Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Furlong sitting out training currently.

Is Furlong actually that good anymore? He’s a lot of credit banked but I can’t remember the last time he put a run of good performances together (he was decent in the Lions tests but didn’t exactly stand out either and seemed to put everything into getting himself ready for those games). Lots of parallels with the end of SOB’s career (was the last good run he put together the Lions 2017 tour?).

I hate to say it but it looks like his career is very much in its twilight. He just can't stay fit for any decent period of time.

Clarkson has been really good this season. I’d be starting him and making Furlong a bench player when he’s available at this stage

You could see Furlong come back to fitness but definitely the twilight of his incredible career. The periods between injuries seem to be getting shorter and short and, as with a lot of props, the lower leg stuff seems to recur again and again. These guy's calves and ankles suffer an inhuman amount of punishment.

One guy I've been impressed by this season who didn't get named is Charlie Tector. Someone else mentioned that his time playing and training with Jordie might have helped him get to another level but whatever the reason he seems to be doing a lot of things incredibly well. If he keeps it up he can't be far away from being in the '27 conversation at 12.

Well he’s getting picked ahead of Bundee Aki at Connacht. So if Forde’s not international quality then neither is Bundee.

In all seriousness though Forde is a serious player who should really be capped by now

I would say that applies to many and Farrell made that clear in an interview I saw recently where he emphasised that very point about just how important the XV game is this year

Because Bealham is 36 at the next RWC and Furlong is likely to be retired before then so we need to build experience before 2027!

Its not about cutting Bealham. There's far more value in starting Clarkson now with the RWC in mind because Furlong keeps getting calf injuries and Bealham is 34. Retirement isn't too far away for both .

Look at our LHP issues having played Porter for 70 minutes most games and giving Healy 10 Minutes for the last 4 years.

South Africa don't do it because they have about 10 guys on both sides of the scrum who they can call on at any given time who range from locking out a scrum at worst to totally destroying their opposite number at best.

Nah. He won't gain anything from not playing when it really matters

Clarkson has been doing very well in the Champions Cup so has earned it. He needs meaningful gametime against top tier opponents with Ireland now.

Bealham is a known quantity. We wont develop depth unless we give these guys meaningful time when it matters.

Likewise with Edogbo, Casey, Postlewaithe, Z Ward, Osborne etc.

Osborne, postlewaithe needs time in the midfield because I dont think Aki and possibly henshaw will make it to RWC 2027.