Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Wow! Fabien Galthié has left out Aldritt, Fickou and Penaud from his 6N squad. There’s a coach who isn’t afraid to drop established players or governed by sentimentality.

Does anybody really think there will be a starting spot given to someone over an available incumbent?

Unless someone gets injured, No, of course not

Forwards (20):

Tom Ahern (Shannon/Munster)(2)Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)(54)Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(65)Jack Boyle (UCD/Leinster)(4)Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College/Leinster)(10)Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(55)Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)(55)(captain)Edwin Edogbo (Cobh Pirates/Munster)*Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(82)Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(43)Jeremy Loughman (Garryowen/Munster)(5)Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(19)Michael Milne (UCD/Munster)(2)Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(17)Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht)(8)James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(76)Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(35)Tom Stewart (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(4)Nick Timoney (Queen’s University/Ulster)(6)Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(75)

Backs (17):

Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(68)Robert Baloucoune (Enniskillen/Ulster)(4)Harry Byrne (Lansdowne/Leinster)(4)Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(24)Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(30)Nathan Doak (Banbridge/Ulster)*Tom Farrell (Lansdowne/Munster)(2)Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(9)Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(46)Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(46)James Lowe (Leinster)(43)Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(23)Tommy O’Brien (Blackrock College/Leinster)(6)Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(10)Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(13)Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(69)Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster)(40)

Pretty disappointed that some guys in form aren't rewarded to be honest. Ward x2 and/or Kenny should be in there.

A lot of players out of form/returning from injury and not played in a while in there.

Strange that there's no development players this year.

No Zac Ward is a joke tbh. Even if he wasnt playing, surely hes worth a look

18 months from a world cup and were still persisting with Aki, Ireland are not serious at all.

Murray and B Ward traveling to Portugal with main squad then linking up with Ireland XV, guess they are counting them as development players.

Zac Ward and JJ Kenny are in the Ireland A squad to play England A.

I assume it is due to the Ireland XV which will require a series of pre game group training camps which in truth adds more to next in line

Hardly surprising though. Until Farrell leaves this is what we’re stuck with

Realistically who is in the A squad who absolutely should be in the senior squad?

Ward and JJK have put together a run of performances in the last 6 weeks, and if Ward in particular had been included then i dont think anyone would complain, but beyond that I don't see who has missed out where it would be contentious. There is a long injury list also.

One of Hume or Postlewaite for Aki maybe. Beyond that?

Joshua Kenny should be in the senior squad, end of.

If Porter and Henshaw are omitted from the senior squad due to injury, so too should Frawley, Keenan, Lowe, Osborne and anyone else not going to be available for their provinces this weekend.