Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

bilston · 07-03-2026 09:23AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124292913#Comment_124292913

Doak did really well. His passing was sharp, he put up a cracking box kick and controlled things well when he was on the pitch.

I did laugh to myself though when his very first act as an international rugby player was to get done for a crooked feed, which is something refs vurtually never call out. Added to the fact that the ref who gave the free is in fact a retired scrum half just added to the irony. Although given his history with us I suspect Dickson was looking for it and was just being a ba****.

almostover · 07-03-2026 09:28AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124292984#Comment_124292984

I'll give Dickson some credit here, it's a law in the game thats sadly not refereed and it was good to see it penalised. It would sort a lot of the scrum mess out in the game if the hookers were forced to hook and the props forced to prop them up while doing so.

phog · 07-03-2026 09:49AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124292913#Comment_124292913

He needed to be subbed on earlier

Brief_Lives · 07-03-2026 09:49AM

I reckon we need a new kicking coach - what works for sexton doesn't work for others… both Crowley and sam have suffered, I reckon.

Captaincy needs to be looked at. Doris clearly annoyed Dickson at times last night.

Looking at the performances against France, Italy and now Wales, the English result just points to England being a bit crap on the day.

Doak looked good on his first performance, also compare Stockdale's disinterested jog back when Crowley was clearly going to be isolated to McCloskey busting a gut to catch Smith.

sydthebeat · 07-03-2026 10:08AM

Haha I love the extremism of fans.

After the England game we're all on a high and things are great, we're back baby. After a bonus point win to keep us in the companionship but a lacklustre performance it's "sack the coaches" and "bring the debutants on earlier".

We had quite an experimental team out yesterday, with lots of changes across the board. We didn't test Wales with any real kind of invention or ingenuity in attack, and the very few times we did we cut them open.

Yesterday was a great day to review as a foil to the English game, the shapes that worked against England were not created often enough against Wales, and we held on to the ball way too often in areas we should have kicked.

Lessons learned, move on to the triple crown next weekend

ersatz · 07-03-2026 10:19AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124293058#Comment_124293058

Reservation would be that with a very solid and experienced 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 & 13 we dealt poorly enough with Wales directness and accuracy in defense. I'd like to have seen more tactical invention from that group.

OldRio · 07-03-2026 10:21AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124293021#Comment_124293021

Crowley didn't help himself but I do agree with your point. As for Doris? He was grand, it was Dickson and he will always find something to upset him re Ireland.

joedamuss · 07-03-2026 10:38AM

Agree totally, totally over reaction from fans that don't really understand the game, think a big plus from yesterday was Nathan Doaks debut, he looks like the definit number two for the future.

Utah_Saint · 07-03-2026 10:50AM

Anyone know what our scrum stats are across the 6n?

They are bound to be horrendous. It hasn't been improving either.

eagle eye · 07-03-2026 10:52AM

It was a rough day out yesterday but you had players who have played very little for us on the park. You'd expect they'll come on from that experience.

The most important thing is we got all we needed out of the game.

I was one of the few who didn't get carried away after the England game.

We need to up our game now or we won't win the Triple Crown.

bilston · 07-03-2026 10:54AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124293132#Comment_124293132

The scrum was improved yesterday!

Former Former Former · 07-03-2026 10:58AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124293058#Comment_124293058

Agreed, I was at the match and haven’t watched it back but the negativity here seems way overblown.

Firstly, Wales were much better than we anticipated, and that’s two respectable losses in a row so maybe they’re getting their act together. They were certainly better than England were.

Ireland did a lot of good things, I thought there was some good attacking play going on but the execution and precision was a little off compared to last week. Lots of offloads, some of which didn’t go to hand, it happens.

Plenty of positives; Conan and McCloskey proving that age isn’t always a big problem, Baloucoune continues to look the part (we’ll overlook getting burned by Carre) and TOT did a good impression of a LH prop. Of the fringe guys, maybe Timoney didn’t stand out but I’ll watch it back later. Doak had a decent cameo, and he was never coming on for a longer spell with the game still in the mix.

letsbefair · 07-03-2026 11:00AM

Really gas to blame Sexton for poor place kicking. Maybe we should ask ROG for a few place kicking grinds!!

phog · 07-03-2026 11:02AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124293136#Comment_124293136

We denied them a BP too, I'm not sure what Doris was going to do but Jack grabbing the ball to indicate he wanted to put us two scores ahead was the right call

Brief_Lives · 07-03-2026 11:16AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124293147#Comment_124293147

Don't get so offended that 2 normally place kickers kicking badly could be down Sextons coaching… he's not infallible.

As for ROG giving grinds, it would be clearly for Doris and his technique with dealing with Refs..

almostover · 07-03-2026 11:22AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124293106#Comment_124293106

Doak hopefully will get game time again next week. His goal kicking is also a major plus given Sam and Jack both have the kicking yips at the moment.

almostover · 07-03-2026 11:25AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124293136#Comment_124293136

You're 2nd statement here is key. We got what we needed from the game. BP win, no BP for Wales, gametime at this level for Timoney, TOT at LHP, Doak etc. And we wont be overhyped for the Scotland game. Job done and plenty of work ons. I'd guess that Farrell is secretly quite happy with how it panned out.

Clegg · 07-03-2026 11:32AM

If things go as planned we'll finish the Six Nations with 4 wins from 5 fixtures; the same as last year, but with more rotation and in general a more positive outlook for the future.

This years tournament has shown, to me at least, that we're building depth in key positions and are able to fix long standing problems on the pitch. Loughman and TO'T are our 3rd and 4th(5th) choice loose heads, but we've survived without too much damage. Porter and Paddy McCarthy are our clear standouts, but in their absence we've been ok.

Same with blindside flanker. Baird is the heir apparent to POM, but in his absence we've seen Beirne, Conan and Izuchukwu out in good shifts. The former are very experienced players which we'd expect a high standard from. But it's encouraging to see Cormac perform well.

10 is an area of concern still, but that's the most high profile, pressure filled position on the pitch. Will take more time to bed in.

letsbefair · 07-03-2026 11:40AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124293179#Comment_124293179

How many touchline bans has ROG had ? Great banter. When a player plays well no mention of the coach but makes a mistake its the coaches fault. Brill

Brief_Lives · 07-03-2026 11:53AM

Wooooosh

bilston · 07-03-2026 11:57AM

Well we're set up for a Triple Crown face off with Scotland next week. There are Triple Crowns and then there are Triple Crowns. Those of us who remember 2004 will know it was a watershed moment for Ireland and was a massive deal. 2006 as well with the late win at Twickenham. 2007 was after the Lords Mayor Show as was last year. I think this year would be a pretty decent achievement given we are rebuilding and pre tournament expectations.

That said Scotland will be absolutely gunning for it. Other than the Calcutta Cup I think I'm right in saying they are trophyless since 1999, no matter what happens later today this is a monumental match for them. Next week is the biggest match of the campaign!

phog · 07-03-2026 12:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124293147#Comment_124293147

Is Sexton out kicking coach.

Has the kicking coach recommended the kickers change their style

If the kickers are changing their kicking style you'd expect a temporary drop in successful kicks.

sydthebeat · 07-03-2026 12:06PM

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AhrFsjyWY/

Andy dunne offering a possible explanation as to jacks tee kicking issues.

TL/DR

Sexton is not the issue

phog · 07-03-2026 12:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124293252#Comment_124293252

I'm a big fan of winning the Triple Crown any year and I think having Scotland in Dublin makes this match easier. I also think they won't be as competitive as Wales were in defense but will probably offer more in attack.

We need to be more clinical with the ball, too many are finding knees, shoulders or grass and some where we retain the ball the receiver seems to have to stop to get it this killing our momentum

lawrencesummers · 07-03-2026 12:26PM

wrongly at the start of the tournament I we were destined to finish 3rd but it looks like 2nd place is going to be where we finish.

Its testament to AF ability as a coach but I think Richie Murphy has to be given serious credit for what he has done in Ulster since taking over and what those players have brought to the national side for this years 6N

When the time for AF’s replacement comes he has to be firmly in contention.

johnh6767 · 07-03-2026 12:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124293106#Comment_124293106

Casey is #2 as we will learn when he appears for the triple crown finale next week

Billy_the_Kid · 07-03-2026 12:59PM

Its ok to say Crowley was poor last night. Wales defence was so narrow but there zero variation to Irelands attack - no crossfield kicks, no dinks into space to get the exhausted Welsh pack turning around, no imagination at all. His goal kicking performance is a really concern again.

I still think he should start against Scotland and he is a better option than Sam or Harry Byrne at the moment.

johnh6767 · 07-03-2026 01:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124293399#Comment_124293399

From a confidence, rebuilding & righting previous wrongs Crowley should start and Sam on the bench

For Petes Sake · 07-03-2026 01:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124293076#Comment_124293076

This nonsense needs to stop. Dickson had a fine game last night.

Ben Bailey · 07-03-2026 01:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124293412#Comment_124293412

The one caveat to this is that Dickson, having penalised Ireland in the 2nd half for a deliberate knock on, kept explaining to Doris that "you got one (pen) for the same in the 1st half".

If you ask any Referee whether they ever 'balance out' their decisions they'll deny it. Yet here is Dickson doing exactly that. I'm all for consistency in officiating, but I'd prefer to have less talking from both Ref & players.

Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

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