Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

I have been saying it for a long time that Casey is very overrated. Punters like him because of his stature & his feistiness. But his rugby ability is not international test level.

He has a lovely pass but his decision making is questionable. SH has to be one of the best decision makers on the pitch.

Casey is very reliant on Crowley to run the show, but for Ireland a lot of the control of the backline comes from 9, which Casey just doesn't have.

In terms of the backrow though last night, look at what he was up against. He was excellent but also need to see more of him against higher quality opposition. Hopefully Connacht make the Champions Cup next season.

Yeah fair enough. Stormers was a statement win. He also started against France in the 6N and didn't look like a standout.

Wales have named an extended squad for their summer games today. I wonder will we see a training squad named soon by Farrell.

With Baird on crutches, a rumour going around that Beirnes knee injury is quite bad and he will miss the summer and Edogbo in a sling after the weekend, the make up of 4/5/6/8 will be interesting.

There are plenty of options in the backrow with Conan, VDF, Doris, Soroka, Prendergast, Jansen, Izzy, Timoney, B Ward all playing well and will be in with a shout. A lot less at 2nd row. Ryan and Joe McC are guarantees and D Murray I presume will be there. Do they look at maybe Harry Sheridan? Or play Izzy as a 2nd row? Can’t think of too many other legitimate options really.

Probably going to be an Irish squad announced in the next few weeks for the Nations Series games. Tried to have a look at a current best 23 of uncapped players (in my opinion):

We're relatively deep in some positions: both THPs here look like having full international potential, the back row options all look good (and Ward & Jansen could well be capped this summer IMO), and we've got some good young centres coming through.

Other positions are weaker: the two hookers included here are unlikely to ever be capped, but it's a position Ireland are relatively deep in.

Some guys were lucky to make the 23, and I'd say Brian Gleeson & Fintan Gunne are in more for their potential and what they showed as U20s rather than what they've delivered as senior players.

Unlucky to miss out: Alex Soroka, David McCann.

Similar, but slightly different, I also picked our best possible 23 of players aged 25 or younger right now, and it's a relatively promising selection too IMO:

*already capped at senior level

A pretty strong selection I think, with notable depth at lock (three really good young players), and LHP where Billy Bohan doesn't make this side despite having huge potential. Centre another area with lots of quality young depth IMO, and some really promising players coming through in the back row.

Cathal Forde needs to be in any uncapped XV at 12. I know I’ve been banging his drum before but I rate him highly and have no idea how he hasn’t been capped by now.

Darcy had huge limitations, especially regarding his defence and lack of size.

he was not better than Jamie Roberts 2009- onwards and certainly wasn’t better than Will Greenwood.

In an uncapped XV I’d have Forde 12, Jude 13. Both have been doing the business consistently for a number of years now. Kelly is decent but he was in the English system for years and they were never really interested in him (1 cap v Canada during a Lions summer). Easy to forget Gavin actually got capped v Portugal last year and scored 2 tries. He probably hasn’t kicked on as we hoped he would since then.

I think Tector is really underrated personally. With Reiko leaving, I think Osborne will be used at 13 more next season, which opens the door for Tector to get more game time at 12. Cooney still has a lot to prove. West has looked good, but very early days for him.