Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

eagle eye · 06-11-2025 03:11PM

Mod Edit

Warning issued.

FtD v2 · 06-11-2025 03:31PM

Japan side (15-9,1-8):

Yoshitaka Yazaki, Kippei Ishida, Dylan Riley, Charlie Lawrence, Tomoki Osada, Seungsin Lee, Naoto Saito, Kenta Kobayashi, Kenji Sato, Shuhei Tekeuchi, Epineri Uluviti, Warner Dearns, Ben Gunter, Kanji Shimokawa, Faulua Makisi.

Reps: Shodai Hirao, Ryosuke Iwaihara, Tamefusa Keijiro, Jack Cornelsen, Michael Leitch, Shinobu Fujiwara, Shinya Komura

vetinari · 06-11-2025 03:38PM

Happy enough overall with the team. Felt Porter could have gotten a rest and like others would prefer to see Osbourne at 12. JOB would be the best option for full back given who Farrell picked for the squad.

leakyboots · 06-11-2025 03:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123966958#Comment_123966958

It does make you wonder how many other Tom Farrell's are out there (in terms of working their way up through different channels and people that might be international class but can't get a look-in - I know he hasn't shown it yet himself!)

sydthebeat · 06-11-2025 03:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123967038#Comment_123967038

yeah i much prefer a 6' 4" Osbourne competing against a 5' 11" full back in Yazaki

the two japenese wingers are also small, 5' 10" and 5' 6" respectively.

There wont be much leather left on the ball come 3pm on saturday.

Clegg · 06-11-2025 03:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123967049#Comment_123967049

We still need some experience at prop. Clarkson only has 8 caps at tighthead. Porter is there to help him through the game. Bealham will do the same when Paddy McCarthy comes on.

sydthebeat · 06-11-2025 03:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123966937#Comment_123966937

thats a new one on me, a lad being played out of position when hes not even in the match day 23. Serious influence Farrell has on general relativity there.

and Osbourne has been named at fullback for 6 of his 8 ireland starts. 'Out of position' is stretching the elastic a dangerous amount at this stage.

FtD v2 · 06-11-2025 03:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123967057#Comment_123967057

It's insane he was cut loose by Connacht as recently as summer 2024, and he didn't have a slew of options either. He's said openly himself he was very close to considering retirement.

To go from there to now being Ireland's oldest ever capped back in the pro era this weekend is some story.

Mike Ruddock is a guy who is supposed to have played a huge role in improving him as a player back in his Lansdowne days, and Mike Prendergast is supposed to be the guy who identified him as someone for Munster to target.

AbusesToilets · 06-11-2025 03:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123967079#Comment_123967079

You know what I'm referring to here. Osborne's best position is in the centres. We have an opportunity to give him playing time there, given the schedule and availability of guys playing 15 for the Provinces. Instead he's stuck at 15, we're playing the corpse of Henshaw at 12, and guys like Lowry and JOB (who was only included in the squad after Hansen got injured) can't get a look in despite playing well for their teams this season.

We could be playing JOB 15, Stockdale 11, Osborne 12 and Frawley 23, which would be an exciting team and afford coverage across the entire back line 10-15. We don't need Henshaw to beat Japan. JOB is more than good enough at FB to to deal with any aerial threats. It's an utterly self inflicted own goal of a selection.

sydthebeat · 06-11-2025 04:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123967102#Comment_123967102

self inflicted own goal???

do you honestly think this is the selection Farrell would go for if Hansen and McClosky were fit to play?

in your suggestion above should JOB, Stockdale or TOB go down injured we're moving 3 piece as a solution, unless you actually see Frawley as a 15 (which ironically would be against your previous post)

with JOB on the bench, and injury to the back 3 is resolved in one movement.

You can call that an own goal if you want, most right minded people would see that as sensible.

AbusesToilets · 06-11-2025 04:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123967121#Comment_123967121

Sadly, I'm sure Farrell would've picked an even more conservative choice if all his favs were healthy. That's not a positive imo.

Frawley on the bench in my hypothetical would require little shifting in the event of 1 injury in the backs. All of Osborne, JOB and Stockdale have shown they can play wing and FB to an international standard. JOB can play in the centre to boot. It would require pretty minimal disruption.

sydthebeat · 06-11-2025 04:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123967138#Comment_123967138

so in your hypothetical youve an option to move Osbourne to full back as he can play it to an international standard.

sometimes i wonder why i bother.

armchaircoach · 06-11-2025 04:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123966870#Comment_123966870

Last week we had Aki on the bench, with presumably one of the starting centres moving out if cover was required.

Why couldn't a similar setup be done this week with Henshaw on the bench, and Osborne at 12.

We would get to see Osborne in his best position, with Jimmy getting additional experience.

If shuffling the backline was ok for NZ, then why would it be a disaster against Japan?

typhoony · 06-11-2025 04:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123967093#Comment_123967093

Hindsight is a great thing, i thought at the time it was crazy connacht let him go. Although not many had the same sentiment in general and this is what i thought connacht fans opininon is that he was a good player but we have plenty of options and he wouldn't be missed.

sydthebeat · 06-11-2025 04:18PM

WhatsApp Image 2025-11-06 at 15.09.02_5cce843a.jpg

In other news

AbusesToilets · 06-11-2025 04:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123967150#Comment_123967150

Why do you bother indeed. In my scenario, Osborne gets to play at 12, we have a FB with pace, and a player in Frawley who offers a decent option coming off the bench to create a spark. How controversial.

FtD v2 · 06-11-2025 04:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123967161#Comment_123967161

TBF - Connacht spotted him playing for Bedford, and got a lot of good years out of him. He seemed to be constantly injured while at Connacht.

sydthebeat · 06-11-2025 04:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123967153#Comment_123967153

last week we had mcclosky available for selection, this week we dont. Henshaw at 23 is not a viable selection at all as he really only covers 1 position and none of the back 3.

almostover · 06-11-2025 04:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123966699#Comment_123966699

Have to say I did not expect this team to be named and am pleasantly surprised.

That's the only selection that I could be picky about. Why not play JOB at 15 and Osborne at 12? Perhaps that would have been too disruptive as the whole back line from the previous game would be different then bar TOB.

Also pleased to see that we've picked an alternative to Henderson in the 19 jersey. Ryan Baird can cover lock so good to see Prendergast senior get some game time off the bench.

Suppose now it's up to the guys selected to change Farrell's mind.

50HX · 06-11-2025 04:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123967165#Comment_123967165

V early days but if Kelly goes v well & they like the look of him he could be in for the 6N's

Hope Soroka nails this chance

almostover · 06-11-2025 04:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123966827#Comment_123966827

Interesting angle, either way the coaches need to start nailing their colours to the mast on the alternative at 7. Either it's Nick T, or like you said you play Doris there now in these lesser games and someone else in the 8 jersey.

What we need is an alternative should VdF be injured. Doesn't matter what that alternative is once the RWC isn't our first time doing it.

AbusesToilets · 06-11-2025 04:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123967211#Comment_123967211

Given how abject our attacking play was last week, the back line needs major disrupting.

Jump_In_Jack · 06-11-2025 04:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123967165#Comment_123967165

That team could give the senior team a close run!
It's a pity they haven't a better team to play against, like the Argentina XV team, or similar.

El_Duderino 09 · 06-11-2025 04:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123967093#Comment_123967093

I'm just a normal fan who watches 2ish games a weekend (my province and one other province when i have the time). But I thought Farrell was one of Connachts best players over the last few years before he moved to Munster. I thought their centre was very strong with Farrel, Forde and Aki. So when I heard Farrell moved to Munster I presumed it was Farrell's choice. It never occurred to me that he was let go by Connacht.

I don't think I'm a big expert but i thought is was obvioushe was very good. I've been really surprised to hear he was lucky to be picked up by Munster.

almostover · 06-11-2025 04:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123966870#Comment_123966870

We wouldn't have had to use Henshaw at 15 if JOB started there with Osborne at 12.

If JOB gets injured Osborne goes to 15 and Henshaw comes on at 12. We end up with the same team we have now.

If Osborne gets injured, Henshaw comes on at 12 and JOB stays at 15.

If Osborne and JOB both had to come off Henshaw goes to 12, Sam P comes on at 10 and Crowley goes to 15 as he has done several times in the past for both Munster and Ireland.

No rosary beads would be required.

There's zero justification whatsoever to have Henshaw in the starting 15. And possibly no justification to have him in the 23 seeing as Frawley could do all of the above also.

FtD v2 · 06-11-2025 04:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123967235#Comment_123967235

I really don't think they would - they match up well in plenty of areas, but the tight 5 is still way way weaker IMO.

Murray & EOC might turn out to be great players in time, but neither is there yet.

sydthebeat · 06-11-2025 04:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123967235#Comment_123967235

these games tend to be very stop start and sporadic though, between players wanting to impress individually and others just new to the plays and systems.

Hopefully its close to a full strength Span 23 as possible and its good test.

shootermacg · 06-11-2025 05:03PM

I think Dan Kelly is a cert for starting 12 for the WC. The centre was huge for Munster against Leinster. And Dan Kelly is very much in the Lowe camp for giving energy to the team. Great tackler, fast runner and links up really well with Tom Farrell.

England's loss is our gain in this case.

theVersatile · 06-11-2025 05:13PM

See on Twitter that Ahern missed out on the Japan game with a head injury. Man has the luck of somebody who ran a marathon under a corridor mad of ladders.

johnh6767 · 06-11-2025 05:26PM

Ireland XV 23, 4 from Leinster which must be an all time low for the A squad. Probably a readjustment for a top heavy first team , intentional or otherwise

Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Comments