Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

you can say that as often as you like, but it’s not true.

Doak is a fantastic well rounded scrumhalf in good form. Just turned 24 last month and improving all the time.

Better kicker, more physical and quicker than Casey.

Casey has been playing for Ireland for 5 or 6 seasons now and you could count the number of good games he has had on one hand.

he is 27 now. It’s time to SH!t or get off the pot, as the saying goes.

Rugbypass (Pat McCarry) had an interesting piece with Conor Murray and asked him his views on certain selections for the forthcoming 6 Nations (the piece went up last Friday, so before this past weekend's events).

On the 10 discussion, he said he feels Sam Prendergast is Andy Farrell's preferred option at 10:

"Sam has these great skills and can produce magic, but the way he sees the game is, in my opinion, the closest to the way Andy sees it".

I thought that was an interesting comment from a guy who was in the camp and squad very recently.

I really feel we need to try get away from Henderson being in squads. He adds nothing at international leval and hasn’t for years.

I haven’t included Henshaw as he went off injured on Saturday. With McCloskey Ringrose and him all in their 30s, no harm bringing in 2 younger lads to look to replace Aki and Henshaw.

I’d be surprised myself if Kenny and Ward made it, but it would be the right call. With Frawley being back though I can see them naming Frawley as a full back, moving Stockdale to wing and not naming Kenny. Have been impressed with Stockdale at full back for Ulster though. I hope he stays there.

Henshaw's inclusion will likely depend on his injury status from the weekend. I think he would certainly have been included if he was healthy (and he still likely will be). I'd still expect McCloskey to be the starting 12 right now regardless of who else is fit though.

I really wouldn't be surprised to see Bryn Ward included in the full squad, but ultimately think it makes not much difference. Gus McCarthy & Tom Clarkson were listed as Training Panelists in Nov '24, but both still made their debuts during that series.

I kind of agree it would be a surprise to see both Zac Ward & JJ Kenny included, but once again, injuries might make it a possibility. Mack Hansen is out, and potentially so is Tommy O'Brien. Calvin Nash was listed last week as "returning in the coming weeks", and his form hasn't been stellar when available. Shayne Bolton is another guy injured who, if fit, might have expected to be around this squad.

Kenny shifted to 14 to accommodate JOB on the left wing (another guy reportedly injured now) when TOB went off, so he can play there.

We're going to name c. 6 guys back there based on recent squads, and right now it's hard to think of that many players worthy of a call up.

This will be a tough 6N but there is talent in the pipeline and with a bit of luck we'll be ready by the time RWC '27 rolls around.

It might be a tough 6Ns but we'll still win our home games and probably lose our away games, so it won't be catastrophic.

It will be the manner of the performances which will be worth keeping an eye on.

Its to Ireland's advantage, then, to be playing our Round 1 game on a Thursday night.

As much as conceding Thursday night 6N fixtures, in principle, makes me want to vomit.

I'm not worried about Beirne, JGP and VDF but Aki, Henshaw, Lowe and Tadgh are twilight players. 20 odd tests left to get guys involved isn't too few. He has two seasons to work with, I can't imagine other top teams would think thats too little runway. Maybe he doesn't have the players, but he has time. More worrying is what kind of game he's trying to play, that wasn't clear from Novemner.