Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

He has been in the vast majority of squads going back four years. He's had plenty of look-ins. After that, it's on him.

Which entirely overlooks Andy Farrell's role in the selection of the team…..

I very clearly meant "it's on him to make the most of his opportunities in camp and it appears he has not done so to date".

Even if you are convinced that Farrell only picks based on "cohesion" and "systems", does that not beg the question why Coombes can't learn the "systems" and become "cohesive" after four years of trying?

But I haven't said Farrell only picks based on "cohesion" and "systems". I have consistently said I think it's a factor.

Note: Not "bias". Not "only".

A, singular, factor.

And like I've also said previously, even if we grant you that Coombes isn't doing it in training, I think it would be a mistake for Farrell to judge solely on training, as there isn't anywhere near as much contact in training as there is in matches.

Equally, you're painting the picture that non-selection is evidence Coombes "can't learn the systems" while overlooking that it's also evidence of Farrell's conservatism. I can repeat my stat - 40 minutes to non-incumbents in 19 Tier 1 games prior to the RWC.

It indeed, also overlooks the role of injury here. Some players need an opportunity with injury to competitors before being able to prove their worth when getting an opportunity. Would you go as far as saying McCloskey "can't learn the systems"? It'd be the exact same argument prior to him getting opportunites. It would be incredibly harsh to pin that on McCloskey, and I feel the same for Coombes.

I get it; you think Coombes isn't good enough. What I'm saying is it might also be entirely possible that Coombes is good enough and that this is a selection mistake by Farrell.

This is the point I'm trying to make, it's not just Gavin Coombes but there are others that we should be assessing in games like that vs Japan and vs the likes of Italy and Wales in the 6N.

So we have 1 guy for the position and that's it? No alternative? And that's fine? The alternative being playing our captain and arguably best player out of position?

i'll give you that the overall percentage is bad, but saying 'since 2000' is a random distinction seeing as that was in the middle of gatland's term - which was a lower percentage

i'll agree that the team declined as his tenure went on and he definitely should have brought in younger players earlier, but that has been true of all irish coaches and is arguably true of the current one. but going through 2009 unbeaten and beating australia in RWC 2011 were massive achievements

you blame murray and o gara for losing the QF v wales - did either of them miss the simple enough tackle on davies for his try? did they let phillips walk along the sideline for an incredibly soft try? they didnt play particularly brilliantly all the same but some of the biggest names on the team played terribly that day

kidney does however, deserve alot of criticism for signing the 10 from ulster who shall not be named when he was coaching london irish

How is Gavin Coombes an example of selection conservatism?

He is not in the same league as Doris and Conan. I'm sorry but that is a fact.

People bang on as if he should be in the matchday squads. Ahead of who? The captain or the two-time Lion?

Ireland scored 17 tries in the last 6N. France 30, England 25. That's mostly with Sam playing 10. That looks like a team in decline and they picked up right where they left off last week.