Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

I’m a fan of Cian Prendergast, but I think he fits the no.6 spot in a similar fashion to POM ie good lineout option and busy player but I don’t think he is in the same class as a carrier as Coombes or able to finish against the physicality that the ABs will bring. If we need a replacement for Doris mid game I’d be a lot happier seeing Coombes coming onto the pitch. Not sure if AF would take that step now though.

For sure, I'm just not sure he can do it to as high a standard across all positions. But he gets pulled around so much it's hard to gauge with him. Not sure I like him on the wing and 15.

Don't you mean corrections forced on him by circumstances!? (I.e. injury to his favoured & woefully out of form Henshaw for instance!?)

what is the story with Hugo K. Any idea when he will be back?

Also Ireland are handicapped as they are the only side in World Rugby who aren’t allowed players over 30 it seems! How many of those 25 year olds have actually got enough time or chances though?

Den Kelly has been tearing up trees for Munster at centre. At the moment I'd have him above

Osbourne in ability and pace. I've see Osbourne throw a few dud passes for green and blue.

Kelly is a big leader in the team and instantly improves defense. Seems to link up well with Crowley / Farrell too which is a bonus.

JGP is having more and more dud performances. Since the last 6Ns he is starting to look a bit lost, plus he doesn't really pair up well with Crowley.

I know Andy is a big fan of cohesion, so a possible combination of Casey, Crowley, Dan Kelly and Tom Farrell would probably have more playmakers that the current lot. I don't really see Ringrose or Henshaw as playmakers.

JGP is having more and more dud performances. Since the last 6Ns he is starting to look a bit lost, plus he doesn't really pair up well with Crowley.

Munster fans love to bring up that we won a 6N with Crowley at 10 as justification for why Crowley should start (which is fine). But Crowley’s halfback partner for that 6N was JGP. So by their own logic shouldn’t that mean JGP and Crowley do pair up well? Not sure what the evidence is that they don’t pair up well is. That being said, JGP has been off form and I’d like to see Casey get a start or two against a tier 1 team.

It's a pity it's NZ up first and not Japan, ideally you'd want the players that played poorly the other night to get a game together at national level to iron out kinks.

I'd back Farrell to get a performance out of them but if they don't it could make for a long AIs

I haven't seen him play yet myself, but by all accounts Nathan Doak is playing really great stuff with Ulster this season, who are in fine form also.

JGP is 33 and will be 34 later this season. He's in the age range where his performances could become unreliable and then decline. I don't think you can really bet on him being back to his best form again.

True. He did win POTM award on Saturday. Parent as opposed to player. But Nathan has been playing well.

Luke plays an important leadership role when the Irish & Lions are over lapping which given the vaccum left over those 12-14 weeks each season it’s a significant impact. I think Gunne gets more and more time as his talent is becoming more obvious each appearance. The downside of so much national representation is clear, the upside is the next generation get good game time. This season feels more vulnerable as the losses are up front, but I remain optimistic

Agreed, but I also think age has some wiggle room. JGP is the age Sexton was when he won World Player of the Year. Probably, in part, because Sexton came relatively late to getting lots of minutes at the top level… but JGP did too.

On the other hand, someone like Henshaw might fade a bit earlier (like a Michael Owen, or Wayne Rooney) because they were already thrown into the rigours of top end sport in their teens. Similar theme in terms of how Beirne appears a fair bit younger than Henderson.

Still agree with people saying Casey is pushing JGP - happy to hear he's fit again, his form at the beginning of the season was excellent.