Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

I like the look of both Bolton and Kilgallen, the latter seems to struggle to stay fit though.

I was at Belvo v Hinch a few weeks back with Baloucoune playing and he didn't stand out in any way. It was his first game back from injury as the caveat but bar physically looking like a pro player, he didn't play like it, granted he did score a hat trick against the Lions last week so probably needed a game or two in his legs. Another one that struggles to stay fit. If he can stay fit he is an option for sure.

We were lacking in game time but I don’t know if that was the reason for the no show, because even against Australia at the end and the Leinster players who played for Ireland against Clermont in December were still making the same mistakes they made versus NZL.

We were far from perfect come the Aus game, but the NZ was particularly notable for the sheer amount of errors; handling errors, penalty count, missed tackles, turnovers conceded, scrum and lineout issues. I'd go as far as saying it was our poorest performance in years.

NZ have named their side:

(15-9,1-8):

Will Jordan, Leroy Carter, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Cam Roigard, Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Fabian Holland, Simon Parker, Ardie Savea, Peter Lakai

Reps: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Tamaiti Williams, Pasilio Tosi, Josh Lord, Wallace Sititi, Cortez Ratima, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Damian McKenzie

If anything demonstrates the nonsense set up of the Champions Cup these days, it is this.

By this point of the season, irrespective of Lion's Tours, Ireland Summer Tours, development tours or anything else, senior players would have played at least two rounds of pool stage Heineken Cup games by now, as well as at least one major derby.

That the Ireland Men's squad are going into this game colder than a butcher's freezer has a lot to do with that.

As a Leinster fan, even I wouldn't have picked that many of our players to start against New Zealand. As a squad and as individuals, we are in shocking order.

If Joe Schmidt said to Rob Kearney 9 years ago 'you need a good one this week Robbie', I'd be saying the same thing tonight to Ryan Baird, Van der Flier, Gibson-Park, Ringrose, Furlong and a few others.

These two week in the U.S. had better have been spent pulling up trees and looking some unpleasant truths square in the eye, because if they haven't, we're gonna get pasted.

It's pretty close to our strongest side I think. Of the injured players (Tyrel Lomax, Tupou Vaa’i, Noah Hotham, Emoni Narawa, Ollie Norris, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Asafo Aumua, Stephen Perofeta, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Patrick Tuipulotu) only Lomax and Vaa'i are probably First XV.

Good luck to Irish fans - I watch more soccer than rugby these days, but will watch this game. Probably delayed coverage as there doesn't seem to be a lot of viewing options. I have no real idea about the Irish team form anymore, will see how the game unfolds.

12 from Leinster starting - only 2 from Munster ?

Completely agree on Baloucoune. Injuries have prevented him from showing Farrell how wrong he was.
He has time yet.

I would still pick Hansen myself and Lowe.

What am I missing about Lowe? He seems to be getting a bit of grief from fans. Like there is no way Stockdale should be starting.

I thought our QF performance against NZ was first rate, albeit crushingly disappointing, but even then Lowe’s lack of pace against the very best was exposed and things haven’t improved since. In that regard it’s better to face NZ than SA first so we can assess how best to cope with our slow back line.

ok. Yes he’s not in the side for pace but fair question.
2 years time is not a reason to drop him now in fairness. Not like he’s blocking an outstanding candidate.
Maybe Hansen ends up there and it’s whoever is standing from O’Brien, Baloucone, Nash, Kilgallen, Larmour, Bolton …for 14 come the World Cup.