Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

phog · 11-02-2026 10:05AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124225360#Comment_124225360

There have been and will be in the future culprits on all sides, of that there's no doubt.

Equally, a professional player playing for their country can expect to have their performance (good, bad or indifferent) discussed and analysed online by fans. Trimble himself got a some fair stick on this very forum so maybe he's hitting out because of that, Murry too.

MangleBadger · 11-02-2026 10:17AM

If you spend anytime on TikTok you will see dozens of videos attacking Sam. No other player gets that treatment. It is ridiculous the level it has gotten to.

phog · 11-02-2026 10:22AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124225605#Comment_124225605

No other player at the moment. For as long as people have access to the Internet players have been attacked. Just look at this place, the abuse one poster can throw at another in the middle of a discussion. Some people can't control themselves.

aloooof · 11-02-2026 10:48AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124225605#Comment_124225605

If you spend anytime on TikTok

I don't doubt it, but I don't have any interest in spending any time on TikTok.

Boards point of difference is that it isn't TikTok.

For Petes Sake · 11-02-2026 11:36AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124225571#Comment_124225571

And O'Gara? One of the most heralded Irish players of all time?

I have never seen such a relentless pile on like I've seen of Prendergast, and it is being led by so-called Irish rugby fans. It's a disgrace and they should all be ashamed of themselves.

Let's not pretend this place can hold some sort of moral high ground over TikTok either.

Rayray98 · 11-02-2026 11:42AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124225855#Comment_124225855

For me it started MOD EDIT poster warned in 2023. Prendergast has a MOTM display versus the Lions, then the following week the Bulls lost by 60 points (as expected given the team sheets) and the first thing he could point amongst ALL OF THAT was “This shows that Sam isn’t ready”…you could see the vendetta from a mile away and it was a sign of what was to come.

phog · 11-02-2026 11:44AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124225855#Comment_124225855

Let's not pretend this place can hold some sort of moral high ground over TikTok either

At least this place is modded, but yes, we have a lot of OTT reactions here too, there are posters here who will you you hate your team or coach just because there's a difference of opinion. I just think there's a difference to how people talk online than they would to your face.

I should have added

The likes of Lowe stating he hates Ulster before an InterPro is helping either.

irelandrover · 11-02-2026 11:47AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124225855#Comment_124225855

Social media was no where near as big when O Gara was playing. That's the reason. Otherwise you would have had hundreds of videos of his tackling. Every missed kick by sexton and every missed tackle by O Gara would have been shown when they were competing. The same way as when Sexton started over o Gara the TV would pan to O Gara sitting on the bench at every kick.

My opinion is that the 10 is the most important position in the Irish team. Both players are making mistakes they should be dropped for. Both players come from sides with very entrenched fan bases. Its happening at a time when Ireland are sliding very quickly down the list in terms of best teams in the world. Its the perfect storm of fan bitteness.

FACECUTTR · 11-02-2026 11:58AM

The Scrum wheeled away with C Prendergast losing sight of Jalibert. It was up to the 2 turnstiles outside to stop him and they didn't.

Former Former Former · 11-02-2026 12:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124225879#Comment_124225879

Social media was no where near as big when O Gara was playing.

I remember in the aftermath of the 2011 RWC win against Australia, when everyone was saying O'Gara came on and won it for us, some guy stitched together a YouTube video of every involvement ROG had, and it looked as though he'd actually been rubbish.

That has always stuck with me because it was a weird thing to do after a win, but mainly because it just was not something you saw back then.

Now, everyone is at it, and to make yourself heard among all the noise, you have to shout louder and be ever more edgy.

It's not a great development tbh.

aloooof · 11-02-2026 12:13PM

Fwiw, Trimble also mentioned some of his mistakes that included, for example, his effort on Jalibert, his hospital pass to TOB and his intercept.

Stuff that, when you point it out on here, gets you labelled as "desperately wanting Prendergast to fail" by some. It's an over-the-top correction too far in the other direction.

That's my point on this; reasonable criticism too often is getting lumped in with unreasonable stuff. And, ironically, leads to completely unreasonable criticism of those posters.

phog · 11-02-2026 12:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124225966#Comment_124225966

This is the thing, a poster should be able to discuss errors in a players game without the name or hate calling. It does nothing for the forum.

FtD v2 · 11-02-2026 12:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124225966#Comment_124225966

For someone who doesn't want Prendergast to fail, you've posted about him maybe 30 or 40 times since the game last Thursday.

aloooof · 11-02-2026 12:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124226021#Comment_124226021

Correct.

In response to posts ranging from accusations of desperately wanting Prendergast to fail, to posts completely mis-quoting and mis-representing what's actually been said.

And, indeed, posts like this, implying I want him to fail.

A lot of those post aren't criticising Prendergast. They're criticising the over-reaction I've received for criticising Prendergast.

Way to prove my point for me, tho.

Paul Smeenus · 11-02-2026 12:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124225855#Comment_124225855

While I agree about the unpleasantness of the current pile-on, Jacob Stockdale's international-level second season syndrome involved receiving death threats. This has been an issue for some time, and I'd hope there's a robust system behind the scenes to help folk cope.

phog · 11-02-2026 12:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124226051#Comment_124226051

I wasn't aware of that but stuff like that is unacceptable

While this is a different level from a death threat "tagging" the player/official/coach when discussing their performances is also unacceptable

jem · 11-02-2026 01:35PM

If the main stick to beat crowley is his place kicking is there a case to play him with n doak who does the place kicking for ulster. a few here will remember in Mick Doles triple crown winning team paul dean was at 10 while m Kiernan took the place kicks and that worked well. There is no reason for the 10 to be the place kicker

aloooof · 11-02-2026 01:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124226259#Comment_124226259

As far as I'm aware, place kicking stats for all 3 10's in the squad are broadly similar this season.

For me, it's much more Crowley's kicking from hand, particularly when we're putting up as many contestables as we seem to be at the moment.

In that sense, there isn't much value in pairing him with Doak, as you'd lose JGP's box-kicking, which, whatever about the rest of his game, was pretty good last week.

For Petes Sake · 11-02-2026 01:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124226259#Comment_124226259

Crowley's issue isn't his place kicking.

Don't recall anyone saying that but if that's a narrative then it's a stupid one.

typhoony · 11-02-2026 02:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121255322#Comment_121255322

Was looking back at my comment from 2023. I remember getting a bit of criticism. I didnt include Keenan hopefully he's not going to have regular injuries.

Rayray98 · 11-02-2026 03:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124226346#Comment_124226346

I don’t blame you for getting criticism to be honest. It’s a game of opinions I accept but what on earth and Ryan and Porter doing there…I understand Porter has injuries here or there but still far from worried about weather he’d make the next RWC…same for Ringrose tbh, he’s going through a rough patch but it was only 6 months ago that he was playing great rugby for the Lions.

Realistically 2 or 3 of the older guys will make it (I suspect Beirne, JGP and Furlong) with 2-3 missing out (Lowe & Aki) and it’s just a question of weather VDF or Henshaw can make it.

Podge_irl · 11-02-2026 03:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124226312#Comment_124226312

I mean, it is definitely an issue, it is just one that he shares with everyone else.

eagle eye · 11-02-2026 03:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124225855#Comment_124225855

Let's be clear here. The majority of talk on here is about his defense and it's terrible.

Yes there are some ridiculous bashers and haters of him but there's not many and they are probably tik tok or Facebook members as well.

I'm a Connacht fan and I don't want either of them starting. I want Harry Byrne whose not as good on defense as Crowley and not as good offensively as Prendergast but does a semi-decent job at both. I don't think he's the answer but he's a safer bet than either of the other two.

And I'd guess you are a Leinster fan who sees any criticism of Prendergast as over the top.

Former Former Former · 11-02-2026 04:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124226346#Comment_124226346

I suppose the question is, are certain players below their best because they're old, or are they just older players not playing well?

Was 32 year-old van der Flier any worse than 25 year-old Cian Prendergast? Was 29 year-old Stockdale any better than the 33 year-old we dropped? 33 year-old McCloskey was probably the best player in the backline.

almostover · 11-02-2026 04:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124226308#Comment_124226308

I posted on this a few days ago, Doak is the most reliable kicker of those in the current squad. The difference isn't huge but 8% better means making 1 more kick out of every 12 attempts. Maybe adds up to 2-3 over the course of a 6N.

Below is combined URC / European Cup data for this season.

Doak: 79%, 30/38 kicks.

Byrne: 75%, 33/44 kicks.

Crowley: 72%, 36/50 kicks.

Prendergast: 71%, 24/34 kicks.

For context here are the tackle completion percentages for the no.10s.

Jack Crowley: 91%, 93/102

Harry Byrne: 74%, 32/43

Sam Prendergast: 64%, 37/58

And for balance, the number of try assists:

Sam Prendergast: 17 in 478 mins played

Jack Crowley: 12 in 661 mins played

Harry Byrne: 3 in 392 mins played

Based on statistics alone, there is zero reason to select Harry Byrne anyway.

eagle eye · 11-02-2026 04:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124226849#Comment_124226849

Byrne is above both in kicks and ahead of Prendergast in tackles.

My contention is he's better on offense than Crowley and better on defense than Prendergast. Your numbers prove that.

Knowall1 · 11-02-2026 04:32PM

Maybe, just maybe, the coaching team is not very good. Sexton and o Connell were brilliant players but they have no coaching experience. Farrell's message may be getting stale. Throwing the players under the bus last week was not a good look. If Leinster go to the Prem leaders next week they start 10 point favourites. These players are better than they have looked in the last few internationals. Look at Man. Utd in the last few weeks. Same players but they look entirely different with a new coach.

aloooof · 11-02-2026 04:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124226849#Comment_124226849

Crowley's tackle completion % paired with his volume of tackles is kinda nuts for a 10.

Scythica · 11-02-2026 04:54PM

Seeing Bryn Ward doing media this week is interesting. Wonder if theres a chance of a debut, not sure ive seen someone to media who isn't involved in a long while

irelandrover · 11-02-2026 05:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124226864#Comment_124226864

The numbers don't prove that. The try assists do not in any way prov he is better offensively.

They show he is the worst offensively but has a slightly better kicking percentage.

Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

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