Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

breezy1985 · 21-02-2026 08:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124254807#Comment_124254807

Some stadium to hold an atmosphere.

aloooof · 21-02-2026 08:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124254993#Comment_124254993

and Crowley and Ringers both had mixed games so more to be decided there.

I know I'm going to regret this…. but there's absolutely no decision to be made at 10 for the foreseeable. None.

ujjjjjjjjj · 21-02-2026 08:38PM

TOB has to be be

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124254991#Comment_124254991

TOB has to be in the race, he was fantastic today, stellar performance, quick, good under the high ball and what a work rate. Hansen has some work to do.

aloooof · 21-02-2026 08:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124255016#Comment_124255016

Hes certainly in the race. He's just not winning it vs Baloucoune and Hansen, imo.

P.Walnuts · 21-02-2026 08:41PM

Mod Edit

Warning issued

breezy1985 · 21-02-2026 08:42PM

Oh my God I was wrong,

It was Jack all along,

You finally made a Munster out of me.

COH · 21-02-2026 08:43PM

Just back from Twickenham...

I don't remember ever enjoying a match quite like that before - I was in Marseille in 2023 and while amazing there is something very special about beating England in Twickenham, especially an England team seemingly on the way up.

Perhaps its all the doom & gloom online. In the press, here, on reddit etc. but that team proved alot of people wrong today and I'm delighted.

I'm sure the usual armchair experts will no doubt find something to complain about - but it seems Andy Farrel might just know what he's doing after all.

Who'd have thunk it 🤷‍♂️

ujjjjjjjjj · 21-02-2026 08:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124255023#Comment_124255023

Good problem to have which everway you look at it !!

And potentially add JJ from Leinster and you 4 x pacy wingers fighting it out !!

crusd · 21-02-2026 08:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124254478#Comment_124254478

As evidence changes opinions can change.

S

breezy1985 · 21-02-2026 08:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124255034#Comment_124255034

Maybe it's all the doom and gloom and armchair experts online that drove this response.

Sitting around making excuses for poor form and accepting failure certainly won't help.

ersatz · 21-02-2026 08:49PM

VDF had a great game after watching last week from the stands. Maybe Ringrose is the next one who needs to be dropped for a match or two. He was great in defense today but again, his inability to pass off his left is an ongoing difficulty in our attack. A fantastic start today made such a difference, England never settled into the match and their confidence drained away as a result. I was thrilled with the offloading game we played, not everything came off but the intention was brilliant. McCloskey is made for that game. Then clicking into phase play as an alternative started to make this team look extremely dangerous. Looks like we can bank some real progress if this continues.

crusd · 21-02-2026 08:51PM

There is possibly something to be said for the effect Neinebars coaching has had on the Irish team.
He is a great coach but it’s to a specific game style. He was hired to implement it a Leinster so he did nothing wrong. But there is a massive mismatch between that and what Farrell wants the national team to produce.
Farrell and co have now had the team for the longest period of time since the w/c and they are finally starting to look coherent again

Firstsub · 21-02-2026 08:57PM

Query. Pollock got a yellow today. Just previously, Furlong could have been carded for foul play. Presumably, Pollock yellow card would have been rescinded if they had penalized Furlong?

DellyBelly · 21-02-2026 09:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124248137#Comment_124248137

Hope you saw what he adds after today..thought he was outstanding.

longjohn200 · 21-02-2026 09:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124255086#Comment_124255086

Just about to come on here and admit error in judgement. Outstanding today. I'm all in on TOB

Podge_irl · 21-02-2026 09:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124255079#Comment_124255079

Yes it would have been.

dublin49 · 21-02-2026 09:05PM

thought Ford missing touch and getting dead 2 penos very early on was a huge help to us.

phog · 21-02-2026 09:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124255079#Comment_124255079

Yes, dangerous play over rules everything else

phog · 21-02-2026 09:19PM

Today should be the start of the rebuild for RWC. A few players are getting their opportunity due to other players not being available. I hope no one walks back in to the team once they're available. Everyone should have to fight for their place and rotation should not be a dirty word.

50HX · 21-02-2026 09:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124255125#Comment_124255125

Exactly & the kick up the arse a few of them got by being dropped should not be confined to the past 2 weeks if required.

Today was a special performance...they were simply fantastic.

The trick now is to build & continue on this.

Today is one swallow over the past 7 games. It has to be enjoyed & it is right they are applauded for that performance.

Will be interesting to see the upcoming 2 performances.

AbusesToilets · 21-02-2026 10:01PM

Thought Osborne really showed his potential in the centre. Lovely soft hands to put Crowley into acres of space prior to the interception

bingobango12 · 21-02-2026 10:01PM

Just about calmed down after that.

What a performance. Best I can remember in years.

Every one of them was brilliant, including all the subs. I had worries about the make up of the bench but was completely wrong. Crowley firmly has that 10 shirt now, again happy to hold my hands up about being very wrong on that one. His place kicking can be worked on but he controlled that game very well.

Beirne and Gibson Park must be in the conversation for our top 5/10 players of all time. Both absolutely phenomenal.

He isn’t going to be winning man of the match awards but fair bloody play to Jeremy Loughman. Way down the pecking order and was as good as anyone today. Delighted for him.

Packrat · 21-02-2026 10:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124255226#Comment_124255226

Good honest post, it's what those of us who favoured Crowley have been saying since the start - he's not Sexton, or indeed ROG, he never will be, but he's the best we have right now. Prendegast may improve and take the jersey in time, but for now he should concentrate on outshining HB at Leinster. It's not as if he's playing for a crap team where he'll never be seen again. It was tried. It didn't work out. For now.

Nice classy mention of Loughman, - asked to do a job which should be beyond his capability and did it manfully. It'll make a good quiz question for the future, - people will remember GP, Beirne, Balacoune, Osborne, ToB and McCloskey for today, but harder to remember who was at LHP "that day".

It'd be great if we saw more positive posts like this one here.

jacothelad · 21-02-2026 10:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124255039#Comment_124255039

And add in Zac Ward and you have a winger with elite 7s pace and the physique and brutality of James Lowe.

50HX · 21-02-2026 11:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124255226#Comment_124255226

Just on Loughman in particular & similarly with Timoney in Paris & again today, isn't it great to see the that sky doesnt fall in when lads that are further down the perceived pecking order put in a shift that stands up.

More of this please, esp when form dips

eagle eye · 21-02-2026 11:34PM

Lineout was very good again today outside of Sheehan's overthrow.

The back three were very good again along with JGP and McCloskey. Doris and Beirne were great as well and Loughman deserves a mention.

As for Crowley, for me he was just about above average. Two bad kicks and some stupid decisions to kick out of his hands as often happens with him. He showed more than Prendergast has and should be ahead of him but we need better than both of them before the RWC or we can forget about doing anything.

Jelly Welly · 21-02-2026 11:47PM

Crowley just above average? Give over. Most are rating him at 8/9

longjohn200 · 21-02-2026 11:54PM

Are we that good or are england that bad?

Complete domination for the 80 mins.

I can't really pick out any bad performances of the irish 23 and I think Farrell and his coaching team need to be heralded.

No 10 question is over certainly for this six nations anyway.

As a Ulster head, delighted to see how SMC is going the past 3 games. His confidence in this team seems to grow game on game and we're finally getting to see his top class quality.

Wales next up. Lowe and ringrose could be out. I hope Farrell adds a bit more depth at 9(doak) and 13(osbourne). I think odogbo and izzy come back in. Love to Bryn get his debut but maybe too soon for him. Maybe tell Aki to go back to Connacht.

eagle eye · 21-02-2026 11:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124255446#Comment_124255446

So you are letting him away with his hair brained kicks to nobody?

FtD v2 · 21-02-2026 11:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124255465#Comment_124255465

Ah for Christ’s sake can we just please not do this nonsense for once?

He had a great game today - got the team moving forward time and time again. Picked some beautiful passes, nailed some great kicks at big moments.

If he played the way he played today every week we wouldn’t have a 10 debate.

Just enjoy the performance without the ceaseless nitpicking.

Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

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