Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

aloooof · 26-02-2026 05:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124267483#Comment_124267483

A track-record that includes 2 champions cups. I just don't think we're so well off with quality options from within that we can not even consider someone with that record.

big-al · 26-02-2026 05:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124267443#Comment_124267443

McCall is staying in the back room as an advisor or some such

ersatz · 26-02-2026 05:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124267354#Comment_124267354

He's beem in squads and been selected for 6N matches before but he has had a few untimely injuries and has also been up against 2 others for the jersey in Henshaw annd Aki, both of them exceptional players in their peak. It's also fair to point out that ulster have been in the doldrums for years and right or wrong, not playing at the business end in Europe hurts any player's prospects for the Irish team when there is strong competition. Yeah, Aki at connacht but he has been a standout for Ireland for years and hard to shift.

50HX · 26-02-2026 05:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124267399#Comment_124267399

He's not a candidate says the judge & jury of FFF.🙄

He has built an impressive CV that shouldn't be over looked, we don't exactly have head coaches with proven track success sloshing around.

As I said I think it will internal appointment so this place won't melt down if he did get it

Podge_irl · 26-02-2026 06:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124267507#Comment_124267507

And no Top14s and a myriad of red flags.

Ireland haven't gone outside their local talent pool for a head coach since Brian Ashton. You don't change that approach for someone with as many red flags as ROG. You bring him in as an assistant or a provincial coach and see how he handles that.

El_Duderino 09 · 26-02-2026 06:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124267170#Comment_124267170

Yeah I think they were very good and the result brought lot of joy, but it wasn't AS good as the coverage would suggest. One particular omission from the coverage is Furlong on Curry. I think Furlong was very lucky not to be carded for that. Seems squarely a card and a bunker decision. Red would have been harsh but not beyond the bounds of possibility. But it hasn't even been discussed because they won.

It's worth pointing out when your team gets lucky with a referee decision, because we're not shy about pointing out when they're unlucky.

eagle eye · 26-02-2026 06:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124267020#Comment_124267020

Just to be clear I don't dislike any of them. The reason I'd like Byrne is that he's not terrible on either side of the ball.

I don't believe we have a decent out-half. I've heard a lot about, but know nothing about, Gabriel.

I haven't seen enough of Jack Murphy to have an opinion on him.

phog · 26-02-2026 06:22PM

None of us know who the IRFU will want to replace Farrell but so far every coach we've had, have been on a downward trajectory when they left.

Unless Farrell wins next year's Grand Slam or get us to a RWC he too has been on a downward trajectory

We can all give reasons on why someone like ROG might not be considered but that's based on how you feel about him rather than how the IRFU would see him as a Head Coach.

If they think he has the ability to take Ireland up a level like he did with LaR then he can be in the hunt. I mean they have Sexton currently in a coaching role, who we all know got a ban for attacking the officials after a game that he wasn't involved in.

ersatz · 26-02-2026 06:22PM

I don't know anything abbot easterly a a coach but s he till heir apparent? I wasn't overly impressed witht the team under his tenure last year.

Podge_irl · 26-02-2026 06:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124267603#Comment_124267603

I really hope not

Former Former Former · 26-02-2026 06:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124267537#Comment_124267537

I'm not judge and jury; I seem to be one of the few people to grasp that nothing that is said here has any implications in the real world.

But in the real world, IRFU simply aren't going to hire a guy with ROG's track record of going off on one. I really like O'Gara, I think a bit of honesty and passion in a coach is a good thing - funny how people were taking pops at Farrell for the same thing a few weeks ago - but going after refs, texting them abuse, whatever, it's just never going to fly, and the idea that he'd magically knuckle down with a green tracksuit on, well, I don't see how that works. I think he'd struggle in the confines of the IRFU system too, tbh.

He does have an impressive CV, but as we've seen with Cullen and Lancaster, the further away from past successes you get, the less weight they carry.

aloooof · 26-02-2026 06:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124267554#Comment_124267554

No Top 14's? Wow, what a loser…

Obviously meant facetiously, but that's hardly a massive black mark against him, particularly when LAR were knocked out in the knock-out rounds by Toulouse 3 years on the bounce.

The red flags RE: his temperament / sideline behaviour is obviously a fair point, but as someone else mentioned, he wouldn't be on the sideline for international games. That doesn't absolve him, and it's still absolutely something he needs to rein in, but I don't think it means he should be precluded from consideration.

Even allowing for the IRFU's preference for an internal appointment, if the choice was between, say, Easterby, Cullen and ROG, I think ROG is the superior candidate.

ersatz · 26-02-2026 09:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124267637#Comment_124267637

Cullen is not a serious candidate for Ireland. Farrell has won more with Cullen's team the Cullen has. I suspect this Irish team will be in for a major rebuild after the next WC with a big group of players retiring or slipping off the test radar. There is no obvious internal candidate, assuming Easterly didn't do his chances any good last season, so they will likely be looking elsewhere. ROG will definitely be in the mix. I wouldn't put too much store in his sideline antics at LaR, I honestly think that's as much theatre as a lack of control. He loves to be in the spotlight which explains his persistence in being a pundit/analyst while he has a full-time coach job. But he is also a fairly astute guy who knows where the line is. I'd expect his media stuff to drop off and his behaviour to improve a lot as a test coach. I don't know if he is the right guy but he'll definitely be a top prospect.

TomsOnTheRoof · 26-02-2026 09:48PM

Good to know O'Gara can still get a rise out of people 13 years after he's hung up his boots. Yeah he's had discipline issues but if I remember correctly the last player to captain us at a World Cup missed the warm up games for having a go at an official. We still selected him because the positives outweighed the negatives.

Give me O'Gara over Easterby any day of the week. If he's a failure for not winning a Top 14 then almost every domestic player and coach is basically a write off. Two European Cups is some way to fail.

Ardillaun · 26-02-2026 09:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124265695#Comment_124265695

Sheehan looked vulnerable in the scrum against Italy. Furlong looks like he’s still getting up to speed.

phog · 26-02-2026 10:04PM

It's irrelevant now anyway Sarries have issued a statement to say he's not heading there

Podge_irl · 26-02-2026 10:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124268063#Comment_124268063

He quite clearly doesn't know where the line is. This is abundantly clear.

His bans cost LAR. Do you people think be didn't really care about LAR or something?

eagle eye · 26-02-2026 10:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124267601#Comment_124267601

I don't think ROG would even consider taking the job.

He's got a huge reputation and he's on bigger money than he'd get coaching Ireland.

A lot of Ireland's recent greats are now the wrong side of 30 too which makes the job a lot less appealing.

Podge_irl · 26-02-2026 10:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124268117#Comment_124268117

And I will forever think he is a stupid fool for that behaviour and materially cost us in the world cup.

He has been banned 5 or 6 times - this is not a once off event. His latest ban got appealed by the FRU cause they thought it was too lenient.

Maybe he would turn out like Rassie but I am not convinced even in the best case scenario that is a good thing.

TRC10 · 26-02-2026 10:38PM

If not ROG, then who? There’s no one currently in the Irish system who would inspire confidence. Lancaster was a colossal failure at England and Racing, his Leinster tenure was riddled with underachievement and Connacht aren’t looking too hot this season. Cullen or Easterby would be seriously uninspiring. Richie Murphy is doing a good job at Ulster but I feel it would be too early for him.

So for me it’s either ROG or you’re going out and getting someone like Scott Robertson, Jamie Joseph or Dave Rennie

KaneToad · 26-02-2026 10:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124268117#Comment_124268117

"Getting a rise" isn't the flex you think it is.

phog · 26-02-2026 10:48PM

I don't see Lancaster taking an international head role.

The IRFU usually appoint from within, and more recently from the national setup. Schmidt was the last appointment from a province, he was the obvious choice, Kidney before him was an obvious choice

Who is the obvious choice this time around?

I don't see one

Podge_irl · 26-02-2026 10:55PM

I wouldn't want Lancaster unless Connacht show a miraculous upturn in form over the next year and even then I would have serious reservations.

If we are going outside the system as it were, I would try and throw money at McCall or McNamara or an experienced international coach.

Bogwoppit · 26-02-2026 10:57PM

Can’t see them going with rog, yes he’s had success but the style he’s used has been pretty limited and he seems to be incapable of doing anything to stop the current slide.
I think they will likely go with someone who isn’t currently a head coach or command massive wages. Felix Jones may well fit the bill.

ersatz · 26-02-2026 11:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124268174#Comment_124268174

I don't really now but how did the bans cost LaR? He is still in contact with his coaching team, deciding on substitutions, etc. I don't know what difference a coach makes on the sidelines rather than in the stand. Was he banned from the dressing room? It's bad culturally for the team but as far as other imapcts costing the team I'm not sure what they are. Maybe fines? Anyway, beside the point. He won't even be on the sideline in a test environment, though he could be giving sh*t to official after the game or to the press. I just feel like it's a fairly straight forward thing for a pro to get a handle on.

eagle eye · 26-02-2026 11:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124268180#Comment_124268180

Is there a FRU as regards top 14 or are you referring to the FFR?

AbusesToilets · 26-02-2026 11:12PM

ROG could bring a pretty experienced coaching team with him. Guys like Donnacha Ryan, perhaps Felix Jones and Jerry Flannery.

I wouldn't mind him, think he could be a quality option. McNamara could be good, but I feel that he's going to need some more experience at head coach level. Leon McDonald would be another strong potential option. Was hoping Leinster would go after him.

eagle eye · 26-02-2026 11:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124268287#Comment_124268287

This is the thing. Rassie takes bad press and his players transgressions are pretty much forgotten about. ROG does exactly the same thing at La Rochelle.

bingobango12 · 26-02-2026 11:32PM

I don't see ROG as Ireland head coach. Whether people like it or not, a proportion of the rugby supporting population don't like him, and a good chunk of that population are the people who purchase tickets to Irish games (and are realistically the ones not complaining about ticket prices).

He won those Champions Cups with monstrous packs, something Ireland do not have. And as that monstrous pack has started to age and not be as powerful, he hasn't seemed to be able to adapt, leaving La Rochelle 7th last year, and currently 11th. Pretty clearly a downward spiral.

I have no issue with a fiery temperament, and do think that is something missing is Irish rugby in general, but the amount of bans and disciplinary action against him as a head coach is also not a good look, no matter how good a coach he may or not be.

ersatz · 26-02-2026 11:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124268350#Comment_124268350

The man gets a lot of media time for someone unpopular with the rugby public. That point will have no impact whatsoever on ticket sales, if the team is wining no-one gives a shite. RoG has coaching pedigree, he took LaR from nobodies ot European champions twice, and regardless of how he did it, he did it. He is a very good ruby brain, develops excellent tactics (see Leinster's denouement) and is clearly and very good motivator. I don't have a position on whether he is the right guy for Irish coach but Im not hearing any compelling arguments that push him down the list when the list is the guys already in the system here. McCaul is also a top candidate.

Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

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