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.
In other news
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Given how abject our attacking play was last week, the back line needs major disrupting.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
You are completely right about Mike Ruddock and his influence. Leinster passed on Farrell coming out of school and it was Ruddock who played him in a few games in that 2012-13 Lansdowne team. He personally (with the help of a good few other at Lansdowne!) nurtured him along and picked him on that 2013 U20s RWC team, with Tom Daly.
Just for the for the record he never said he was close to retirement. Ruddock though; he revived John Cooney and Tadgh Beirne in those Lansdowne teams. Jordi Murphy was another amongst many who flourished under him.
As happy as I am to see Farrell (and JOB) in the side, isnt it a bit strange that they both weren't in the original squad?
I'm not seeing much joined up thinking here.
Difficult to pick a player who is injured but hey ho.
Ringrose is also injured. Looking very thin at centre now. You'd have to guess that Osborne would have been brought in there, but for lack of cover at 15.
At least you're not getting carried away.
So Dan Kelly is a cert for starting 12 for the World Cup based on one game for Munster against Leinster.
Right so.
That's not exactly fair, most Connacht fans were appalled at the loss of Farrell and were desperate to see the back of the coach and many also to see the back of Sexton's attack plan that made Tom's skillset redundant. Especially as we don't have a 13 in our squad. l mean WTAF was that about ( Money maybe). Interesting now that the same backs coach is part of the A team set up and Tom Farrell i starting for the seniors. I wish him every success.
We should be signing Sean o Brien to Connacht again.
i didnt start the 'argument' (more of a discussion imo)
and as others have said, it seems some people do care
Two words for you…………….. Paddy McCarty.
We've had pages of discussion about loose head depth and the dearth of quality options in the 25 and above cohort. But now we'll ignore it for **** slinging purposes.
This place, seriously.
I wouldn't mind but I don't recall anyone making any prediction about Paddy McCarthy based on one game.
MOD edit
Claiming a player is a "cert" to start the World Cup is not mentioning them!
