Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

If all the possible explanations for Coombes not being picked are rubbished, but the reality on the ground is that he's not being picked, despite all his call-ups to the squads over the last four years, then what is the explanation?

And again, the comparisons to Doris and even Conan are completely pointless, the issue for Coombes is that he's always behind Baird, Timoney, Prendergast and now Izuchukwu as the next cab off the rank in the back row. Possibly even Gleeson now.

So, why is that?

I think the issue Coombes has is that he is unfortunately probably third best 8 in the country. He is a very good player and would start in a lot of other eras, but Doris is pretty much globally recognised as one of top three number 8s in the world. Conan has huge credit in the bank, never lets Ireland down and (in my opinion) is a better player. I have said it a few times so don't want to repeat myself but it's unlikely Farrell chooses three numbers 8s in a squad.

Now if he is looked at as a second row/6 hybrid I think that is where he can feel hard done by in relation to this squad. Henderson offers absolutely nothing anymore and hasn't for years. Prendergast and Timoney, while good players, appear in most Irish squads but rarely see game time. I think there is definitely a pretty strong case that he should have been named ahead of Henderson, or maybe Predergast/Timoney so the coaching team can get another look.

Your "Tom Farrell / hit by a bus" comment hasn't made you re-consider your "next cab off the rank" logic?

Forgot about that game. Either way I'm still a bit suspect as to why he hasn't been involved more. It can't be down to club form anyway. As another poster rightly said, he's been Munster's most important player other than Tadhg Beirne for the last 3-4 seasons.

I'm not sure about this appraisal of his attributes. The pre-contact footwork? Coombes often leads Munster's stats in post contact meters and gain line successes. How he achieves it is irrelevant. As for pace and acceleration, maybe but I can't recall that ever being an issue in his club career so far. His tackle count is often in the top 2-3 players and he is a decent tunrover threat too. He's getting around the park.

Coombes is just a different type of player to Doris and Conan. Perhaps slower, but more effective in the tight carrying situations and very skilled at scoring from close range. He has raw strength and power that others do not. Others have a yard of pace on him. Hence why I keep bringing up why not use him on the bench, he offers something different to try an change a game. I'm not for a second saying he should be picked ahead of Doris. We will have a 35 year old Jack Conan going to RWC 2027. Jack Conan who does everything the same as Caelan Doris, but just not quite to the same high level. Why not bring a 29 year old Coombes, who is very effective at other elements of the game and a proven try scorer.

As for the tighthead lock comment, perhaps this may have been an avenue for him. But again he has played there in URC games during Munster's many injury crises. Again, why not pick him on the bench? He's primarily a 6/8 but can do a job a lock if required.

I don't actually, Doris will most likely be captain. But who will be the backup number 6/8? Conan is most likely going to be relegated to cameo appearances off the bench for the next 2 seasons in Leinster's most important games. All the while why father time ticks on by.

I think 35 is not an outrageous age for a bench player and if he's still doing the business, we should pick him.

After that, I guess it's Prendergast but I would hope that some young guy will come through, Gleeson maybe, or one of the young Ulster guys. Soroka looks a prospect also.

I'm far more worried about open-side, I think Conan is aging better than VDF to be honest and we have limited options to replace.

I'm fairly sure when Gleeson is rehabbed from his injury that he will either be in a back row with Coombes or in the no.20 shirt for Munster's CC games. He hasn't displaced Coombes yet from the Munster no.8 shirt. It most likely will happen but hasn't happened yet.

35 is not outrageous but we're in serious danger or going back down the same avenues again as we've done since time immemorial. Brining aged players to a WC because they have credit in the bank and expecting them to work miracles. While younger players who have shown great form for their provinces stay at home playing URC.

There were plenty of posters on here who thought a 35 year old POM was too old to be in the 6N squad for the tournament just gone. He had plenty of credit in the bank too and was a former Lions captain. And he blocked the selection of Ryan Baird. Which is it?

Izuchukwu who mostly plays as a lock for Ulster and never plays no.8? Soroka who has 11 senior appearances for Leinster?