Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

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?

You’ll forgive me for defending my position after being told I “desperately want Prendergast to fail”, FTD.

Well if he did he made the wrong choice and that isn’t on Sam. Sam was doing his job.

You "get that obviously", yet you saw fit to thank a post claiming I'm desperate for him to fail… cheers FTD…

The focus is because of this:

Crowley and Prendergast's tackle success rate from last night is similar, if that's how you want to compare the two.

Do you think the quality of their missed tackles was broadly comparable? I don't.

We have nothing of note coming through .

Before the game, the camera panned to the Senior Irish coaches and they were all laughing and joking, didn't seem worried. I did notice though during the game when the camera panned to Farrell he didn't look happy at all. They are only snapshots of course .

Ireland defence was on the back foot. France attacked at pace. A player like Jalibert stepping a defender unable to come forward is only gonna end one way.

Ireland defence was retreating the whole night because France had immense gainline success in contact. And quick ruck ball. And their players were coming onto the ball at pace.

I agree with all of that.

And I still think drawing an equivalence between Prendergast and Crowley because their tackle success %’s were similar is flawed.

That 'A' game was a hard watch. Whatever is in the senior camp right now is the hand we have to play with. Hopefully the long term outlook isn't as bad as it seems after the last 2 evenings.

I'll give some modicum of credit to Byrn Ward, Brian Gleeson and James Hume. After that it was dire. Cathal Forde looked decent too I suppose.

What worries me most is the tight 5 were hopeless. Both the 5 that started and the 5 that ended the game. We'd better hope we don't ship any injuries in that area of the field over the next few weeks.

I need an Italy or a Wales win tomorrow to rescue this weekend for me.

French result was coming. Munster, Connacht and Leinster have been poor at URC level. Ireland peaked in 2022 and have been declining since. Sexton & O'Mahoney retiring, Furlong, Conan, Henshaw, VDF, Lowe, JGP getting older. Loss of form for Doris, Sheehan, Ringrose. Injuries to Keenan, Baird, Hansen and props.

In some ways, Ireland are finding their real level. Given their resources, France and England should be hockeying Ireland every year. We should be in a contest with Scotland and Wales for 3rd, 4th and 5th place. The results and performance against France and England A are worrying

Ireland got lucky with a golden crop of players. Blessed to have coaches such as Schmidt, Lancaster, Mike Catt and Farrell. Cursed to have Nienbarr who has overseen our backs going backwards

I like Farrell but every coach has a lifespan. He needs a new attack coach.

On a positive note, we still have a lot of good players. Every bounce of the ball and the balance of refereeing decisions went with France.