Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

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.

I don't disagree with the notion, but would say there is virtually no chance of Zac Ward or JJ Kenny featuring against Italy next week, given they have never been in camp with the Irish squad before.

Robert Baloucoune is likelier to come into the back three IMO, with the possibility of Jamie Osborne shifting to left wing and Crowley to 15 (I wouldn't hate this configuration).

I do think Stockdale & TOB are better players than they looked last night too FWIW - both have shown this season the good work they can do when you can get the ball into their hands regularly, but if we're going to kick high and get up and compete for it, neither are the right option.

Disagree. Our performances went on the decline after that second half performance, there's went on the rise. And that trajectory has largely continued through the autumn. We'll see!

France manipulated a 5 metre scrum towards the blindside, Du Pont drew the defence and it opened up for Jalibert as Osborn had moved up to take on SP's tackle as the no. 8 was expected to pick and drive, Jalibert could easily have passed to BB.

Du Pont brought runners on all evening, passing when they were in almost full stride, excluding Jalibert, who ran an inside line or was skip passed, JGP was under orders to kick and kick again, McCloskey did not get a single pass off JGP to go straight into the French backline.

In the same vein, how long should the alternatives to Crowley be given to prove they are at the required level?

I don't love it, but wouldn't surprise me at all. Farrell has picked him there before, and while I don't think he's effective out there generally, he is better at contesting kicks than the majority of other options in the wider squad.

Farrell has never selected him in the centre for Ireland - his solitary start at 13 came last summer against Georgia. Farrell picked him in one game at 13 for the Lions, but bumped him out to the wing early in that game due to injuries.

Well, if you have two players performing at a similar level, albeit different styles of player, and one is a few years younger than the other, you generally go with the younger one. Of course, if someone else emerges, you give them time as well. But Crowley isn't getting any younger or better at this point unfortunately. So, whatever the answer turns out to be longer term, it's almost certainly not going to be him.