Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119217573#Comment_119217573

When that happens we will see but all evidence so far suggests. It’s Ringrose and A.N.Other. Hume is most definitely putting his hand up though and hopefully gets meaningful minutes in NZ.

Faugheen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119217573#Comment_119217573

Don't know where Henshaw comes into the conversation, unless you think he's a better 13 than Ringrose?

Hume is a very good player and if Ringrose was ever unavailable (or even available) I'd have him at 13 before anyone else. It's certainly more of a reflection on the ability Ringrose has rather than any suggestion of a lack thereof for Hume.

awec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119217609#Comment_119217609

Ireland's centre pairing is, more often than not, determined by injuries. Until Hume's emergence (which is only really happening now) we only really had 3 decent options and it was rare that all 3 were fit.

I would agree Ringrose is a better 13 than Aki. Ringrose also has a better injury record than the other 2.

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119217629#Comment_119217629

I think we will find out on this tour, as all are traveling fit.

Dubinusa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119217573#Comment_119217573

Disagree on Henshaw. He's good at both positions. I'd have Ringrose over him at 13.

AbusesToilets

I feel at times Ringrose is too apt to take the ball on himself, rather than create opportunities outside of him. He usually makes meters, but he's squandered scoring chances in the past. Saracens final would be a stand out example.

awec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119217627#Comment_119217627

Henshaw is a better 13 than Ringrose, yes.

Henshaw is Ireland's best centre in either position.

Dubinusa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119218173#Comment_119218173

I would disagree.

Faugheen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119218173#Comment_119218173

I have seen nothing from Henshaw to suggest that he is better than Ringrose at 13.

What are you making that judgement on?

awec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119218279#Comment_119218279

13 is Henshaw's best position. 😊

TRC10

I'm with awec on this one. Henshaw is a cut above our other centres at 12 and 13. He'd moonwalk into the ABs team.

IMO Henshaw, Sexton and Furlong are our 3 best players.

Faugheen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119218286#Comment_119218286

Great, but that doesn't make him a better 13 than Ringrose.

What makes Henshaw a better 13?

Dubinusa

Henshaw probably wouldn't make the France xv nor the bokkes. He's very good. But, that's about it.

mun1

I don’t think it matters who we send down to NZ and who plays in what position. We have a mediocre to average bunch of international players at the moment, who can raise their game every now and then but are in a bit of a Downward spiral led by a captain injury prone and well past his best, but hopefully with a bit of luck can steal a win or 2 against the Māoris, and keep theNZ games close on the scoreboard.

More than anything we need to get a bit of squad development at 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15 on this tour or else we are goosed before the WC even starts.

letsbefair

Interesting to see we are only rated 5th favourites for the World Cup. So not expected to reach a semi. We need to be realistic. We punch above our weight given playing population. We need a lot of things to go our way.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119219260#Comment_119219260

And again, its not at all surprising that come rwc time we're not one of the four best teams in the world.

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119219260#Comment_119219260

We're 5th favourites primarily because we have a vicious draw. The top 4 ranked teams are all on one side of the draw (ours) so we have a much tougher route to a semi than e.g. England.

theVersatile

Henshaw definitely a better thirteen than Ringrose. I just feel that at international level Ringrose has never taken a game by the scruff of the neck the way that Henshaw has done.

That, and Henshaw played thirteen twice for the Lions last year for a series which Ringrose wasn't selected for.

TRC10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119219260#Comment_119219260

Given our record at World Cups and the draw we have, I'd say 5th is generous. NZ, SA, France, Australia and Wales are more likely winners than us IMO.

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119219411#Comment_119219411

By that logic Biggar is a better 10 than Sexton.

tooka

Why can’t the average Irish fan on here take the provincial blinkers off

is there really that much of a difference between ringrose and Hume? ringrose may be the better runner with ball but Hume is the better passer.

the reality is furlong is the one truly world class player we have and has to start.

For me Sheehan, Kelliher and herring are all similar. Henderson Ryan beirne treadwell all similar

i hear people say Keenan sexton park henshaw James Ryan Doris van der flier are all nailed on starters and the gulf between them and the rest is huge and that is simply not true

schmidt was a failure because he fell into the trap of believing there was different levels in the Irish rugby squad when the reality is there ain’t

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119219446#Comment_119219446

"Everyone except me is so blinkered"

"All the Leinster players are sh1t"

Classic.

tooka

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119219499#Comment_119219499

Perfect example of someone who is so blinkered they cannot understand they are so naive

it goes like this for example

johnny sexton is Irelands number 10 and no one comes near replacing him at international level until he is replaced at Leinster and than and only than can sexton be replaced at international level by the very player who has replaced him at Leinster

the true rugby supporter knows the Irish team is very hard to get into but even harder to get out of when you are in , been like this for decades.

if sexton was to retire tomorrow the call would be we must think of the future and Frawley and harry byrne must be promoted over carberry, but these same people will say today we must think of the present and it don’t matter sexton is 38 when the World Cup starts

I find it very funny

Dubinusa

I don't think there's many teams that are stacked in every position. Maybe France have the most depth. Sout Africa too. Most teams do have glaring weaknesses and lack of depth and unfortunately for us, we're drawn in the tougher side of the draw.

England have a easier run to the playoffs! Our side of the draw is a minefield. But, we can up our game for this world cup. We need another loosehead and an outhalf. Without an international class out half werein trouble. Planning around Sexton is not ideal, if nobody else steps forward and produces a top end level of play, we'll only go as far as Sexton can carry us.

So this upcoming tour is important to get others opportunities to develop. If I was to bet on a bolter today, I would say Prendergast would be that lad. Loughman is up for a shot and I hope he takes it. How good would it be if he can step in and do the job! I would start Carberry in all the test matches. If he falters and is ****, we can move on from him to the next in line. Carberry starting and Sexton benching. Does winning in N.Z matter compared to a successful world cup? Is that what we hang our hat on? A win in NZ! I would hope that Farrell is looking to take a gander at the other options. I would like to see O'Toole play in at least 1 test. Timoney to start 1 in a backrow with Coombes and Conan! If we play the usual stalwarts, we learn nothing.

TRC10

I've a feeling O'Toole may usurp Bealham for the bench spot. He's put together a very good run of form in recent weeks and played 80 minutes and didn't give Kitsoff an inch last week. He also brings size that Bealham doesn't.

I don't think our depth at TH is as bad as people say. I think Furlong being as good as he is gives the illusion that the backups are poor but I don't think that's the case. Bealham and O'Toole are very decent players. And you have Moore there who could do a job if called upon.

LH is another story altogether. Porter has been struggling in the scrum big time and I think it's effecting his impact in open play. Healy is finished and should have been jettisoned after the 6N. If Loughman can lock out his side of the scrum and hold his own in open play, than he'll be a good inclusion.

tooka

The 2016 tour of South Africa was excellent and who was our number 10 , one paddy Jackson

I encourage everyone to look back at the players who played that tour, it proves that you must not obsess over certain players being so far ahead of others.

sexton in the 6 nations this year was average and I do not believe for one second that selecting Ross byrne or harry or whoever at 10 would have made much difference

salmocab

The irony of someone shouting about provincialism and posting nothing but provincialism is brilliant.

TRC10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119219899#Comment_119219899

A tour that happened 6 years ago says literally nothing about the depth in Irish rugby currently. Jackson was/is comfortably better than everyone behind Sexton currently.

Also, that Springbok team under Coetzee were absolute dirt and we still lost the series. Hardly "excellent".

sexton in the 6 nations this year was average and I do not believe for one second that selecting Ross byrne or harry or whoever at 10 would have made much difference

You can believe whatever you want, doesn't make it true. If you think it wouldn't have made a difference if Sexton didn't play, then you clearly didn't watch the Italy game.

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119219911#Comment_119219911

For context, said poster thinks Trump was within his rights on Jan 6th and the war in Ukraine is "just propaganda from both sides".

tooka

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119219950#Comment_119219950

this is a rugby forum , please delete your above post

i also call on the mods to issue a warning about the above type of posting.