree with you there at least.

The whole point of post was that it's too premature to assume that he has leapfrogged Coombes….

Which would include Wycherley ahead of Kleyn and Dan Kelly,ahead of Nankivell. Na, I don't buy it tbh. I think the best you could say is he picked on form. (And even then, I'd dispute Kelly ahead of Nankivell).

But it is a real shame Gleeson has broken his arm.

And to add to this, we also know that being camped on 5m line, and being held up over the line is something that Ireland have struggled with.

Add to this a change in style last season, where we kicked the ball more frequently, had fewer phases, fewer rucks, and suddenly he looks a far better fit than with the attacking shape we had under Mike Catt, for example.

I posted this back in April and my opinion hasn't changed substantially tbh:

The argument against Coombes for Ireland was that he wasn't quick enough or linked the play well enough to play Ireland's high-tempo, high number of ruck, possession-based game.

Ireland are now transitioning to a game, with fewer rucks, fewer phases, fewer passes per phases, where we kick earlier and more frequently. We've also looked under-powered at times culminating in being held up over the line a high number of times during the 6N. Couple this with POM retiring and Baird not really taking his chances, and Coombes has to start seeing more game time for Ireland, imo.

It'd be a mistake to continue to overlook him.

Farrell is a brilliant coach and motivator so we're hoping he can coax the best out of this squad again. Selection has always been one of his strong points too. He'll have them ready for Chicago.

But on the face of it, things aren't as good as they could be. A lot of Leinster players look quite unprepared for the start of the new season. Going into a test window off the back of one club game isn't ideal. Especially one where you were firmly second best technically and in the collisions.

Although it seems that the ref/TMO got the wrong player.

There is a thread on Reddit and a few not sure A I thought it was JOD. Whatever happened was cynical - whether Coombes or JOD but Ryan should have been (at least) penalized for a croc roll.