Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

In 2009, D'Arcy was only back from an horrendous injury and Roberts was one of the best players in the world at that point, so no injustice there. He absolutely should have got a cap in 2005 - the test 12s on that tour were Jonny Wilkinson, Gavin Henson and Gareth Thomas - but there was some sort of personality clash with Woodward, to the point where Woodward (falsely, allegedly) said D'Arcy took himself out of contention.

So he was hard done by but nothing scandalous.

Plus, Greenwood's only Lions test cap was during that 3rd test in '05. He went on 3 tours, but his pick in '97 (before he'd even been capped for England, and one of a number of unorthodox selections on that tour) was attributed as much to some of the selector's friendship with his Dad as anything he'd done in rugby at that point. He wasn't some neophyte either - he was 25 when he went on that tour.

He got injured badly on that tour - but he was never breaking up the Gibbs-Guscott centre pairing in any event.

It's not surprising for me he's not involved this weekend- they've largely rotated heavily, and most of the squad will play across these two match weeks (last week and this week).

I don't expect him to be in the 23 for the final - he was there for the semi because Frawley was carrying a knock.

I wouldn't have Sam Prendergast in the Irish squad this summer, but Farrell definitely prefers him to Harry Byrne historically. a lot of rugby still to be played, and how Leinster's season finishes and the role those two play in it will probably go a long way to determining it.

I actually had a look at trying to forecast Ireland's squad for the Nations Series. We're playing 3 games between July 4th and July 18th.

When we played 5 games in NZ in 2022 we picked a 40-man squad, when we played 2 in SA in 2024 we picked a 35-man squad, so I'm forecasting we split the difference here and bring 37 players down on this one.

A lot will depend on injuries - I'm really unsure around the status of guys like Rob Baloucoune, Jacob Stockdale and Tadhg Beirne, but my best guess at the squad is here below.

I've gone for 20 forwards and 17 backs, as follows:

• Hookers: Dan Sheehan, Ronan Kelleher, Tom Stewart
• LHPs: Andrew Porter, Paddy McCarthy, Billy Bohan
• THPs: Tom Clarkson, Tadhg Furlong, Finlay Bealham
• Locks: James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy, Darragh Murray, Edwin Edogbo
• Back Row: Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan, Nick Timoney, C Prendergast
• Scrum Half: Jamison Gibson Park, Nathan Doak, Craig Casey
• Out Half: Jack Crowley, Harry Byrne, Ciaran Frawley
• Centre: Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Jude Postlethwaite
• Back Three: Hugo Keenan, Tommy O'Brien, Robert Baloucoune, James Lowe, Jamie Osborne, Zac Ward

Development Players: Bryn Ward, Sam Illo

Assumed injured: Jacob Stockdale, Jack Boyle, Mack Hansen, Ryan Baird

Where there are calls to be made?

• LHP - I'm assuming here Paddy McCarthy is back and able to play meaningful minutes down the stretch. I think if so he goes, with a view to getting Bohan on the bench against Japan. Bohan has more upside than bringing Loughman or Milne IMO.
• THP - I wouldn't personally pick both Furlong & Bealham. One should be left at home to bring one of Sam Illo, Scott Wilson or Tom O'Toole IMO.
• Locks - Seems unlikely we'll bring all of D Murray, Edogbo & Izuchukwu. I've assumed Izuchukwu to be on the outside of those three based on the 6Ns.
• Out Half - if healthy then Crowley & Frawley are sure to travel, as I mentioned, I'd have Harry over Sam, but remains to be seen how Farrell sees this
• Centre - given contract status and 6N selections I fully expect both Aki & Henshaw to be selected. I'd go for Jude Postlethwaite over Tom Farrell (who may well be injured anyway I think) as he is a lot younger with more potential upside.

James Lowe's contract situation still needs to be resolved - so it could the guys I've selected here as wingers, or it could only be Tommy O'Brien (if Baloucoune & Stockdale are hurt, and Lowe leaves Leinster). If that's the case, Shayne Bolton probably comes in, Jimmy O'Brien probably comes in and hard to know who's next up after that.

I'd be surprised if we brought more outside backs than back 5 forwards, especially considering Frawley is included as a halfback. Maybe Izuchukwu would get in over one of Postlethwaite or Ward.

Yeah, I guess it's how I classify guys like Jamie Osborne that determines that.

It's so hard to know, as I said above, where things are in the back three. I think there's a strong argument to bring some new blood there - one of Shayne Bolton or Zac Ward IMO.

Did you miss a back row in your original post? Or are you including Bryn Ward?

it’s hard to know - we’ve covered it a lot before on here, but there have been hints the Irish coaches don’t have huge faith in Casey - very few starts and very small minutes against big teams, especially when the game is in the balance. His form has been patchy this year IMO, so there might be scope for Doak to dislodge him as #2, and in that scenario he’s vulnerable.

Hard to know.

I can't see him going with two unproven scrum halves. With Doak been so inexperienced at this level I can't see them picking Murphy over Casey.

Yeah I agree, that’s why I think it’ll still be JGP/ Doak / Casey

I’d be seriously worried if the Irish setup is so fragile, that Doak (deservedly) being bumped from 3rd to 2nd choice scrum half a year and a half out from the World Cup is going to cause the wheels to fall off.

What you call “tampering” others would call rewarding form and picking your best 23. It’s how you best cultivate a competitive, high performance environment

Agree here. There're two tournaments and a nov tour to go before the WC, and warm up matches. If a mature player can't be incorporated in that time there is something seriously wrong.