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.
We have some promising prospects available, but Farrell will have to be willing to potentially give up some of Lowe, and Hansen's, playmaking. He's still picking Aki, despite him looking like he's doing a Ross Byrne tribute trying to turn and chase in defense.
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.
That's the real problem with moving on from those two on the wings, both come in field very comfortably and add another dimension to our game. It's not something that a lot of other wingers in the picture have and likely means we will change the way we play over the next few years.
He has at least dropped the absolutely mediocre Henshaw.
He's never going to jettison both Henshaw and Aki in one go in a game against NZ, and I think the right player has lost his spot here.
I'd take Aki too, but I question the purpose of having him on the bench. McCloskey isn't a player who needs subbing off, and Aki is only good at 12. Not a fan of it at all.
I've always said Farrell's love of having a player who can only play centre at 23 is nonsensical but it is what it is.
Why? Stockdale has been playing very well lately.
Not to mention a centre who really only plays at 12.
Crowley to cover 15, Osborne 14 & 11, Aki for 13 & 12.
The issue isn't Aki per se, its the fact that both other replacements in the backs also only cover 1 position.
That can be the attraction of benching Crowley, he can play 10, 12 and 15. Allows Farrell to pick a centre then in 23 shirt.
For a long time I thought it was simply a feature of we didn't have a lot of high quality options in the back three, and he rated all three of Henshaw, Aki and Ringrose really highly so wanted them all in the 23, but increasingly it kind of baffles me too.
To have two guys there, McCloskey and Aki, who both really only play 1 position is nonsensical to me. Any injury in the backs (except to McCloskey) will require a big rejig of positions in any scenario.
Yea but in all these scenarios, an injury to any back 3 player means we have to change our 10.
This is nonsense IMO.
And to be frank and not wanting to start an argument, it means bringing on a 10 who IMO is really not in a great place right now. I want to see Crowley at 10 for the overwhelming majority of this game.
I don't think Aki has 13 in the tank any more to be honest either, but at least that change wouldn't require a lot of messing about.
I agree with you on all of this. I'm just trying to rationalise why Farrell chose Aki in the 23 shirt.
Aki can really only play 12 now, his loss of pace would make him a target in the 13 channel. But I can't see Stu moving to 13 so that will be a straight swap if it happens.
And yes, moving our 10 around in thte vent of injury to accommodate this selection is a balls.
My only other thought is that there isn't really any Irish outside back in great form currently bar Tom Farrell. Who is uncapped and plays 1 position just like Aki. So not the solution either.
Lowe is significantly better. Do you not think so?
No, I think he’s living off past glories at the moment. Current form I’d say you could put Tom Ahern on the wing and he’d do a better job at the moment.
I don't understand why JOB has suddenly fallen out of favor. He has been quite good in a **** Leinster team this year, and has always performed well in green. Lowry would also be a great option, who should've made the squad
He always delivers for Ireland. Very important part of the team.
I'm only going on what I saw in the Leinster v Munster game a few weeks back and JOB looked very ordinary that night. Worse still, James Lowe was worse than ordinary.
Haven't seen Ulster play yet this season so can't comment on Lowry. But he does fit the bill for the 23 shirt through versatility alone.
I hope I'm wrong but I won't be shocked if he doesn't have a great game for us on Saturday
JOB is the best 15 option left available
Osborne is the best 12 option available
Leinsters more than questionable selection choices have ruined those options.
Brilliant as Lowry is he’s not left footed and a bit taller….if you know what I mean?
He doesn’t always have to be great. He’s a playmaker and vital because Hansen isn’t playing.
JOB is a decent player but versatility aside, he’s not a fraction of the player that Aki is, even at his advanced age. A reshuffled backline featuring Aki is better than an unreshuffled one with JOB in it.
If the guy in the 23 jersey is the biggest complaint people have, then I’ll call that a win.
Don't agree with that at all, especially as it pertains to a 23 bench
Not denying that Lowe was terrible on the Lions tour and has been poor so far this season. But saying he's living off past glories, while making a case for Jacob Stockdale of all people, who has been living off past glories for the past 7 years is quite funny.
It’s not funny, Stockdale has shown some spark lately, Lowe hasn’t, it’s a simple observation.
Stockdale hasn't been living off past glories at all, quite the opposite in fact. He was dropped like a stone by Ireland for being poor despite his past glories.
He is one of the very few players who has actually been moved off a central contract back to a provincial one, the majority of centrally contracted guys seem immune to this sort of treatment.
He is only now beginning to find his previous form again.
Said spark being 0 tries this season and a grand total of 5 last season
Have you seen him play lately? If not then what point are you even making?
Stockdale hasn't been living off past glories at all
He quite literally is. If it weren't for the incredible heights he hit in his early career, there would be zero calls for him to be starting for Ireland today.
He is one of the very few players who has actually been moved off a central contract
Because he rightly lost his place as a starter. I fail to see the injustice here.
With respect, I've heard this line so many times over the last 6/7 years about Stockdale. But he's never shown form on a consistent basis and the chances he's got with Ireland, he's failed to take.
Stockdale (much like H Byrne) seems to have one massive brain fart in him per game. Fine at club level but not at international as that tends to be what loses you the game.
Lowe was very good against Stormers and less impressive against Munster as was everyone in blue. He wasn’t at his best for the Lions in the summer but created a try for Beirne in the test series with a lovely bit of handling. A lot of the criticism of him came from the British media who wanted Kinghorn in. Put it another way, take Lowe out of that backline and where’s the game breaking spark coming from?
Literally the last three caps Stockdale has had for Ireland, he has left the field with an injury and been subsequently unavailable. Cool for you if you think that's him "not taking his chance", but a lot of people might disagree.
