Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

If you think discussion on selections is meaningless then just ignore my posts rather than this snarky type resposonse, it does nothing for the discussion.

Which is why I say they should and could have done more outside of competitive games where results don't carry the same weight as they would in the 6Ns

I do hope and think they will get more minutes into some of the other players this Summer and Nov. Which will be competitive but really not that important.

You cant please everyone (see suggestion of getting game time into Osborne at 12!) but its now or never for the other players who wont be 33 or older at RWC (Aki, Beirne, JGP, SMcC, Conan, Lowe, Furlong, vdF, Henshaw).

In order of priority by position:

Scrumhalf

Doak - He could also be the answer to kicking issues. Just keep him away from the Dave Alred school (coattails on the extraordinary talents of Neil Jenkins and Jonny Wilkinson). More minutes with JC/SP is important.

Casey - Needs more minutes. But not that impressed with his cameos this season.

Lock

Edogbo - He could also be a help to part of the scrum issues.

Ahern - He's 6'9"!

Centre

Osborne - At 12. Left foot is a weapon. More minutes with JC/SP is important.

13? - Ringrose unsurprisingly has lost a bit of his edge. Concussions, Neinaber etc but who can replace him?

Hume? Gavin? Postlethwaite? Those two really 12s? Hugh Cooney…dont get me started.

Is the simple answer Tom Farrell is just behind Ringrose?

Backrow

Bryn Ward - Hes just a beast. 118kg. Get him on the bench at least and see what damage he can do.

Gleeson - Bit like above, but maybe the injury has set him back a bit.

Personally I think it has to start with Osborne and build combinations from there.

Maybe it is to get him in at 13 beside SMcC, but it really makes more sense to me that its at 12. Its his best position, age profile of alternatives, and teaming up* with Ringrose/Prendergast/JGP-Province&Left foot.

Over the last 3 seasons at Leinster he has only played 4 times with Ringrose as a 12/13 partnership, and only once with SP as a 12/10. That 1 game was v Scarlets in 2023 where all 3 started 10/12/13 and all 3 scored tries!

Crowley/Osborne as a 10/12 has obviously never happened.

I say all of the above fully aware that Stu McCloskey is deservedly starting and should be the player of the tournament!

*hopefully

I didnt forget Menoncello, he moves to 13!

Just thinking again; he is Stu's competition for player of the tournament!

Ireland are there for the taking, says Scotland’s Darcy Graham ahead of Six Nations clash
Scottish winger says Ireland have ‘not been firing as ⁠well as they have in previous ​campaigns’

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/2026/03/10/ireland-are-there-for-the-taking-says-scotlands-darcy-graham-ahead-of-six-nations-clash/

You love to hear it!

I think thats fair enough. If you were to be harsh you could also add that defensively he's not particularly strong in the wider channel.

Makes sense and I see what the implications are - Ringrose! He was never the Hugh Jones type of strike runner but he's basically playing like a crash-ball merchant these days.

Selfless and the very definition of the much maligned 'unseen work'. I have no qualms about saying that Nienaber has stunted his attacking instincts. Maybe some of his defensive ones also. Would you drop him?

Much to Clegg's eye rolling 😋, I would have liked to see us try another option there. Either Osborne, or one of the younger lads. I think opposition defenses aren't worried about any threat coming from Ringrose, and our attack suffers doubly because of that.

I would've agreed with you last season, but tbh the Scottish combo is playing much better in aggregate, as Jones has maintained and improved on his Lions performance.