Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Rory O’Connor says Farrell & co want Edogbo to get fitter.

folks, can we take a second to remember that it’s centre not center. The game’s gone.

When I read this type of stuff about Keenan I do thank the god stars that Boards posters like myself are not selectors or coaches as we would crush the national squad & performance between us. Common thread is murdering a young players performance whilst they learn valuable learning lessons before they even get going or prematurely putting a great talent out to pasture prematurely. Same repetitive craziness!! Always sounds credible in the moment but over time looks stupid at best

I think TOB is very hard done by to be out of the 23 completely. Fair enough to give Stockdale a shot at redemption after Paris and TOB's right-sidedness probably counted against him, but tough on him nonetheless.

Frawley and Aki on the bench is not inspiring tbh, lots of solid cover for centre but that's about it. Obviously Prendergast hasn't rediscovered his mojo yet.

Otherwise, grand. Leaving a fit Dan Sheehan out is a big shout but tbh it's no harm to give Kelleher a start and Stewart definitely is worth a few minutes.

The worry would be that the scrum and lineout give Wales access into the game and we get sucked into a frustrating dogfight like we did last year, especially if our scrum is as bad as it’s been last 2 games. O’Toole at LH won’t help.

If Ireland are serious about moving O’Toole to LH, they need to get him playing there week in-week out, for whatever province that may be for

Kelleher's lineout is fine. It's not at Sheahan's level but it's more than good enough.

People talk about the props being a weak link at scrum time, but Sheahan has been just as poor as them. Kelleher's a much better scrummager.

I like the look of that Ireland side. Some experimentation throughout the 23, rewarding players for good form. There's also a lot of impact to come off the bench, especially up front.

I do think Stockdale needs a big game though. He's clearly a player the coaches want to platform and come good, but he hasn't taken many of his recent opportunities.

Delighted Nathan Doaks on the bench, from a Munster man.

I hope Doak gets 20 minutes, see what he's like at this level.

Good team.

Not a huge amount of complaints from me on that team. TOB not involved at all feels harsh, no need to rest him from as he was dropped for Italy so management can't point to that. Stockdale needs a really big game. Feel he is running out of chances at this level.

Would possibly have given Ringrose a rest and started 1 of Farrell/Postlethwaite. Can see the logic in not a huge amount of unforced changes though.

Excited to see Doak and Stewart, both having excellent seasons. Can see Doak leapfrogging Casey if he takes his chance.

Cian Prendergast is unlucky he plays where he does. A great player but losses out due to the back row being so stacked.

Think Milne is very lucky to be included after his high error count last weekend.

Good to see Doak get a chance, I’m skeptical that he has the speed or physicality for this level but will happily be proven wrong.

This could very easily become one of those games where the majority of the backline are all playing out of position by the time the clock hits 80.

VDF and McCarthy off the bench should be enough to deal with any confidence Wales start to grow if they are still in it at 50 mins.

What’s important though is to prove that the England game wasn’t a flash in the pan. We need a solid error free performance again with set piece holding up because it’s the area every team is going to target as being our weakest

Physicality? He's competing for a jersey with Craig Casey?!

Don’t think physicality can go against Doak when he is up against Casey to be honest.