Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Ireland: Jamie Osborne; Robert Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Dan Sheehan, Thomas Clarkson; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Cormac Izuchukwu, Caelan Doris (capt), Jack Conan.

Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Tom O'Toole, Tadhg Furlong, Edwin Edogbo, Tadhg Beirne, Nick Timoney, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Crowley.

MOD EDIT poster warned

Yeah, he's so young and yet still this feels a long time coming. Really hope it goes well for him.

Plenty of dynamism to be excited about in that pack. Izuchukwu is a rare athlete. Hopefully McCarthy can cut out the stupid errors and get back to what he does best. Having Conan and Doris in the same back row gives a lot of powerful carrying options too, and then you can bring Timoney in when the Italians are tired.

I've said it above, but feel O'Toole's inclusion and Milne's omission is baffling and harsh, unless Milne is hurt.

The thing is - they're not moving him around. For all the clamour from the fans who want him to play centre (me included), he hasn't played a minute there this season for Leinster or Ireland. Every single game he has started at 15.

8 of his 19 starts last season were at 15, with another 4 on the wing.

All signs suggest they see him largely as a full back.

might’ve longer than you think when McNabney returns from injury.

TBF a lot of Osborne's appearances at 15 are primarily because Keenan has become so injury prone. I think Ireland and Leinster need to get out of the mindset of viewing Osborne as the emergency stop gap for multiple positions. He's a good player and generally performs well in whatever position he's asked to play. Nominated for European Player of the Year playing at inside centre for Leinster. Then was excellent at outside centre in last seasons URC knock. And he's always filled in well at 15 for province and country.

I think he has the potential to be the best Irish back of his generation if he's actually allowed nail down one position. I'm worried we're now actively hammering his development as a player by shifting him positionally so often in recent seasons. The obvious solution is to select him in the centres where Henshaw is in the wane and Ringrose badly out of form. But until Keenan is back I don't think we have a choice

Doris did very well at 7 a couple of times in 2025.

The prototype of an old openside groundhog is dead, its about versatility and keeping the opposition guessing. Just ask the All Blacks.

I think having Conan on the field is by far a more important factor than in which backrow position Doris plays.

yet turns over little to no ball.

The pack that is picked for Saturday, is there any player starting that’s actually good at turning over breakdown ball?

I’d hardly classify VDF as an elite poacher. I’d argue Porter, Doris and obviously Beirne have contributed more to that since Farrell came in as head coach. Who was Ireland’s last groundhog 7?