Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Crowley is a good finisher/utility player, you either start him at 15 or you have him finish the game at 10

My god, do yourself a favour and watch the Ireland A game if you think Frawley should be in the 23 next week.

Has to be trolling

Mod Edit

Warning issued.

I think beirne will start. That's either at 6 or lock. I prefer to keep mccarthy and Ryan. I think Doris is lost at 7. He either starts from 8 or the bench. Its much of a muchness between Conan and Doris. I think I would start VDF at 7 for his defensive work rate. Given odogbu 10 mins against Italy does not give me confidence. He would found out against the English pack, no point ruining another young player.

I think I would go with a 5 3 split on the bench as a result of crowley starting. Prendergast, doak and Postlewaite/Farrell. Farrell may go 6 2 and go with H Bryne.

Ringrose is quality, and streets ahead of any other 13. Its not even close. I wouldn't want to be dropping ringrose for England.

Anyways thats just my opinion

Ringrose I believe played the final 10 mins of the game with an injury. So there is a distinct possibility that Farrell or Postlethwaithe may have to start v England.

He got his leg hyperextended under a fallen player running back into the line. He went down hurt and got back up and into the line then got strapped up.

impossible to tell how bad it is, could be fine could be knee injury. He may well be fine today and he might be getting a scan.

In fairness I am in the camp you would be talking about, and I am aware I am doing it. I just have huge reservations about Crowley personally. He is a very good rugby player, but managing a game and silly mistakes like kicking dead seem to happen with him more than the other 10s.

Look although I have reservations I think it is now clear to most that Prendergast isn't ready, and I say that as a Leinster fan, and a Prendergast fan because he can do magic things. But he can't be picked for Ireland again until the defense improves, it's too much of a liability. I have no idea what happened from the tee on Saturday but it seems like he completely got in his head the whole game.

I still stand by Crowley being on the bench and Byrne starting this weekend. I know it won't happen and it will be Crowley at 10 but I have a feeling we will be back here in a weeks time saying Crowley was poor at x and x so what do we do now.

On the other side of the coin, there has to be acknowledgement that there is a section of support that back Crowley, no matter what. Multiple people online jumping at criticism of that kick dead basically saying "yeah but Prendergast was dreadful so it's ok he did that". Both sides of the 10 debate need to understand that both of them have issues in their games and neither is the messiah, instead of constantly arguing that 1 is dreadful and the other is Sexton reincarnated. As I said above, I am sure Crowley will start next weekend and I hope he blows the lights out because we aren't going to win unless our Out-half has a 8/9 out of 10 performance.

The Lions tour excuse is rubbish at this stage. It was 6 months ago already.

him.