Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Prendergast is staying in the team despite his performances, not because of his performances.

This reads like you're countering my argument that Prendergast's performances have been great. I didn't make that argument.

Prendergast might well be on the bench come Saturday, but if he's starting, it will be a combination of his performances and the absence of a clearly better alternative. You can make the same argument for a lot of players at the moment. It doesn't matter how bad a player is, only if he's the best we have in a given position.

The fact that Harry Byrne is in the conversation at all is proof enough that we're fishing in a shallow pond at the moment. There is no possible selection at 10, Crowley included, that is not based on hope.

I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest he's getting preferential treatment.

Fair enough, if your definition of 'preferential treatment' is backing a talented but flawed young player over a less talented but less obviously risky player, then that's OK. It seems to be the non-conservative selection tactics that people are constantly looking for here, but fair enough.

What I objected to - and this was blindingly obvious in my posts - was the assertion that Prendergast is getting preferential treatment because it's not a fair competition, Farrell is backing him regardless of Crowley's good performances and there was no reason to bring Prendergast in, all of which have been claimed above.

I think those arguments are very unreasonable, but again, we are all coming at this from very different perspectives on Farrell.

I think the point is that Crowley had to put in some excellent performances earlier in the year, culminating in the absolutely brilliant performance vs Leinster to force Farrell's hand for selection in the AI's.

Prendergast isn't having to put in near the same performances to get the jersey back.

Fwiw, I think Crowley suffers from his versatility; we've often heard ROG speak about needing to play 10 week-in, week-out and see those pictures in front of you that are different from 12 or 15.

Sam is benefitting from the fact he can only really play 10.

good to see that it is being discussed by the media that Ireland might need a fifth club, we might have to allow foreign based players and how can the academies be improved so we are producing top players for Ireland not just producing players for the provinces.

All these things should be discussed and be on the table , but unfortunately there is a very large elephant in the room who will trample anyone who even wants to discuss these options.

Regardless, they need to be and will be in due course. The IRFU will have no other choice.

That's not what the experts say. Everybody has been saying how good of an analyst Madigan is. And they explained it in on the panel that TOB was on Jalibert and Sam was sweeping to LBB.

No. Again you are misrepresenting the facts. Sam's job was to sweep around TOB to LBB. Not for TOB to slide.

It can be all of these things.

• Primarily TOB's fault for completely missing the shoot on Jalibert
• A systems failure
• AND still be an awful attempt from Prendergast once Jalibert straightens.

No. The facts are Sam was covering LBB. He needs to depend on TOB making his tackle. If Jack gets a free pass with his miss on Attisogbhe than why doesn't Sam? If Jalibert had passed and Sam stuttered to also try stop Jalibert we would be hearing about how he should have done his job and stuck to LBB. He would be piled on either way.

You are making this interpretation of the facts so you can attack Sam. When as has been shown Sam was doing what the role required.

Thank you for bringing some common sense to this debate.

I agree, that's why I put them in that order. But the point is, it was still a mistake from Sam. He does really poorly.

Imo, Crowley get's a pass for his 2-on-1 vs Attisogbe because he makes a far, far better effort than we see from Sam here.

I don't think you could claim it was a mistake from Crowley.

I stand by that comment. Give me 40 year old Sexton.