Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

No, I honestly don't think that's a factor. Most of the guys mentioned did have deficiencies or weak areas of their game when first capped and some still do.

Yes, they had / have defencies or weaknesses but, imo, not to the same degree as Prendergast's defence (and a lot of them weren't installed into the first 15).

The the point is, there's going to be a higher degree of attention to someone with such obvious defencies, particularly if they are in the starting 15 rather than coming on as a sub.

But of the list of players you mentioned; which of their weaknesses / defencies would you say are weaknesses to the same degree as Prendergast's defence?

This is deluded.

• Jack Crowley - attack, kicking, composure
• Paddy McCarthy - scrummaging
• Gus McCarthy - scrummaging, throwing
• Ronan Kelleher - throwing
• Dan Sheehan - scrummaging
• Hugh Gavin - defence
• Joe McCarthy - discipline
• Jack Boyle - scrummaging
• Edwin Edogbo - conditioning, carrying
• Craig Casey - defence, composure
• Ryan Baird - focus

etc etc.

Almost all of them have relatively fundamental flaws to their games - i.e. props who have unproven track records as scrummagers, hookers with issues with their line out throwing or scrummaging or both, scrum half with poor composure etc.

The difference in Prendergast's weakness versus some of the others is it's significantly easier for the layman sitting at home to notice him missing a tackle than it is to spot when, for example, Craig Casey or Jack Crowley make a bad decision in attack, or the line out or scrum falters.

That, and the fact that the primary alternative to Prendergast right now is from Munster is what leads to a huge amount of the noise around Prendergast's shirt. If the most viable alternatives for Prendergast's jersey were Harry Byrne and Ciaran Frawley, then Prendergast wouldn't come in for anywhere near the level of vitriol and targeted abuse he receives.

No its not revisionism.

Crowley was not in "decent form". He was mixed at best. His performance against Argentina was not a good performanace.

Crowley form after the November games wasn't much better and was mixed

Prendergast came into the game against Fiji, mostly to replace Frawley who was supposed to start that game by all discussions before the Nov AI's started. Played well and was kept to play the Australia game, and again played well.

But none of this matters does it. You have invented a reality when prendergast is terrible and the player you want is exceptional.

In reality, neither are terrible. Prendergast has played well and has had some poor games as well. To be expected for a young player. But the nonsense we see online is just embarrassing.

Well done to Farrell for calling it out, I hoped it would stop but people are so delulded we still have them going on and on today

FYI I never said "rubbish"

Also, I think you will find the same people who are claiming Sam defence is an issue, have spent the years leading up to Sexton retirement with all sort of gymnastics to say why he shouldn't be playing at 10 for ireland. All just a load of nonsense. Embarrassing nonsense

"claiming sam's defence is an issue"? Do you not think his defence is an issue?

In any case, I'm certainly someone who has claimed Sam's defence is an issue. You won't find a single post from me saying Sexton shouldn't have been playing 10.

Crowley was there too because Farrell wanted to pick him. As I said, he was the third choice Munster 10. Farrell could have picked guys like Ross Byrne, Billy Burns, Ben Healy or Jack Carty as four clear alternatives, all of which were more experienced than Crowley and available in November 2022.

He could have restored Carbery to the squad ahead of him in the following 6 Nations if he wanted to, but didn’t.

The injury issues that saw Crowley originally capped were temporary, the issue we faced around long term direction at 10 when Prendergast was first capped was much more material.

The circumstances by how they get selected isn’t the factor anyway - it can’t be the case that Prendergast wasn’t experienced enough to justify inclusion but Crowley was when they have almost identical levels of experience at the time of winning their first caps.

Yes you have invented it. Prendergast wouldn't have been near the first team that Nov only for both players in front of him didn't play well.

Its embarrassing that the Head Coach has to come out and say it in the media to try and shut down this nonsense

Does it stop it? no

Not sure what you are actually trying to say

If you talking about the last 6 nations Ireland won, the France game was great win and was won by the forwards. Same as the France game the season after was won by the forwards, just the French ones this time

Last 6 nations Ireland lost 1 game. The 6 nations they won they lost 1 game. Both started well with a good victory, then it went slowly downhill with a loss and a poor last match.

Nobody was told they are sht by the way, thats the sort of nonsense we are seeing from keyboard warriors and should be shut down.

You’re just choosing to frame it the way that suits you.

It’s a verifiable fact that there were alternatives, all of whom were more experienced (4 of which had international experience) when Farrell chose to elevate Crowley.

its a fact that crowley came into the squad down to injuries to other options and he was only part of the squad originally to gain experience

i havent invented anything, you have invented the idea that crowley was playing poorly and he somehow had played badly against argentina, when the overall consensus is that he had done quite well that day

For someone who claimed I was "revisionism". You really need to look in the mirror

Crowley starting in Nov was down to a similar situation as Prendergast starting in Nov. A combination of mixed form for the alternatives gave Prendergast his chance, it was injury which was for Crowley but he was put in front of other players.