Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

That doesn’t matter, they’ve had a summer off, that’s plenty of rest time. Also most of these older players played at least okay so I don’t really see the validity of the argument.

VDF and Furlong each played at least okay, again I don’t see the logic here.

Baird was probably our best player and 1 of the few players who had a decent game. Well, that’s what happens when you are conservative and don’t have the cajones to let a “legend” of the game go at the right time.

Could at least get the age of the players right.

Ringrose is only 30 years old, Aki it’s obvious in Osborne once they stop trying to turn him into a 15. Winger is less obvious but short term it’s likely someone like Stockdale.

He probably didn’t watch it, from reading it feels like another poster who just love regurgitating what the media thinks.

His kicking from hand is tragic 

I mean, literally his previous game before this (Leinster), which went a long way towards forcing his selection for this game, his kicking from hand was excellent.

It didn't go well for him here, but that doesn't mean his kicking from hand is "tragic".

"Created absolutely nothing" isn't completely accurate either. In the lead up to our try, he did really well, going blindside and offloading to Sheehan for huge inroads, from which Ireland get a penalty, which he kicks to 5m, and we score our try off the resulting lineout.

One of only 3 offloads all day fwiw. And the linebreak stat has been updated to 2 (vs NZ's 6, for example, off more carries).

It's also way more difficult to manufacture a linebreak when your carriers aren't punching holes and commiting defenders as effectively as the opposition (Ireland's post-contact metres were less than half of NZ's 157, vs 320).

That's all part of the context. It was definitely an issue but it can't all be pinned on Crowley.

We do know it because we saw it with our own two eyes, which was a large reason we won the 6N that year and drew the series in SA.

Well reading the comments here and the media it appears that there’s more interest in scape goating players and making excuses for them to continue under performing than actually fixing the problems at source. It’s worrying really as I’ve seen us go down this path before and it isn’t pretty.

So you are happy with the number 13 position?

I never mentioned the lineout. You said 'we don't need replacements in either position' So I will ask again. Are you happy with the present incumbent of the number 13 Jersey?

MOD EDIT

The over criticism of Crowley when he plays ok (not brilliant) is also beyond ridiculous if you ask me. Sure, he made a few errors and tried things that perhaps weren't on, but many players were sub par on Saturday and even the great Beauden Barrett fluffed a few kicks, one particularly badly (the dimensions of the pitch didn't help the kickers IMO).

I'm guessing it's a push back to SP's dropping and the way he is lambasted from left right and centre for every small misdemeanour, which I don't agree with either. His form I believe is suffering at the moment because of it. Must we hammer these two young 10's every time they make mistakes until they're both devoid of any confidence?

There have been some comments on Crowley that to me crossed the line into nonsense, but that's largely the same on most topics here.

Most of the criticism of him has been justifiably fair IMO; he had a poor game on Saturday. He wasn't on his own, absolutely, but he was poor. I'm not saying he should be dropped (and don't think I've seen any other posts saying he should), but he certainly didn't bring his form from Croke Park with him.

Selection for next game will be interesting, does he pick mainly the same side, injuries aside, and say to them, go win, improve and be ready for last two tougher tests, seems to have been Farrells MO in previous years. what good does resting an underbaked starting 15 do. Changing 10 again will only cause more moaning when it comes to SA game as to who should start, he said he's picked on form, that doesnt change losing to the AB's.

I think we'll see a second-string side, most of those who started in Chicago will drop to the bench or out completely. A long flight followed by a short turnaround isn't great player welfare. Maybe something like (assuming Beirne is out):

McCarthy Kelleher Bealham

Ryan Izuchukwu

Ahern Doris Timoney

Casey Prendergast

Stockdale Aki/Henshaw Osborne TOB

JOB

I really hope we see Osborne in the centre, and hope we don't see Henshaw at 13. I think/hope he still has a lot to offer, but only at 12.

Izzy is injured. Don't think he travelled, even.

No. Fix the lineout, which has been garbage for years, and actually work on protecting our ruck ball.

1 poor performance at 13 from a player that’s normally very consistent is far from our biggest worry rn.

No team creates anything if their set piece isn’t up to snuff and the forwards aren’t working their ass off.

I don’t think that’s really good enough, you have 4 test lions starters in that tight five, they should be able to do a good job without Beirne there. Giving them a free pass is part of my concern that we are beginning to just accept mediocrity and these players not playing at their best.

Porter is only 29, his best days are not “behind him” and Furlong actually had a good game, not great but good, so don’t see the issue there. Bealham and Henderson need to be moved on, this is where Farrell needs to be ruthless, allowing them to continue is part of what allows mediocrity to continue in this side.

When POC was interviewed he never mentioned Ahern when he was discussing the 6 options which makes me think they seen him as a SR.