Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Really need to shake things up but we have been saying that since the last world cup. Every other squad seems to be refreshed, we are flogging the same lads, watch Furlong come back next week v Italy, shouldnt be anywhere near the team, it wasnt the scrum that was the issue last night…If the game plan v Italy is kick kick kick then we are in serious trouble.

I think we have t o have a closer look at Farrell. The general atmosphere in the team has been to make things comfortable and enjoyable. Bringing the families in, having extended retirements for aging players,giving not rewarding form has contributed to a diminishing of standards.His coaching of the Lions,in retrospect, was poor.The gameplan last night was basic but not to change it when it was obviously not working was simply poor.

Also, I think it’s time we have a grown up conversation about Joe McCarthy. Has the raw materials to be excellent. Is capable of delivering outstanding performances. Physically a bit of a beast. But fundamentally, might just be a bit stupid. How long do we persist with him in the hope that he might develop some brain cells?

So you're saying a player that is inferior to Keenan should keep playing when Keenan is available again?

He's the best full back we have by a country mile. When he's fit he plays until that changes. There is nothing wrong with that.

I'd move Crowley to 15 for this series. In the absence of Keenan but moreso Hansen we need another playmaker to take pressure off Prendergast (or AN Other 10), and Crowley can do that from full back.

We do not have the bodies to bully our way over the game line, nor the gamebreakers who can repeatedly step people in phone boxes. It makes defending too easy because if you can stop the first couple of phases, defending from there becomes straightforward with our current attacking structure.

A double pivot makes things trickier because you're not sure where we're going to strike from, and teams can't overload on a single attacking fulcrum.

To my mind, it's no surprise we looked the most fluid against Australia with Hansen on the pitch who can do that role (I accept that they were the weakest opposition). Nor is it a surprise that Leinster looked their most fluid against the LAR when Prendergast went to 15 and Byrne was at 10 (given the Leinster <> Ireland overlap).

Thoughts?

We badly badly need some pace. We are far too easy to defend against on the outside.

Hadn't realised Osbourne was as slow as he is. Got left for dead once or twice. I know he is effectively a centre playing full back.

That WOW moment is coming, and I fear it will come on the 21st. The England team is EXTREMELY good, and I think they are close to solving their centre issue which has been a 20+ year conundrum.

I fear you could be convinced by the end of the 6n 😅 but I hope you're right.

They have class, and depth everywhere bar THP, and probably #15. I think we caught them cold last 6n but to your point, this is the first time they are coming into a tournament expecting things. Will be interesting to see how they go.

for the Italy game I think we can’t change too much.
I would bring in Ryan and put beirne to 6, Timoney at 7.
maybe Crowley at 15 and give Osborne a go at 13.

O’Brien and stockdale were very poor so if either or both of Kenny and ward go very well in the A game I would start them.

Armchair rugby fan here so excuse my ignorance or stupidity or if these have already been covered. And I don’t want to go mad into a Crowley v Prendergast v Byrne debate

If as most people seem to accept that there are issues around tackling / defence in Sam’s game is that not something that should be sorted out / fixed at Leinster before he was called up to the international team? People go on about this ‘high ceiling’. Is this really just another way of saying potential and if so how long do you give him to reach the potential.

Crowley on the other hand seems to lack the ability to control a game consistently especially in an Ireland shirt or so the argument goes). If this is the case should he be looked at as an option for 12 / 13 the irish setup?

Harry Byrne seems to be a hybrid of the 2 in terms of decent at everything but, not exceptional. Is it better to go with a steady player for the immediate term? Obviously, our options are limited in terms of choice as we only have 4 provinces to pick from.