Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Oh I've no doubt he will be. But we always have four hookers in the wider squad and my question is whether he'll rise to third in the pecking order.

We'd four in last years' Six Nations squad. The three Leinster fellas and Herring.

Stewart, Izuchwuku, Timoney, McCloskey and Stockdale is my guess for the Ulster contingent. Henderson is maybe 50/50 but with McCarthy back and the fact he didn't feature in the 23 against SA I think it's questionable.

The likes of Zac Ward, Postlethwaite and maybe James Hume have a chance as does Tom O'Toole, but my guess is they'll miss out. David McCann should be considered but Farrell has shown zero interest up to now and its a very competitive area.

I think the Irish backline needs a bit of a refresh or an injection of something different and I honestly believe Zac Ward (Shayne Bolton is another possibility) could provide that, although realistically he would in camp and unlikely to play if he is selected.

The reason I mentioned Hume is that I actually think Postlethwaite should be in there, but Hume is still getting picked ahead of him for Ulster. Not that Farrell is averse to picking second choice players at a province.

that’s a depressing back line

I think it was the New Zealand tour where Hume was involved and picked up a bad injury. A couple of injuries since then have definitely stalled his development, but over the last two years he’s been working his way back into good form. I think Postlewaite best position is at 12 and Hume is the better 13.

Sam will not start against France. Too many unforced errors recently and momentum is with Harry Bryne. Team on the money otherwise.

Postlethwaite isn't as good a 13 as Hume but his best position is 12 and he curreny sits behind McCloskey who is probably the starting Irish 12, however he can play 13 better than Hume can play 12 which is important because l if you're looking for someone to bring into the Ireland squad I think it's Postlethwaite over Hume. Of course it might be neither, it could be Hugh Gavin or Dan Kelly.

But I agree with you completely on Hume's abilities, he is very underrated outside Ulster, but then injuries and Ulster's struggles are probably the reason for that. A big game against Nankivill and Kelly tonight will go a long way to bringing him into the conversation.

Jack Crowley with Harry Byrne on bench.

Andy Farrell is not erratic in his decision making and doesn’t take as much lead from the provincials as many would expect. He made a call to back Sam in the last 6N and despite the drop off in form / over exertion he will continue to with that backing I think. Byrne will be the 3rd option though and all 3 will get game time as it’s still quite a journey to RWC27 with multiple scenarios yet to play out in URC/ Europe for each of these players

The form of provincial weighs heavenly on selection. The best team in the league for the past decade has been leinster and that is reflected in selection to date.

Farrell is in the game of winning - not loyalty. If Sam is not performing and ireland are not winning, he most certainly will be dropped.

Clearly Farrell sees loyalty as an important component of building team spirit and its a big part of his management style. The retirement stuff with POM, Murray and Healy was a highly choreographed example of it, there are numerous others. It's not necessarily a bad thing and he must see the value in it.

Tom farrell deserved his shot no doubt. Similarly to mcclockey had to bide his time. Needs to keep performing, hasn't been exceptional over the last number of weeks though

Any time I've seen soroka he was average. Not the quickest and was anonymous against ulster in he first half. Reminds me of Dominic Ryan.

80% win percentage in both six nations is not bad in fairness.

Easy to knock from the ditch, he picked Ringrose over Farrell. I think he is entitled to do so on form. We have punched well above our weight with him as coach. Who would you make the coach if you are so unhappy with him ?

Disagree. I think there's heavy bias towards the tried and trusted players over the form players. If Henshaw suddenly started playing as well as he currently plays, he wouldn't get within an ass' roar of the squad, let alone the team. But he's in the squad regardless of how well he's playing.

I think Farrell only got called to the squad because of public opinion in the weeks preceeding it. He had one average performance and he'll settle onto the Nick Timony role of playing a game against a second tier team for a year or 2 and be phased out. Meanwhile Henshaw is continually included while putting in average performances.

I think Farrell has been brilliant for Ireland. But now I think he's entered a phase where he's picking his favourites rather than picking the team to win games. I think he believes his favourites are most likely to win rather than the most in-form players.

We'll see how it works out.