Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

VDF can’t have much complaints given how well Tom curry played.

it’d be different if Curry had a poor series.

Controversial opinion, I think Casey, before his injury, was playing better than JGP.

I don't think it's controversail at all tbh.

We know the levels JGP can get to, but I honestly think Casey could push him for the starting jersey this season, such is his level of improvement and performance over the last 12-18 months.

In any case, he needs to be getting 20-30 mins off the bench here, imo.

I think it could be a pretty frustrating game for Ireland this weekend with the returning Lions players being undercooked and Goodman's clunky attack. I don't think you can expect the players to make up the deficit of attacking smarts with Ringrose at 13 and van der Flier at openside. They'll probably be bashing it up ineffectively all game. I'd say NZ's defence will handle that all day.

Hopefully I'll be pleasantly surprised.

I wonder will Ahern make the XXIII. I think he'd be a good pick - as the bench lock, with Ryan and Henderson starting and Beirne at 6.

Am I the only one who thinks Farrell will start Prendergast at 10? He's shown that he's loyal to a fault and I don't think the Leinster/Munster game will be enough to change his opinion.

90/10 Crowley starts

Is there a separate Ireland A thread?

I can't see it.

here's the Spanish Squad

Yago Fernandez, a centre in that squad, played a few games for Terenure in AIL over the last couple of seasons.

if i had to put money on either of them starting itd be SP. I dont think he should but i can see it happening

I wouldn't be surprised, the unknowable is that Crowley has been playing very well which isn't something we'd have said at any stage last season, he played ok maybe, but not as much daylight as we've seen this season.

Completely agree. It’s never a black and white call although some people would like to portray it as that with regards the two of them.

Crowley wasn't playing particularly well last year but has been very good so far this year. Prendergast on the other hand looks like he’s having a bit of second season syndrome after some very good performances last year. I thought he deserved the shirt last year in the 6N but I’d definitely pick Crowley on current form. It could all be reversed come 6N time depending on how the next few months go but isn’t that what we want in every position on the pitch?!

I remember watching Crowley play at Franklin's Gardens in January and he was brilliant. He was the single reason why Munster stayed in that game (which they ultimately lost). So to me he had rediscovered his form just as the 6Ns came round again, but by then the die was cast.