Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

I mean this isn't exactly true either tho Podge, is it?

Since I'm not allowed reference old posts on here, how about a Second Captains podcast at the time that variously described Prendergast as "wonderboy, the anointed, the great man".

And there were plenty of other establishments at the time saying similar. There was plenty of stuff that was way more adulatory than you're willing to admit here.

My point? There was stuff that went over the top from both sides. Let's not pretend it was only coming from direction.

Then maybe use the search feature for the phrase "Prendergoat"…

Your claim that the pro-Prendergast side were completely rational in comparison to the absolutist pro-Crowley side is simply not true. It's just not.

There are some fair points here syd but I'd respond with the following:

Yes, every other player was out on their feet. But we had used all the other substitutes. We actually had a replacement for Sexton - the only one left unused.

I haven't claimed it was some kind of terrible catastrophe, but I do think it was the wrong decision.

I'm loathe to watch it back, but my recollection is that what really got us up the field was a combination of some excellent carries from the likes of Conan, and the All Blacks knowing we needed a try so were comfortable ceding some territory in order to be able to go after the poach when the occasion arose, to essentially win the game. (I'd argue you often seem teams make compartatively more ground than they have done for the rest of the game with the clock inching towards the red in that exact scenario).

Ian Foster afterwards called it a "cut-and-paste attack, doing the same sort of things".

I'm not convinced that a lot of what Sexton did, couldn't have been done by Crowley. However, I am convinced that Crowley would have brought a far stronger running threat.

To be clear here - I'm not saying Crowley would have won us the game. But there's a credible argument he could have been better than Sexton.

If pundits in the media can say "wonderboy, the annointed, the great man" about him, it's not at all clear to me why you think posters on here would be far more rational about it…..

I can't recall anyone arguing it was a slam dunk to pick him.

I absolutely can but I'm prevented from quoting those posts due to the mod warning.

Leinster fans use the term “Prendergoat” ironically in the hope it might wind up Munster fans.

And it works clearly

…that had already been used, right? There was nothing Farrell could have done to change that.

There was something Farrell could have done with regards Sexton.

The idea that bringing someone on for someone tired is always a positive is clearly not true

With respect, I haven't claimed it's always a positive. What I'm saying is that, on balance, I think Crowley would've been an improvement on Sexton who was clearly out on his feet. You disagree. Fine. But lets not invent arguments I haven't made.

With regards the 20/30 phase attack, I can't do much better than my previous post:

I'm loathe to watch it back, but my recollection is that what really got us up the field was a combination of some excellent carries from the likes of Conan, and the All Blacks knowing we needed a try so were comfortable ceding some territory in order to be able to go after the poach when the occasion arose, to essentially win the game. (I'd argue you often seem teams make compartatively more ground than they have done for the rest of the game with the clock inching towards the red in that exact scenario).

Ian Foster afterwards called it a "cut-and-paste attack, doing the same sort of things".

I'm not convinced that a lot of what Sexton did, couldn't have been done by Crowley. However, I am convinced that Crowley would have brought a far stronger running threat.

Less than 3 weeks to the start of the 6 Nations, and it's hugely frustrating timing to see both Cormac Izuchukwu and Tom Ahern missing with injury this weekend, given Ryan Baird's long term injury.

Both have shown glimpses this year but neither has really hit top form either, and hard on current showing to imagine either of them getting backed to start at 6 in Paris.

Izuchukwu has barely played - 5 games all season. Ahern has blown hot and cold, his lineout work has been excellent but his work around the field less than stellar. The Munster scrum really looks poor when he's scrummaging at lock.

Does that make Cian Prendergast the potential Irish 6 in Round 1, or do they start Conan and push Prendergast to the bench?