Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Looks like he's saying that Prendergast looks good when Gibson-Park runs the game for him. An international 10 shouldn’t want less ball or less responsibility. Crowley thrives alongside JGP because they’re both playmakers; Prendergast struggles with Casey because it forces him to actually manage the game. If giving a fly-half responsibility makes him worse, he’s not ready for that level.

From what Crowley has put out to date, he is not international standard. I fear people will jump for joy seeing Crowley in the team next week but he will offer minimal improvement come Saturday.

I'm not sure these guys even know they're doing it. I hope they do, because the alternative is frightening..

TBH, it doesn’t matter if Crowley is international standard, only if he’s the best option for next week.

I can’t see how we persist with SP for England. Maybe we give him a run against Wales but his head is all over the place.

Can someone please enlighten me regarding the scrum yesterday. It used to be that if a front row deliberately drove upwards they were penalised but Italy did it several times without anything. Has the law changed ?

It will be blah, blah, blah, it was everyone elses fault but Crowley's, no decent ball to work with blah, blah, blah etc.

I mean, he's absolutely the least worst option we have right now at 10, but he's no more than that and the love in for him coming from some quarters is beyond tiresome at this point.

Realistically the best we can do is hope that he doesn't get any worse between now and when Prendergast becomes good enough and/or another better option comes along.

If Prendergast becomes good enough not when. Rugby and sport is littered with guys who never became good enough.

And notably a common theme is people pushed too hard too young.

I personally think kicking stats need to be improved as well as the error count for both crowley and prendergast before I think they could be at the required standard. Always loved the way Crowley has gone about his business but the period just before Christmas and after, has been quite a low point for him. Hasn't performed well at all.

In relation to Sam, I do think the amount of abuse he has received will set him back years unfortunately and if you are an irish supporter that is not good. Sam is an excellent player - he just needs time to mature and develop away from the spotlight.

His quick non bullsht Prendergast slow passing was just as important as JGP coming on. Pretty much every journalist agrees that the changes at 9 and 10 were huge but also all agtree 10 needed changing more than 9.

Andy can you take this one?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0o1Ntw3wWDM

Nathan Doak is the best goal kicker as I have posted with conclusive proof already.

Sam can still bench in a 6-2 provided Jack starts. Just means that Jack is likely to play 80mins and move position when Sam is brought on.

We almost certainly will go 6-2 vs. England. Can't see Farrell changing that.

VdF will definitely be in the matchday 23 also. He won't be left out again. I'd back him to respond in the same fashion as James Lowe and up his game too.

Will be some very interesting selection calls.

Looks like Crowley is a cert for England match. However not beyond the bounds that Sexton forces the Prendegast issue. When you think about it the No 10 only became an issue when Johnny arrived on the coaching panel