Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

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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.

Stockdale is a confidence player but he also tends to have one big mistake in him per game which isn’t great for a confidence player. Hope he goes well (he should do-it’s Japan) but can’t help but think he isn’t the long term answer. I suspect Hansen will go into the World Cup as our 11 with someone else in the 14 jersey but would love to see Stockdale fulfilling his potential and giving us that edge in attack that he had when in 2017/18.

And I don't want to start a Lowe vs Stockdale thing - I just think it's weird in a sport where we have so much access to all sorts of info and stats that people are happy rolling out such an "anecdotal" criticism as "always makes a big mistake".

Saw the team going through the airport back from Chicago. He surprised me the most. He was seriously big, and he's carrying it well. Looking forward to seeing how he uses it this season!

it’s not that the young and new make mistakes is the fear, the real fear is that they don’t make mistakes and play well.

The reality is the IRFU cannot afford it, Farrell does not want real competition as it protects him from real debate on who starts and it suits a lot of supporters to have their guys as untouchables in the team.

”A word with hisself” was what he said. I’m not sure Andy’s statements should be examined too closely in these press conferences. Fortunately, he’s much better at the business end on the field than he sounds here.