Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

aloooof · 27-02-2026 10:07AM

Mod Edit

Warning issued.

aloooof · 27-02-2026 10:11AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124268786#Comment_124268786

It may need a compelling reason to change their unwritten rule of hiring from within. But then there are no compelling candidates from within.

The last 3 or 4 appointments going back 20 years all had a really strong (almost obvious) internal successor. The same cannot be said this time round, imo.

El_Duderino 09 · 27-02-2026 10:40AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124268786#Comment_124268786

La Rochelle got the the Challenge Cup final (rather than champions cup) in 2019 before O Gara took over. Lost to Clermont.

I was at that game in Newcastle. The day before Leinster lost to Sarries in the champions cup final.

So La Rochelle were on the move before O Gara took over. He did great, not disputing that. Just clarifying.

O Gara has a sample set of 1 role as head coach. Great first half, not great second half. So I think its difficult to judge how good he is.

jacothelad · 27-02-2026 10:52AM

Saracens have rejected "disrespectful" reports that they have offered Ireland head coach Andy Farrell a coaching role for after the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

The club said "no offer has been made" after the Irish Independent reported that Farrell has been approached with a deal worth more than £1m per year to return to Sarries following next year's tournament in Australia.

Brendan Venter will return to the director of rugby role at the Premiership club when long-serving Mark McCall steps down at the end of the season.

"Andy has not discussed his future with anyone on the board or ownership group of Saracens and we can categorically state, despite numerous reports to the contrary in the press, that no offer has been made to Andy," the club statement read.

"The misguided reporting is disrespectful to Brendan Venter who will be assuming the DOR [director of rugby] responsibilities from Mark McCall at the end of the 25-26 season. It is also disrespectful to Andy and the IRFU."

ionadnapóca · 27-02-2026 11:01AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124268824#Comment_124268824

I agree. Ireland have had an enviable amount of world class coaches ready to step in or up to the head coach.

Easterby fits the mold. He's been with Irish team since 2014. I think this time Ireland will need a fresh voice from outside to take over. Harsh on Easterby and maybe Im not appreciating his role/status within the group.

Lancaster is the best candidate to me. IF things go well for McMillan over the next few seasons I would think he could be in a very strong position.

How about this? Razor and ROG?

Im the IRFU on the phone this morn:

We'd like to know a little bit about you for our files
We'd like to help you learn to help yourself
Look around you, all you see are sympathetic eyes
Stroll around the RDS grounds until you feel at home

And here's to you, Mr. Robertson
IRFU loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
God bless you, please, Mr. Robertson
IRFU holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey

Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you
Woo, woo, woo
What's that you say, Mr. Robertson?

darkened_scrum · 27-02-2026 11:15AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124268914#Comment_124268914

Jonno Gibbes was the La Rochelle DOR until 2021.

Former Former Former · 27-02-2026 12:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124268914#Comment_124268914

Yeah as noted above, Gibbes was still there when they got to their first CC final. Much like Joe Schmidt did at Leinster I suppose, ROG took a team that was already close to the top and brought them on even further.

The challenge for him now is to show that he can turn it around and rebuild it as the CC-winning team breaks up or ages out.

CatInABox · 27-02-2026 01:13PM

As a Leinster supporter, I can confirm that if ROG was Ireland coach, I would totally support him, regardless of what happened in the past. I am also sure that he would 100% have the backing of all players in Ireland, and would use whoever he thought could do the job. If that's a team of all Leinster players, then yeah, I fully believe that he'd choose that team. Thankfully other players and teams are stepping up, so it's unlikely to be a worry if he is to become the coach.

I also think that it's unlikely to be ROG as head coach. He does have issues with his discipline, and he doesn't seem likely to get to the point where that's no longer a problem, as it's a core part of who he is. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I don't think that the IRFU would think the same.

Ben Bailey · 27-02-2026 01:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124269348#Comment_124269348

Excellent post.

Always happy to hear ROGs views as a pundit / commentator. He normally takes a pause before answering any question or comment, and his replies are thoughtful & usually add hugely to the conversation. Contrast this approach to the instances where, post game, he's been overboard with comments / actions. If he can control himself with his player group you would hope that he could control himself when addressing the wider rugby audience. He'll be over 50 years old by the time Andy moves on. Will time change both the way he is viewed, and the way he views others ?.

Tombo2001 · 27-02-2026 01:49PM

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

agreed - it would remind me a bit of the way people spoke about Brian Clough back in the day - yeah, I know he won two European cups but apart from that what has he done……

Kerry_2008 · 27-02-2026 01:51PM

I think as an international coach discipline would be less of an issue for ROG as the national coaches are always in a box ( not on the sideline ) are they not?

Podge_irl · 27-02-2026 02:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124269471#Comment_124269471

I don't know why people keep bringing this up - several of his disciplinary infractions have not been due to actions on the touchline but due to comments after games- the same comments he would be making after an international (to a much larger audience)

aloooof · 27-02-2026 02:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124269534#Comment_124269534

People are saying it'd be "less of an issue". Not "not an issue".

TRC10 · 27-02-2026 03:55PM

If O’Gara got us past a quarter final, I personally wouldn’t care what he said in the post match press conference. Not sure why anyone would to be honest. And I don’t think we’re so awash with coaching talent that we can afford to turn our nose up at a double European Cup winning coach.

sydthebeat · 27-02-2026 04:18PM

id have no issue at all with ROG being in consideration for ireland head coach. I think hes a clever enough rugby brain to create an ethos for the players he will have to work with, rather than the creation of a squad like he could do with LAR.

he would have worked with different styles in Racing and Crusaders and would have been an important cog in racings Top 14 win of 2016 and Crusaders SR wins in 2018 and 2019. Razor always talks highly of ROG and plenty of players who worked under him had great things to say about him.

as for the discipline issues, there DEFINITELY is more than a hint of 'singling out' of O Gara over other Top 14 coaches for things he says. That might be down to the language barrier issue where other coaches can cloak their frustrations in more colourful language where ROGs french is blunt. id like to think when hes dealing in english he would be more measured.

bilston · 27-02-2026 04:25PM

I'm not a Munster or Leinster fan and I'd have zero issues with ROG as Ireland coach, but the fact is Brian Ashton was the last Irish coach appointed from outside the system, and the fact that anyone under the age of 35 will be saying "Brian who?" tells you all you need to know about the likelihood of ROG being appointed unless he takes an IRFU role of some description first. The chances of ROG getting his ducks in a row in this regard this side of 2028 seem fairly remote.

Personally I think Easterby will be the next Irish coach, although as an Ulster fan I'll be interested in how Richie Murphy goes over the next couple of years, although this is probably a world cup cycle too soon for him. As much as it pains me I wouldn't be that shocked if he ended up in Leinster halfway through the next cycle (he is a Leinsterman after all) and then we'd see.

AbusesToilets · 27-02-2026 04:54PM

Would not want Easterby for the head coach position. I don't think he's shown much of anything to warrant it.

Former Former Former · 27-02-2026 05:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124269918#Comment_124269918

I would not be at all surprised if Murphy is the chosen one and Ulster is his apprenticeship

bilston · 27-02-2026 05:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124269975#Comment_124269975

Based on last year's Six Nations?

It's a relatively small smaple size and we did play well in the first two games and he did win a Triple Crown, however we did seem to regress as the championship progressed. Farrell didn't exactly knock it out of the park in his first year as head coach and he came good. I'm not really sure how I feel about Easterby, I haven't made my mind up one way or the other, but I think he is the most likely successor right now.

ersatz · 27-02-2026 05:20PM

Regarding Easterby, selecting a guy with no head coaching experience other than a season the Andy was away seems risky.

Podge_irl · 27-02-2026 05:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124270055#Comment_124270055

Worked out fine for Farrell? He had even less than that!

Though I know many of us (me included) were skeptical at the time.

AbusesToilets · 27-02-2026 05:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124270078#Comment_124270078

Farrell had broader experience though. Went from the English 2015 ticket to Schmidt's 2019 one.

Former Former Former · 27-02-2026 05:55PM

Easterby was head coach of the Scarlets

50HX · 27-02-2026 05:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124270008#Comment_124270008

In head coach terms as of now he's still wet behind the years.

The majority of his coaching career has been as a skills & coaching.

I'm not taking away from his u20 work nor the turn around at Ulster but if for some reason the improvement at Ulster stalls is he still in the conversation post RWC?

There's alot of water to pass yet inc Farrell turning down an offer to stay on which I assume he will get if he hasn't lined up a different direction.

ionadnapóca · 27-02-2026 06:45PM

2023 World Cup, first three rounds

Total players used: 29. In starting XVs: 20. Players to have started all three games: 10. Players who have played 240 minutes: 4 (Beirne, Lowe, Aki, Keenan).

2025 Six Nations, first three rounds

Total players used: 27. In starting XVs: 23. Players to have started all three games: 6. Players who have played 240 minutes: 3 (Beirne, Van der Flier, Lowe).

2026 Six Nations, first three rounds

Total players used: 30. In starting XVs: 24. Players to have started all three games: 7. Players who have played 240 minutes: 2 (Doris, McCloskey).

2027 World Cup, first three rounds

v Portugal 4th Oct

v Scotland 10th Oct

v Uruguay 17th Oct

Targets:

Total players used: 30 33. In starting XVs: 20 29.

Players to start all three games: 10 0 .

Players who will have played 240 minutes: 4 0

beggars_bush · 27-02-2026 06:47PM

Lack of Irish coaches in foreign rugby leagues and national teams is an issue

FtD v2 · 27-02-2026 07:04PM

If we have a poor RWC in 2027 then there’s a chance the IRFU will argue that they need to change the mould slightly and do things differently to how they did it before, so I could absolutely see ROG being in the mix even if he never works in Irish rugby before then.

I would fully expect ROG to be in the mix and while he wouldn’t necessarily be my first choice, I would obviously support him 100% if he got the gig, and could easily see him doing a great job if he got it. He’s an excellent coach who can definitely pick a gameplan to maximise the strengths of his squad and he’s undoubtedly a superb motivator of players.

I think he should have left LAR last season when there seemed to be plenty of opportunities to do so as it looks like things have gotten stale there now.

AbusesToilets · 27-02-2026 07:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124270279#Comment_124270279

I think we have a pretty strong cohort currently, just not as head coaches. We're also somewhat only now seeing that first-ish generation of fully professional players becoming coaches.

phog · 27-02-2026 07:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124270279#Comment_124270279

Some former Munster players who are coaching or coached abroad

Flannery, Donnacha Ryan, ROG, Prendergast, James Coughlan, Felix Jones, Dougall

(Other former Munster players who coached, Mossie Lalor, POC, Mick O'Driscoll, Dutchy, Jim Williams)

Others that coached or are coaching abroad Girvan Dempsey, Mark McCall, Noel Mc, John Muldoon, Johnny Bell, Nigel Carolan, Jackman, Justin Fitzpatrick, Jeremy Davidson

shimmieandshake · 27-02-2026 08:04PM

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/six-nations/doubts-over-futures-of-james-lowe-bundee-aki-and-jamison-gibson-park-as-trio-offered-to-english-and-french-clubs/a803126975.html

Has anybody read this Indo article? Behind a paywall, so I can't read, but I'm hoping the content isn't as worrying as the headline?

Would be a great time for Bundee to leave, and Lowe to a lesser extent. But we surely want to be doing everything to keep JGP?

Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

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