I'd say Forde is bang on target. Getting the starting spot for the A's would be good recognition and puts him in the wc pot depending on the wider form of a bunch of players.
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
I’m not sure. I think between games against Fiji, Italy, Wales, Japan, Georgia and Portugal, there’s been plenty of opportunities to cap him over the last few years. It’s hard to say his performances haven’t warranted it. Connacht haven’t been afraid to play him ahead of Bundee.
Forde has already seen action in green, lining out in the center against the pumas for emerging Ireland
He is on the coaches radar and I expect to see him named against England A
Why should he start ahead of Bealham whose been excellent anytime he's given time on the field? Bealham played great on the Lions tour and every time we've seem him in a green jersey.
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!
For the France game I could honestly see Bealham being picked at 17 so he can cover LH.
I think starting LH is a complete crap shoot as honestly, I could see Farrell just saying “phuck it” and going with Bohan if he doesn’t see the other two as viable options going forward.
And how do you know he won't be playing at the same level then. He's shown no sign that he's slowing down.
This process people have of just cutting players because of what age they’ll be in 2027 is very tiresome, SA don’t do it and their the only recent evidence of what can win you a RWC so why should we do any different?
I’m all for cutting players who are proven to be past it, which is why I advocate for moving on Aki for instance, but older players who are still producing the goods should be kept as their experience is invaluable.
The only sides that I can remember in recent times who binned players just so they could build for the RWC were England in 2012-2015 and France 2020-2023…both ended in failure. The media do a good job at making the idea sound very appealing because in their eyes there is only one outcome possible and that is a good outcome, rarely is the possibility of this failing ever considered, but when you dig a little deeper you realise it’s actually a fruitless exercise most of the time.
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.
I think there is a momentum around Clarkson. Has looked good lately. Bealham looked below standard any games I watched him play
I get that and would be all for giving Clarkson game time with the RWC in mind, however, this should only be in games such as Wales and Italy.
In the big games, if Clarkson wants game time he should have to prove he’s a better option than those older players. Some might think that’s conservative but trust me, he’ll gain far more out of it in the long run if he has to earn his position and fight for it than if the coach just hands it to him because he’s younger. Correction, retirement “might” not be too far away, while they are still performing at a high level they should be retained.
Healy was where we f’cked up on, he should have been retired after the RWC, there is nothing he’s done in the previous 6N that one of the younger props couldn’t have done. That was a case where the younger player was clearly out performing him and therefore should have been backed at LHP. I actually think we did a good job in this regard in the autumn where Paddy was given decent game time and Porter wasn’t completely flogged, then ofcourse they both got injured!
Having 10 guys they can call on if anything just further proves my point, they have all these options yet still back the older players, why? Because experience is very important, more so than youth exuberance. England & France’s performance at the previous WC with big player pools shows just backing kids doesn’t actually work, backing experience does*.
*provides they are in-form.
Yeah, a quick search shows SA have used 14 different front row forwards between 2023 and 2025, more than half of them household names. You can do whatever you want with that sort of depth. France have used even more, around 17 players. Ireland used 8. when you have lads who are less likely to make the World Cup as in the Irish set up it’s a far more critical problem.
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.
And irelands 8 include an injury prone Furlong, Bealham who is 34, Cian Healy which was pointless and Porter playing 70+ minutes far too often.
Ireland other problems is Gus McCarthy is behind Sheehan and Kelleher at leinster. Hopefully tom Stewart sees some gametime in 6n
We would be in absolutely no better a position had Loughman played more test matches. He would still just not be good enough - and we would have just had a substandard prop playing more often.
Someone will have to explain how Ireland have only used 8 front row forwards since 2023 because I count a lot more than that
Yep, by my calculations Ireland (not counting emerging Ireland or Ireland A) have used 19 front row forwards between 2023 and 2025.
That list includes 6 hooker's and 13 props.
The list:
Andrew porter
Dan Sheehan
Tadgh furlong
Dave heffernan
Tot o toole
Cian Healy
Finlay bealham
Rob Henderson
Jeremy loughman
Dave kilcoyne
Ronan kelleher
Tom steward
Oli jager
Tom clarkson
Gus mccarty
Jack boyle
Michael milne
Jack aungier
Paddy mccarty
He does need to play when it matters, but what needs to do even more is earn that opportunity. If he’s proven to be a better option than Bealham or Furlong than throw him in, if not then he’s got to keep grinding and bide his time.
When I see the injury at LHP I see opportunity, by moving Bealham to LHP for the France game Clarkson can be put on the bench and hopefully this will be his chance to shine. Same goes with Edogbo, with Baird out he’s now got his chance to show he belongs in the Irish 23 in big games, same goes for Izuchukwu and for Osborne at 15 with Keenan out.
I count at least 12, it’s potentially more as that’s just the names off the top of my head.
Your valid point notwithstanding, Boyle, and Clarkson should have played more in the Autumn over Porter, Bealham and Furlong.
Well researched. (might want to swap out Rob Heffernan for Dave Heffernan). Love 'Tot O'Toole' 🤣
Almost all WC teams fail.
There are as many examples of teams who didn't try build a younger age profile a few years out and they equally failed.
Thanks
(I'm leaving tot o toole in 😛 )
Except there is no example of a side who tried building a younger age profile squad that actually succeeded.
Correct. I'd guess the South Africa average age was over 30 for the last World cup.
exactly yes both Sth Africa and Ireland had an average age of 30. NZ 29. Australia the young shoots, 26
30 years 269 days old!
Key 2023 Squad Age Data
England:
Average age of 27.
Australia:
Average age of 26.5.
Ireland (Six Nations context):
Averaged 27.7, with eight players aged 30 or above.
South Africa:
Featured an older, experienced group, with a starting XV averaging 30.33 during the tournament.
General RWC Winner Trend:
Winning teams typically have an average age between 27 and 28
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/k5kWgjHIwug
When you look at the data over the last few years, the general trend is you want the average age of the XV between 28-30 and the to have an average of +50 caps per player.
