Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Dubinusa

I understand the frustration Smeenus! I don't know the answer and I only can voice an opinion. I don't have a clue about the schools in Ulster. Rugby could prosper in Ulster if there is a right answer. My opinions are just opinions and that would be the path I would expect the IRFU to follow.

But it's not an Ulster problem. It's a national problem (rugby wise) imo. I hope that some positive outcome will happen soon.

Clegg

It'll be very hard to not start with the same pack for the New Zealand game. Maybe Henderson back in for one of Ryan or Beirne. Otherwise, I think that's our best pack athletically and for footballing skills.

bilston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118128031#Comment_118128031

Henderson was very physical when he came on which is maybe what you are looking for against NZ, but personally, if I were Farrell, I wouldn't fix something that ain't broke.

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118126491#Comment_118126491

Ulster have a lot of issues, that minimize the possible catchment and production. Things that the Ulster branch can’t get around.

Munster have probably under produced but seem to be improving in the last couple of years.

Neither have anything to do with imports blocking local lads though.

like the way Leinster have struggled to produce a high quality 9. With only one home grown 9 in what, the last 15 years? Is that because we keep bringing in outside 9’s? Or because of a lack of talent coming through.

Larbre34

Henderson in for Ryan? Not in this universe.

Henderson in for O'Mahony for me. Who they start in the row becomes an interesting question then, but Doris is the 6 and that's a settled question.

Herring in for Sheehan too to close out the set pieces with his dead-eye darts and experience.

Very hard to see any change in 9 to 15 or 21-23 either.

There was a slip in cohesion slightly when the bench arrived on today but that squad will drill away all next week and hopefully wring out some of that.

Very exciting fixture to come next week now.

Locke_Lamora

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118128091#Comment_118128091

In this universe Henderson went on a Lions tour ahead of Ryan. Ryan hasn't been in great form the past year at all, good to see him playing well today though.

Clegg

I was hoping to see something from Carbery when he came on. But he was poor in his 20 minute cameo. Just looks like he doesn't know what he wants to do on the ball.

He hasn't performed well for Munster and I think we're going to have to look elsewhere with Ireland.

bilston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118128091#Comment_118128091

Why would Henderson not be ahead of Ryan in this universe?

I'm not saying that should be the case, but you make it sound like it is beyond all doubt!

bilston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118128120#Comment_118128120

Yeah, the difference between him and Sexton was night and day.

To be fair given the way the previous 55 mins went he probably felt like he had to force it a bit. We will get a better idea of where he is if he starts the Argentina match.

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118128120#Comment_118128120

He needs to start turning it around at this point, tbh, he’s been Munster’s 3rd best 10 this season.

I wouldn’t be too harsh on him today, in general games like that tend to fall apart once subs start coming on. But if he gets an opportunity to start against Argentina, he needs to take it.

TRC10

Wow....just wow.

Farrell's questionable selections all fully vindicated. Credit where credit's due. If this is what he's been building towards and we see more of the same, I'll gladly take the last 2 years on the chin.

Most enjoyable performance I've seen from an Ireland team...possibly ever?

I'm absolutely delighted.

OldRio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118126643#Comment_118126643

A damn site more than 30 years.

Former Former Former

Hard to see any changes for next week, unless they were pre ordained before today. I think Henderson was the only FINISHER who really pressed his case.

Jump_In_Jack

Did Aki get taken off for any other reason than to mind him for next week? I know he had a knee injury recently, so I hope it hasn’t flared up again, though McCloskey isn’t a bad back-up in any case.

Interested Observer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118128031#Comment_118128031

Not sure VdF has nailed down his spot, wouldn't be shocked if he didn't start but his mobility might go in his favour.

phily2002

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118129424#Comment_118129424

Who do you think they might drop him for? I thought he went quite well.

Only change in the pack I could see happening is Hendo coming in for Beirne or Ryan.

VayNiice

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118129424#Comment_118129424

VdF's handling was brilliant, always in the right place as a link. He didn't have to make his usual mountain of tackles because Japan didn't have the ball. I thought he played very well

I'd absolutely be starting VdF. Besides, who else would start at 7? Timoney? Please don't say POM. VdF is one of the easiest selections for next week imo.

swiwi_

The big Q for me for next week is whether Ireland will once again be decked out in their traditional pomegranate-magenta change strip?

TRC10

No way VDF is dropped. He's streets ahead of the other options at 7 in the squad. Suggesting dropping him is madness. His engine, work rate, defence and carrying are top notch.

Doris may be at risk if they want to add some size with Hendy against NZ's pack which will be bigger than Japan's.

Lowe was class today but starting him v NZ is a massive risk. Zebo or Larmour are more reliable defensively.

TRC10

If anybody wants to retain their brain cells

stay out of The42 comments section on today's game

Absolutely crazy stuff in there

lawrencesummers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118129559#Comment_118129559

If they are then the all blacks will have to be the partially black and whites something in sure Guinness would love to be associated with.

Happydays2020

It will be a big loss next week

VayNiice

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118129637#Comment_118129637

3/10, you could do better

TRC10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118129637#Comment_118129637

This isn't the New Zealand fan thread

molloyjh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118129637#Comment_118129637

One thing we can say right now is that we have no clue how next week is going to really go. We’ve come on a good bit since the 6Ns, but then the opposition hasn’t been very good. So what does any of these improvements mean for next week? Who the hell knows. We definitely aren’t favourites, but I don’t think we know just how close we are or are not. But sure we need to find out so it’s as well we do that next week than in the 6Ns or in 2023!

Clegg

I think a few posters have been very put out by the fact we hammered Japan and played some excellent attacking rugby.

Reminds me of all the scrotes who came out of the woodwork after our elimination from the WC in 2019. Hadn't posted in years because we were so successful, but the knives came out as soon as Ireland lost.

TRC10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118129725#Comment_118129725

Ireland is funny because there's genuinely a large proportion of the population who hate the Irish rugby team and actively hope they lose.

Nobody is just indifferent. You either actively want Ireland to win or to lose, there's no middle ground

Happydays2020

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118129650#Comment_118129650

I went to my first 5N match in 1987. Was at the Australia game in 1991. All through the crappy 90’s and thankfully got to enjoy the 00’s and was in Cardiff in 09 and Paris in ‘14 and London in ‘18.

we are undercooked going into next week. Hope i am wrong but a win over a crap Japan will not deliver a win against NZ.

molloyjh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118129743#Comment_118129743

I don’t think anyone thinks that it will. But a good performance might. As others have been at pains to point out, the results of these games don’t really matter. Let’s see how we stack up against the best and how far we need to go over the next 2 years.

Happydays2020

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118129754#Comment_118129754

We played well today. Nice to see fast tempo and off loading. But making a big jump to us being a good team off that performance is a big jump.

I am not pointing to you but some of the comments here on that performance are a little OTT.