Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

I would have liked to see Postlethwaite and/or one of the Connacht centres/Tector named ahead of Henshaw/Aki. Thought B Ward was worth a look but happy to see Jansen in.

Back 3 is suddenly looking a bit callow. TOB and Baloucoune the obvious starters but there is a drop off if 1 of them is injured. JOB is in good form and I like Nash. A pity he has been injured so much. Same with Bolton. Not sure what the point in picking Stockdale is anymore, a really good club player but hasn't been able to step up to international level for years. With Nash/Bolton injured, I'd have brought Lowry ahead of Stockdale.

I think 6 and 10 will be the most interesting calls in a few weeks. C Prendergast is in brilliant form, Conan obviously never lets Ireland down and Izzy offers a more athletic option for the 6 spot. S Prendergast is starting 10 again for Leinster but didn't have a good 6 nations. Frawley is a perfect bench spot if going for a 6/2 bench with Byrne pretty out of form.

Edogbo must be becoming a big worry for Munster. Such an exciting prospect but can't seem to stay fit at all. They already have enough for these players on their books paying wages for no game time return. Bar McCarthy, Ireland don't have any players with his size and strength so I hope he can find some fitness next season.

Continually bewildered by the conviction that it doesn’t count if a player gets a chance due to injury.

This is a decent squad with plenty of players who can make an impression, some of them will, some of them won’t.

It’s as experimental as it could have been.

Didn't know all of the above were injured. Some amount of injuries including the 10 or so that were named.

Forgot about Kelly. Would actually have had him in myself for Henshaw and then Tector for Aki but now I see Tector is on Leinster injury list. Down a huge amount of potential young player to look at in the centre.

Edit: I just checked that second announcement Ireland made and I see they did mention Postlethwaite as injured so my bad for calling that wrong in original post.

and don’t collapse in on yourself if things don’t go well early on

I think he'll have to get over not being a competent tackler.

I can only imagine how he struggles to look the other players in the eye when he avoids contact and concedes ground or a try. How does he look Tommy O'Brien in the eye when they both know TOB would have thrown his body and soul into the same tackle? Same with the rest of the players. I have mostly given up on the idea that he will ever be a good carrier or tackler and I think he just doesn't like contact. But he has other skills which are excellent. I'd imagine it's hard to be so poor at some areas of the game and feel confident.

If he can maintain the great play in his strong areas, while just getting on with being averse to heavy contact, then he could still have a great career. But it will take a unconventional readjustment to how the team plays around him. And he would need to be clear first choice to make those changes to the team.

In no way was I responding to a criticism that would fall into the category of the last part of your sentence.

I’ve no interest in doing that either btw. It’s already been done to death, here, there and every bloody where.

For everyones sake, we should trust one of the hardest bastards to ever play rugby, both physically and mentally, to try and get the best out of Prendergast.

Specifically, I think Frawley has what it takes to be our 3rd choice international 10, given Harry Byrne is the alternative.

I would rather invest time in Frawley there in the event he is ever needed at 10 off the bench, and he also facilitates a 6/2 split better.

I think there’s more upside to Frawley than Byrne.

Funny, I would have thought Bryne's recent kicking from hand has been mediocre at best, hardly a strength of his.

Based on Frawley and Byrne's respective performances this season, with the prospect of Frawley getting more gametime at 10 next season during a RWC year, all in the context of this as a selection of our 3rd choice 10, and with the vast majority of minutes at 10 going to Crowley and Prendergast when available.

That's why I think there's more upside the Frawley than Byrne.

If Crowley had been fit, I wouldn't look to start Frawley in any game.

…and hasn't even been shunted in there by Leinster in a lot of games.

Which is pretty much the same approach I would take with Ireland.

Plus all the other things I've said about him getting more time at 10 next season, covering more positions, being a better option for 6-2, all in the context of our 3rd choice 10 with Harry Byrne as competition, coming into a RWC year.