Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Gavin didn't have a great season with more questions than answers imo and getting a significant injury now really leaves him playing catch up next season. The raw materials are there, hope he can get a clean run at things.

For sure, Tommy o Brien has been such a bonus. Harry West is a little the same for me in a Connacht perspective, I wasn't expecting anything because he had missed so much rugby but a run of fitness and you see how much quality he has. Hopefully Gavin, bursts back onto the scene after recovery.

Were the Bulls worse than Leinster in the CC final? Given the rain maybe not. That's 4 URC finals they've lost. Crazy run.

Jesus - already setting up for the barrage of abuse when he farts in the wrong direction.

Parts of the bulls game was awful, parts of it were not. They hit hard and fronted up in defence mostly. On another day they get those 2 tries awarded and Sam doesn’t make the try saving chase back and it is a much closer game.
Their issues with lineout/kicking out on the full do not take away from Sam’s performance. They couldn’t lay a finger on him. But it wasn’t like they were defending well. They made 24 dominant tackles. Leinster made 5. The Bulls defense wasn’t bad or slow or lacking in effort. Leinster with Sam at the helm were just better and exploited it. Wilco Louw vomming all over Clarkson at the end is a sign of what Leinster put them through. Made them work.

But whenever Sam has a good game there is always an asterisk against it. He will get found out against NZ. Not like he just played against a team chock full of Springboks.

But can he do it on a rainy night in Stoke?

Is that 2 trophies for Sam now at his age.

It was a very good performance from SP.

Defensively, that chase back was the highlight reel moment. Was he not at fault for their try? Pushed out and JGP left scrambling. Maybe I need to see it again but commentary said as much. Missed a tackle out on the wing where the player powered through him. That was it in terms of defensive errors I thought, he made his tackles otherwise

Attack wise he was absolutely excellent, great passing and kicking, 50/22 and all. He had an armchair ride for most of the game but you've still got to do it. Only negatives offensively I saw from memory was one aimless/loose kick to their 15 and a missed conversion that looked like a bit of a shank but they didn't show the replay. Otherwise he played really well.

Performing when Leinster are on top hasn't ever really been the issue, it's the games he doesn't get the space and time is where things can unravel... so we'll see how he goes over summer in closer run affairs. Crowley being out should allow him to state his case.

Leinster defence won the game I thought, some of their scores came from defensive pressure. That and the Bulls sticking to hoofing the ball for most of the game, they didn't seem to have a Plan B. They were so disappointing... maybe a bit hard done by with some calls in the second half, but Leinster have to take credit for not letting them play too.

He played well but what some posters have issue with is the 'He'll get found out against NZ' It seems to some he's had a good game but I'm going to diss him for something that might or might not happen. It says one he'll of a lot about what that poster really thinks and hopes for.

It’s a fair point.

On pure performances, Max Deegan deserves to be in the mix arguably. He’s as good a defensive lineout operator as there is in Irish rugby, but I think Farrell probably thinks that ship has sailed a bit.

I’d bring Bryn Ward, with a view to maybe capping him off the bench v Japan. Go with a back row of Cian Prendergast- Josh van der Flier & Jack Conan for Australia, with Nick Timoney on the bench, and then Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney & Sean Jansen for Japan, with Bryn Ward off the bench.

I think I’d take Zac Ward as the next winger up.

I think Gleeson has all the tools to be a top class back row. He should absolutely be next up because I think he was very unlucky to miss out in the first place.

Well done, you achieved absolutely nothing by this post.

Both Wards possibly. I would personally take Lowry over Z Ward though. He was poor for some big games for Ulster.

As an aside, I was going to say Z Ward may have a better shot due to their ages but after a Google I see both of them are 27. I assumed Lowry was around 30 due to being around for so long, and Ward 23. Couldn't believe both are the same age.

There is a pretty massive drop off after TOB and Baloucoune now with no more Lowe. Any injury to Baloucoune and Ireland will be massively weaker at back 3.

Pretty massive news in the Ward household.

I’ve asked before, but has anyone checked if Andy Ward has other sons?

TOB and Doris out, Ward x2 in.

Pleased for the Wards but really **** for Doris, TOB and Ireland. Both would have been starters.