Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Murray is probably the closest to Ryan stylistically, in that he's a bit of a 4.5. My concern is that his carrying, breakdown, and tackling stats are unremarkable in the URC and I'm not sure he'll be able to win collisions at this level. The optimistic take is that he's still quite young for a lock, has good experience for his age, good size, and is a strong lineout forward.

Giving a guy a swan song? Or trying to use all the tools available to you to get a performance out of the whole team? I’d suggest it’s the later.

I don’t particularly like Aki on the bench as a 23 but Farrell has form for getting a reaction from players. The players and crowd will be aware this could be the last time we see Aki in green. That can be used to generate a bit more positive energy on the pitch and in the stands.

As someone who was in Cardiff last year, you could feel the mood in the stands and see the impact on the pitch when he came on.

If we're being serious, it's clear that this Ireland side and Andy Farrell places a very heavy emphasis on culture/togetherness/bond or whatever you want to call it. They probably see that as one of the main reasons why they've been so wildly successful in an Ireland context.

Makes complete sense that they'd want to go to the well one more time for a departing player like a POM/Healy/Earls/Murray/Aki etc. Lads who've been so pivotal in driving that culture of success.

You seem to take absolutely zero joy out of the team doing well, so yes, maybe you do hate Ireland and want them to lose. It's entirely feasible.

I think the other Murray is a better lineout operator

McCluskey has probably been Irish player of the Six Nations soo far, and Gary Ringrose has been really good too, but I don't think Bundee Aki will weaken the team if he comes on as a replacement, he might be in the twilight of his career now but still has plenty to offer for 20mins or soo. Also it changes the picture a bit for the Scottish defence if we are in search of a score. The fact that Bundee is well rested might work in his favour too.

I'd completely disagree with this - for Ireland to be the most succesful six nations team over a 10 or 15 year period, to reach number one or two in the world, to do what they did in New Zealand - its incredible success. The whole world cup quarter final thing is completely overblown.

A sporting analogy would be Sean Kelly not winning the Tour De France. So what. Still a far greater cyclist than Roche over the course of his career. But if all you know about cycling is Tour De France then you will rate Roche higher.

England made a semi-final last two world cups. So what. Ireland has been a better team.

And to state the obvious - France and England are ten times bigger. We should be nowhere near competing with them - and to be honest the way things are going I dont think we will be in the future. In 10 or 20 years time, the six nations will probably rotate between England, Italy and France.

Both can be true, Ireland's success has been incredible and they've backed it up over 2 or 3 different teams at this stage, AND not getting past the 1/4 puts a black mark again our record at the same time. Wales and England have been to semis over the last 3 competitions with teams we handily dispatched, yet we've never made it. At this stage the 1/4 final is similar to never having beaten the ABs up to 2016, or winning another slam before 09, something that definitely needs to be overcome if Ireland are to be a genuine top table team for the next couple decades.