That's not a bad idea, means both out halves are given equal game time and the chance of either getting injured is low so there's a benefit there to both province and country. I think a slightly better strategy would have been to split those games, one outhalf gets games 1 and 3, the other gets games 2 and 4
Prendergast's last run in the 6N reminds me of Billy Burns in the 2020 6N. A few er... cock-ups were had but overall a great player with a lot of potential!
At the time I was one of the ones calling for Burns to be given more of a chance, let him grow, let him develop, but he was dropped like a burning coal by the coaches. I felt this was hugely unfair
It would be hypocritical of me to argue for Prendergast not to be given that same chance that I felt Burns should have been given
Farrell on Prendergast, "his ability as an out-half far outweighs any work-ons".
Also says that Tom Farrell has been excellent in training and is like "chalk and cheese" compared to when he was in camp a few years ago, so maybe we can finally accept that what goes on in training does actually count for something even if we can't see it.
'Burns a great player' Well I never thought I would read those words.
Both have started 2 games, if the media made a silly comment about any player liek they have about Sam Im sure you would get the same response from Farrell
It was a comment made so the media could start the same Sam v Jack nonsense again and Farrell called them out on it.
How is it silly to question a player's obvious weakness? The dogs in the street are mentioning it, his most ardent supporters talk about it, why should a journalist ignore? It's only a few weeks ago, fans from his own province was talking about Sam being overtaken by Harry Byrne because of Sam's defensive frailties.
But the argument has never been "what goes on in training doesn't count, even if we can't see it".
The argument has been "even tho we don't see the players in training, it doesn't mean we haven't seen enough of them to not have an informed opinion on who we think should start".
That's a completely different argument.
There's also the argument that training doesn't have anywhere near as much full contact as a match. That's all valid when offering an opinion that on selection that doesn't match Farrell's.
Tbh, I think all of that is a completely fair comment on JOB.
But it just completely jars when as recently as last week, when someone suggested Baloucoune should be more involved this November, your take was that he had "a career of mediocrity".
One reads as pretty fair and one reads and very, very harsh tbh.
It's not a harsh comment on Baloucoune - it's not his fault, but that's the reality of his career to this point relative to his talent. He's had a horrendous time of it with injuries.
You would have thought after his 21/22 season where he scored 9 tries (including a hat trick in an away win in Toulouse) that the sky was the limit for him, but he's struggled so much to get on the field the last few years its hard to have any kind of sunny view on his career.
Jimmy O'Brien, by contrast, to me is a guy who is far less talented than Baloucoune, but has tended to make the most of the opportunities he's gotten.
As I've said, a huge slice of that is luck, but unfortunately that's just the way things are.
Yeah, fair enough if that's your view of him, but I wouldn't really share it.
I don't really get him as a player. He's a nice footballer, but he's just not athletic or explosive enough for me to justify his size. I'd have just as much concern about him being asked to defend in international rugby as I would Sam Prendergast. The specific issues might not be the same, but the net result probably would be.
That reads way more like "a career blighted by injury" than "a career of mediocrity".
Here's the point; would the same poster have said the same about Tommy O'Brien prior to this season? I don't believe he would.
It's way too harsh on Baloucoune in a way he's never willing to be of other players.
He's simply answered the question (a leading, loaded question) he was asked, and defending one of his players.
It was a perfectly reasonable question; questions about Prendergast's tackle technique and defence are going to come up because they are so at odds with all all other aspects of his game.
That doesn't make it leading or loaded, even if Farrell thinks it is.
The internet blows minds. There is no grand conspiracy. Take a step back
I can't say what he would have said about Tommy O'Brien - but I would have said exactly the same.
I'd extend that also to guys like Tom Ahern, Harry Byrne, Alex Soroka, etc. These are all guys who have looked for a long time like they have the skillset to be international players, but simply haven't been able to realise their potential because of constant injury issues.
It's not their fault, but it is the reality unfortunately.
But if TOB has come in and played really well, then why did the idea of Baloucoune getting more gametime in Nov lead to the OP mentioning "career or mediocrity".
Again, it's just way too harsh, imo.
While I hate to stifle a lively debate, I never said Baloucoune had had a career of mediocrity. Note the absence of quotes.
Now, you might ask yourself, why is a certain poster claiming that I did, and completely out of the blue with zero context? If you can figure it out, you're a smarter man than me.
Here's what you said:
Probably worth noting that one game against third tier opposition does not absolve a career of mediocrity, in the eyes of any reasonable observer at least.Absolutely bizarre discussion. Anytime the word “molecast” pops up you know things are going to take a weird turn.
Probably worth noting that one game against third tier opposition does not absolve a career of mediocrity, in the eyes of any reasonable observer at least.
Absolutely bizarre discussion. Anytime the word “molecast” pops up you know things are going to take a weird turn.
Which was is response to:
The Molecast mentioned it in their latest episode, but the A Team backline was streets ahead of the main team's one. TOB is the only player I'd say would make a combined team imo, and that's only if he was playing at 11. Crazy to me that Baloucoune isn't playing this Nov. Picking Stockdale ahead of him is crazy.
There is no reading of this where your "career of mediocrity" quote isn't directed at Baloucoune.
But by all means feel free to clear this one up. Who exactly are you claiming had a "career of mediocrity"?
It's overly harsh (and absolutely standard fare from you…)
In 2020, I accept he was probably at his peak before a small disaster of a 6N campaign
Looking at the photos from the captains run, Hansen's hand seems to be very heavily strapped. There was murmurs earlier in the week that he wouldn't be available the weekend.
MOD EDIT
Poster warned
That's a fair point of view. I would share similar reservations about Casey. My counter would be that he's been going well for Ulster, without any particular concerns over his defense that I'm aware of.
Farrell's dismissal of Baloucoune, after he played well vs SA, was very harsh. He shipped criticism for not getting involved enough, but he wasn't struggling. He's probably the only player in Ireland with that elite athletic profile, even above what TOB brings. Can't be ignoring that.
Choosing Stockdale over him was a real head scratcher for me, he's always been the superior option.
He got picked again the week after the SA game, and scored a try against Fiji but was middling at best that day. By the time the 2023 6Ns rolled around, he was injured again.
He played a fair bit in 23/24 - 16 games for Ulster (1,170 mins) but was a bit poor that season (only scored two tries). He then missed virtually all of last season with injury (played 2 games for a combined 99 mins).
I think he's supremely talented but he's definitely guilty of drifting out of games and switching off. I would love to see him become the player we all think he can be, and he'd definitely bring something different to the Irish side.
Baloucoune is one of those players whose ability or achievements cannot be separated from his injury history. Would he be a superstar if he could stay fit? None of us really know tbh, because he's had so few injury-free runs, and he's not playing in a vintage Ulster team either which doesn't help.
My own opinion is that he's still probably not the type of winger that Farrell prefers. He's just not in that Hansen/Lowe mould of players who infield looking for work or can make something happen for the players around them. I think TOB's elevation is a good example of what he wants, in contrast with Stockdale's relative isolation.
Ridiculous statement, don't you know that Tommy O'Brien is one of the greatest Irish hurdlers of all time?
He also said he was tremendous last week, i think he's got the rose tinted glasses on, i agree that the level and manner a coach defends a player says a lot. It was a fair question i wonder if an aspect of crowley's game was questioned would he be as defensive or annoyed even
Do think some of Farrell's grá for an industrious winger is born from the fact our centres aren't typically engines of creativity? None of the incumbent 4 could generally be considered playmakers, McCloskey probably the best in that respect.
All of this is absolutely fair.
But while I hate to bring up an old debate, you did indeed say Baloucoune had a career of mediocrity. Note the absence of reply when asked to clear that one up.
Now you might ask yourself why a certain poster claims they never said as much, when they absolutely did? If you can figure it out, you might be just as smart as me…
'At his peak' and 'great player' are not the same.
But while I hate to bring up an old debate
You always have the option not to.
you did indeed say Baloucoune had a career of mediocrity
No, I didn't.
Note the absence of reply when asked to clear that one up.
I did reply, you just ignored it.
Well then who were you referring to when you said "career of mediocrity"….?
Because, whatever way you slice it, you absolutely did say that. It'd be pretty straightforward to clear all of this up.
And this is the 2nd time I've asked you. So which one of us really is doing the ignoring here?
