Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

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.

I'm going to make my final post here on the topic of Sam Prendergast until after this 6N. Really tired of the mental gymnastics from the Sam fan boy club.

Yes, he is the least worst option of the 3 OH's we have. Yes, he can be very good at directing the attack off front foot ball. Yes, his kicking out of hand is generally very good. But there's a big but, his physicality remains a major issue in defence. And it hasn't shown much signs of improvement, yet. His goal kicking can be erratic also.

Yes, he has potential. And yes it will take time for him to fulfil that potential, if he does do that. But that does not make him immune from criticism for poor defence and bad decision making errors in the present. Some of the justification for poor defence and bad errors from last night's game is being explained away by some on here as if it were nothing. Crazy analyses like saying wingers should expect passes under severe pressure behind their own try line and so forth.

I'll give my opinion of his performace again post tournament. Not engaging on the topic again until then. Happy to be proved wrong if Sam goes on to have a blinder in the remaining 4 games.

I just watch international rugby so limited knowledge but I’ve seen a criticism of Farrell that he hasn’t really brought in any younger players and perhaps we need a new coach. That’s non Irish people saying that. Is there any real appetite for Farrell to go?