Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Andy Farrell said in his press conference yesterday (Murray Kinsella has it in a piece on the squad today) that Ryan Baird has bulked up to around 120kg this season (his playing weight last season was listed at 112kg).

That's huge size to put on, and it looks very much like he's retained his speed and explosiveness.

There's a strong argument he's the very best pure athlete in Irish rugby IMO; his issue in the past was games could pass him by and he just didn't seem to have the requisite rugby IQ to reach the next level. Something seemed to click for him at the back end of last season, and he's carried that good form into this season. Excited to see him keep going now.

Nearly 19 stone in old money. Good grief.

That's great work if true.

I wouldn't expect him to maintain the sane explosiveness or quickness if he's bulked up thet much. I certainly wouldn't expect him to be as explosive for as long in matches either. But that extra muscle will bring great benefits in other parts of his game. Swings and roundabouts.

He doesn't look like he's lost much pace or agility, but he certainly made a big impact last weekend so good on him.

I could see him becoming an important player for us in the medium-term, he's a good age profile and I've been very impressed by his work-rate, and especially his tackle technique. (There's been a few occasions over the few matches this season where he's chopped guys down, stopping them dead).

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I wonder if they're looking at the age profile of the second row and thinking of moving him back in there in the medium term or just want him to have a bit more bulk to cover it as required? Seems a lot of weight for a player whose explosiveness is probably his best trait. Can't say I noticed him looking particularly bigger. Same issue with Izuchukwu and Ahern-do they see them as 6s or second rows? Having the 3 of them competing for one jersey seems to be overkill when we may be looking a bit thin at second row in a few years.

Did not realise Baird had bulked up so much. It's an interesting one. He had a fine game last week at blindside but I wonder is this bulking being done to make him the long term replacement to Tadhg Beirne? Beirne is unlikely to make it beyond the next WC. Maybe Baird has been identified as the front runner to replace him at lock?

As for Tom Aherne, I've been critical of us at Munster selecting him so often at 6. A position that we have loads of options for. He should be put on the Ryan Baird diet and turned into an out and out lock. The man is nearly 6' 10'. He's made to be a lock. The future at Munster is for him and Edogbo to pair up in the 2nd row. And that could translate over to Ireland if all went well. We're wasting our time playing him at 6 because sooner or later we're going to have Gleeson and Coombes in the same back row. One at 8 and the other at 6.

Personally I think the same applies to Izuchuwku. He should be partnering Henderson in the 2nd row at Ulster and McNabney playing 6.

The problem at Munster is the only durable player you mentioned is Coombes. All 3 of Gleeson, Edogbo and Ahern have gotten injured within a month of being called up for Ireland. Which is fairly typical for Ahern and Edogbo.

The Ahern stuff is actually ridiculous at this stage - he could be sitting there on 8-10 caps at this stage potentially. He was called into squads on multiple occasions only to have to withdraw or miss out on selection through injury. It must be beyond frustrating for him.

He's so physically talented, but still feel we haven't got to see the best of him at all.

Agree with you there, at this present time and until RWC 2027 he most likely is the best option at 6. But perhaps after that unless other 2nd rows come through he may switch?

It's a big if alright, I'm not sure he needed that extra bulk. Unless he's being moved to lock.

Both Ferris and O'Brien spring to mind as players whose bulk probably contributed to their careers being injury interrupted.

But maybe Baird has the genetics to manage the size. Time will tell.

True, but why bulk up unless that was an element that you were going to bring into your game? No point being 120kg if you're not going to batter other lads with it.

It could be too that Andy Farrell and/or Leinster want to have 2 backrow replacements on the bench without having to go for the 6-2 split? Baird becomes the man to move into lock then later in the game. That seems to be a plausible explanation.