Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

TomsOnTheRoof · 23-02-2022 2:47pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118678187#Comment_118678187

Agreed. There is absolutely no merit whatsoever in playing him against Italy. We'll put points on the board regardless of who starts at 10.

Must love hardship · 23-02-2022 3:16pm

Id agree that he shouldn't start v Italy I think a big issue is the fact he is captain. Which makes it more difficult to leave him out. We seem to be repeating the same mistake as 2019 with an older captain guaranteed a starting Jersey.

I think you have to pass over the captaincy to a younger candidate for the summer tour but keep sexton as part of the leadership group and in the squad.

Also he had a slight hamstring strain 2 weeks ago Why risk further damage to it ruling him out of the rest of the tournament by rushing him back for the Italy game.

Also if sexton starts we should play Murray as SH. If/when sextons calf tightens up we will need a kicker on the field with him.

Burkie1203 · 23-02-2022 3:24pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118678582#Comment_118678582

Ringrose can take placekicks

TRC10 · 23-02-2022 3:24pm

It's because of the prize money.

If we lose the championship on points difference because we don't rack up enough points against Italy, the IRFU loses out on a million euros.

For the IRFU it's about money, not winning world cups (or even performing). If it was, there'd be no question of Sexton starting this game. No other country would start an injury prone 36 year old out half against a tier 2 nation.

Hopefully he's left at home for the NZ tour.

Burkie1203 · 23-02-2022 3:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118678012#Comment_118678012

Yes but if your going to promote a player being selected, put forward an argument for who he should replace and why. AF can't just call up 50 players to train just to keep everyone happy.

Zebo doesnt get picked ahead of Hansen, Lowe, Keenan, Conway right now IMO.

Dubinusa · 23-02-2022 3:33pm

I hope that Farrell leaves the older lads home for the summer tour. This tour should be about building for next year. I think it's vital to build depth at lh and 10. Losing a series in N.Z isn't all bad, if the squad is replenished and depth added.

I'd hope that Prendergast is involved and Ross Molony too. The minutes would be ideal for Ben Healy and Harry Byrne. No sense in bringing Sexton. Cian Healy and POM.

salmocab · 23-02-2022 3:38pm

Ireland are not going to a 3 game tour of New Zealand with anything less than the best available players. Even thinking that isn’t what will happen is fanciful.

molloyjh · 23-02-2022 3:40pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118678653#Comment_118678653

France and England both played their first choice 10s against Italy and left them on for the full 80 mins. Sure, their first choice 10s are young, but they still didn’t use the Italian game to build any sort of depth at 10. They played their best options to maximise their return. We will have Joey on for 20-30 mins at least.

Much and all as I’d like to see Joey start, I’m not sure how much difference an extra 20-30 mins against Italy at home would have for his development. So from that perspective I’m not sure it really matters.

salmocab · 23-02-2022 3:48pm

Whilst I’d be inclined to start Carbery myself I think Sexton won’t have played in quite a while and it might be a push to start against England in two weeks time. I can very much see why he might start. Most posting here have the WC squarely in their sights, AF has a six nations in his.

Burkie1203 · 23-02-2022 4:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118678780#Comment_118678780

If Sexton starts, then by 50 minutes then get Joey on. But if we persist with Sexton til 70 minutes then its kind of pointless.

Lsdrugbyfan · 23-02-2022 4:04pm

Iain Henderson produced a positive COVID result during the routine testing of squad and management upon arrival into camp on Monday evening.

AbusesToilets · 23-02-2022 4:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118678706#Comment_118678706

I want Ireland to go out there trying to win the series. Best shot at that in decades, maybe ever. Doing well there could be a huge boost to morale and belief ahead of the WC.

Clegg · 23-02-2022 4:06pm

Hope Henderson makes a full recover. Been a rotten season for him with injuries and now this.

TRC10 · 23-02-2022 4:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118678740#Comment_118678740

That's just not an accurate comparison. France and England's first choice 10s are both 22 years old. In Smith's case, he's only had a few caps and needs the exposure.

Sexton is 36 years old and can't string 3 games together. Massive difference.

It's not just playing an extra 30 minutes. Starting the game at 10, running the plays and directing the team from the start is very different to coming on with 20 minutes to go when the result is in the bag, the bench is emptied and the game has broken up. Look at the Wales game, the last 20 minutes was a total mess.

He's also only ever started one 6N game, and in 18 months he's probably going to be starting a World Cup knockout match, so yeah it matters.

Former Former Former · 23-02-2022 4:08pm

Irish Rugby | Covid Rules Iain Henderson Out of Italy Fixture

Well shyte anyway. Not a big deal cos it's Italy but just means he's still undercooked going into the England game.

phog · 23-02-2022 4:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118678740#Comment_118678740

Chalk and cheese

salmocab · 23-02-2022 4:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118678900#Comment_118678900

I’d say it’s unlikely he has any recovery to make. If it was picked up in a routine returning to camp test he’s almost certainly asymptomatic.

Must love hardship · 23-02-2022 5:07pm

That pretty much settles the debate on who starts 4 and 5 or if bierne would go to 6 for tye Italy game anyway.

Would like to see Coombes or Timoney get a run in the back row.

And lowry and balacoune to have a run in the back 3 with Lowe.

And Jgp to be rested.

Burkie1203 · 23-02-2022 5:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118679228#Comment_118679228

Porter Sheehan Furlong Beirne Ryan Doris VDF Conan

JGP Sexton Hansen Aki Ringrose Conway Keenan

That's what i expect to see when it's announced on Friday

Would prefer to see Joey and Balacoune start with a few changes on the bench too but it's unlikely otherwise it's 4 weeks with no games for some unless they play for their provinces this/next weekend (if there is games)

molloyjh · 23-02-2022 5:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118678909#Comment_118678909

I honestly don’t believe that starting a game against Italy 20 months out from a RWC knock out game is really going to be the difference between Joey being able to lead us to a win or not on that knock out game.

molloyjh · 23-02-2022 5:59pm

An interesting stat re Carbery. He’s been available for selection for just 7 games under Farrell. He has started 4 of those and come off the bench in the other 3.

Podge_irl · 23-02-2022 6:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118679334#Comment_118679334

I agree, though I also think a) giving him 30 minutes at the end is even more pointless and b) starting Sexton or Carberry won't be the difference between winning and losing the 6N. It's a poor call I think.

Must love hardship · 23-02-2022 6:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118679252#Comment_118679252

I'd go with.

Porter sheehan Bedhlam (rest furlong)

Bierne Ryan

Coombes Doris Vdf (id rest Conan played on the lions etc doesn't need this game)

Murray Carberry (sexton will get late niggle again)

Henshaw Ringrose

Lowe lowry Balacoune

Bench.

Herring, kilkoyne, Healy, Baird Timoney, Casey, Carty, Hume.

molloyjh · 23-02-2022 7:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118679567#Comment_118679567

I’m not sure it’s gonna affect anything at all tbh. The game, the Championship, the RWC. As long as Joey gets enough minutes overall then his involvement this weekend is pretty irrelevant overall. I’d start him, but I’m not sure how big a deal not starting him would actually be.

bilston · 23-02-2022 7:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118679252#Comment_118679252

I think the four weeks thing is a red herring. There'll always be reasons for not freshening things up.

You may be right by the way, but I'd like to see 2 or 3 more changes than that.

bilston · 23-02-2022 7:39pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118679945#Comment_118679945

If I thought Carbery was getting all 3 NZ tests then I would agree with you. This weekend isn't going to make a big difference. But in reality Sexton will be chomping at the bit to go to NZ, especially after missing the Lions. So make a few changes now, we will win either way.

The really brave call would be playing Carbery in Twickenham!

TRC10 · 23-02-2022 7:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118679334#Comment_118679334

In isolation, no. But it's cumulative.

France was Carbery's first ever 6N start, he put in a decent performance and Italy couldn't be a better opportunity for him to build on it. Carbery starting and putting in an 8/10 performance would be great for his confidence in the long run. He'd then have two solid 6N starts under his belt and Sexton comes back in for England.

Sexton will probably play a blinder v Italy. Ok great, we already knew Sexton is class. We haven't gained anything. We'll put 40 points on Italy with anyone at 10. He'll then go and get injured against England or Scotland.

23-02-2022 11:01pm

Just heard a rumour that casey is on the bench, no murray at all

Dubinusa · 23-02-2022 11:30pm

Good!

molloyjh · 24-02-2022 12:15am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118680049#Comment_118680049

It’s cumulative? He missed the last 2 6Ns through injury. He missed the Autumn Nations due to injury. He missed most of the 2019 6Ns through injury (was available for rounds 1 and 2 only). You need to go back to the 2018 6Ns to find a time when he was regularly available and didn’t get minutes. When he was 23 and playing FB for Leinster.

Under Farrell he has started 4 of the 7 games he has been available for as well as 1 of the 2 6Ns games he’s been available for. The other he came off the bench despite only just being back from injury.

The issue with Carbery hasn’t been a selection issue, at least not in the last 3-4 years. It’s been an availability issue.

Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

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