Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

We need depth and we need more energy in the pack than what was shown yesterday. I think Timoney did have a good impact but can hide in the big days too.

I think we start Ryan ahead of Carthy.

I think we start izzy if fit.

I would like to bring Stewart onto the bench instead if kelleher. Nothing against kelleher, I just want exposure for stewart.

I would think Crowley should start. Just personal preference

We need to add depth at centre. Start Farrell at 13 or at least have on the bench. Think he can make big positive impacts. As well as mccloskey did yesterday, I would like to see osbourne or postlewaite get a run in the 12 jersey.

I do like stockdale and what he's been putting out for Ulster but what ireland put yesterday does not suit him. Someone like Calvin Nash would be great for chasing box kicks.

Farrell has a great opportunity now. I hope he seizes it. Some of that last night was unacceptable.

i think saying 'crowley doesnt get half the criticism prendergast gets' and then going on to write the last paragraph is more than a little ironic.

there is no world where crowleys form has been 'beyond awful', even allowing for a dip in form somewhat he has been nowhere near as poor as some people make out.

the talk around JC, SP and recently again Harry Byrne almost always ends up being hyperbolically negative/ positive, whereas the reality lies somewhere in the middle. SP wasnt amazing or anything last night but he definitely wasnt as bad as some are making out on here. Similarly, i think the poster who said it was his best game ever for ireland was overhyping things a bit in the other way. Another poster said that JC is not and never was the answer at 10, while forgetting that Ireland won the 6N and were 2 points against england off a grand slam when he was the starting 10

players arent and shouldnt be immune to criticism or anything, but it needs to be realistic and not just 'player X = terrible because i said so'

So no answer to my question then.

You're clearly implying that their missed tackles were equally poor because they both ended up with the same tackle success %.

It's fair to say that, no, I don't think Crowley's missed tackle in this situation is equally poor to some of Prendergast's. But crack on making that argument if you wish.

Why are you showing me a screenshot of something I already said was harsh to criticise him on?

The reason why I get to a point where I don't engage with you is because you make it bluntly clear that you're reading what you want, and you're not reading what's actually written in front of you.

hes played fairly well at times, even the castres game he was decent in open play - it was his goalkicking that was poor and even that was exaggerated apart from the last kick

but either way, 'playing well' is still a big difference from 'beyond awful'. the fact that you said that right after saying that JC gets less criticism than SP shows a complete lack of awareness

and now your questioning his attitude for some reason? i presume this is in relation to the leinster game at christmas, which i agree he should have kept his cool better, but he gets some grace from the fact that it was one of the worst referee performances i've seen in a long time (for both sides). and in terms of poor interactions that irish 10s have had with referees in the recent past, its not even worth thinking about really

The Prendergast v Crowley debate is easy, Prendergast is a better player and should start until someone in better form takes the 10 jersey off him.

Of course he's young and doesn't always take the right option but the amount of criticism he gets is becoming a parody at this stage.

It's like the 'Blame Cananda' song in the South Park movie years ago, they should do a 'Blame Prendergast' version and release it for charity.

I wouldn’t even say he missed the tap tackle. LBB went to ground. When is a tap tackle successful? The tackler is never going to complete the tackle by bringing the player to ground.

Which missed tackles by Sam do you think we’re particularly bad?

MOD EDIT Poster warned

The try can be TOB’s fault AND it can be a really poor tackle attempt from Prendergast.

Both things can be true.

And with regards Crowley’s, as per the screenshot above, one was a 2 on 1 where he did really well to even lay a hand on Attisogbe.

Neither were responsible for the resultant try. But Prendergast’s was an objectively worse effort at a tackle. That’s why I think Prendergast’s was worse.

I think that pattern will be the same if you analyse all of the missed tackles. Because Crowley is obviously a better defender.

Now, a question in return. Do you think it’s possible TOB shot like he did because Prendergast was the player inside him?