Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

DGRulz

Ah lads, it's all coming full circle now. The real reason Roy Keane was photographed with Sexton was that he was telling him about experience with dodgy training pitches in Saipan, planting the seeds for what historians will look back on as "The Tours fungus conundrum". Johnny will be home by Thursday at the latest, stating the pitch was disgrace and not up to standard and that the management wouldnt do anything about it. Throwing the team plans into disarray and ultimately causing a round 2 exit. Fast forward in time and it'll be discovered Roy had made several undisclosed trips to Tours over the last few months to that very pitch to hand sprinkle the fungus while twirling his mustache and laughing manically in a Cork accent.

/s just in case

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121068591#Comment_121068591

The only thing Andy Farrell and Mick McCarthy have in common would be their accents.

Ben Bailey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121068860#Comment_121068860

Bleddy long way from Wigan to Barnsley lad !

Interested Observer

I keep seeing suggestions that we throw the game against SA or Scotland, for the love of jaysus we cannot do that.

If we lose to SA we're fighting for our lives

If we beat SA, and assuming SA have beaten Scotland, and then try to rest players against Scotland, then there's a very strong chance all of Ire/SA/Sco will end up on 3 wins and then whatever rules kick in to decide who goes through.

Maybe there's scope for rotation in marginal positions (thinking centre, Conan getting a start in the backrow, Hendo/Beirne) but it has to be full guns for SA and Scotland. Can't afford anything else.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121069134#Comment_121069134

We'll see how Scotland go in the tournament, but while I don't think we would rotate for them if we beat SA, I wouldn't be worried about beating them with some rotation. Especially with a strong bench. I do think we would be in the realm of anyone with a niggle being rested.

AbusesToilets

Interesting watching the Breakdown show today. They did their WC predictions, everyone of the presenters had us winning our group and NZ coming second in theirs. Only one backed us to win the QF mind.

This is it

Starting to feel real now, not long to go! Heading over for the SA match, my first away march, and I'm incredibly excited :)

sxt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121069295#Comment_121069295

It would be a massive upset if Ireland were to beat France or Nz, yet I'm sure there will be be pundits on RTE backing Ireland to "go all the way"

I think ireland will be competitive and lose to France or NZ by about 10 points which would be a good result in my opinion in comparison to previous tournaments. Why?

It would end the long and inescapable history of heavy and humiliating defeats in the entire professional Era. The history books don't lie

Ireland were considered "contenders" in at least the last few world cups, but each time Ireland has been knocked out of the tournament in a humiliating fashion.

2019 World cup ,New Zealand put 30 points on Ireland , Ireland were " Ranked NUMBER 1 in the world" at the time. A massive humiliation and mockery of the world rankings

2015 World cup, Ireland were "ranked NUMBER 4 in the World" and favourites to beat minnows Argentina but again underperformed and were completely outclassed and suffered a humiliating defeat 40-23

2011.. Outclassed by Wales

2007.. Ireland "Ranked 5 in the world" Humiliating loss to Argentina 30 -15

2003.. Humiliating

1999.onevofvthe worst and Humiliating defeats to Argentina.

1995. Thrashed by France

Ireland have a horrendous record in this competition.

sydthebeat

...

RichieRich_89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121070351#Comment_121070351

With a bit of luck they'll get wins over Romania and Tonga. Anything else is a bonus.

Someone was saying the RWC wasn't being advertised but some of my social feeds are getting massive amounts of content re the Irish team at least. This popped up earlier, got flashbacks to Rocky III and not in a good way!.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LeF3De0J1vo

Must love hardship

If a front row player gets suspended for 3 or 4 games can they be replaced in the world cup squad?

Sanjuro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121071361#Comment_121071361

Nope. Players can only be replaced by tournament ending injury.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121071380#Comment_121071380

I have a suspicion that law might be tested this World Cup.

Must love hardship

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121071380#Comment_121071380

Thanks was thinking that and remember a replacement could not be brought in for Aki 4 years ago. Was just wondering if there was any exceptions for specialised position like hooker or prop.

Sanjuro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121071388#Comment_121071388

Chuckles in Rassie.

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121071361#Comment_121071361

Technically no - Suspended/Banned players cannot be replaced in the squads.

However , it could be an interesting scenario if a team were unable to provide the required 6 "Front row trained" players required for a match day squad due to suspension.

Most Squads have 8/9 Front row capable players in their squads so they'd want to have had a disciplinary meltdown to not have 6 available, but you could have a situation where you have a mix of suspensions and injuries inside the 48hr replacement window that could create the scenario.

pickarooney

Italy got two hookers sent off not long ago IIRC. If one of our fit hookers gets a ban against Romania we may have to send Sheehan home to have a full bench against Tonga. No Healy to cover an emergency now.

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121071545#Comment_121071545

I would imagine that they have prepped for that already - Tom O'Toole or Bealham will have done some work on Scrummaging at Hooker to allow for them to be listed as hooker on the bench.

The Scrummaging bit isn't a huge deal for a Prop to step in, it's the lineout that would be the real issue and JVDF is the cover there.

sydthebeat

bealham has thrown into the line out before for connacht.. not sure if hes packed down, but id imagine some of the props can be written in as hookers to cover that situation.

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121071632#Comment_121071632

Exactly - The Italian problem was a paper-work error more than anything.

Realistically any Prop can safely scrummage at hooker , but they have to be labelled as such on the team sheet to be allowed to do so.

Don't think any team is going to make that mistake again after seeing that Italian game.

Ben Bailey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121070351#Comment_121070351

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121070377#Comment_121070377

Lads, just try & enjoy it. It's professional sport, but it's still sport. We may win, or we may not.

Kipling said it best "If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two imposters just the same"

RichieRich_89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121072865#Comment_121072865

Sure. I'm optimistic. I just think it makes sense to temper your expectations given Ireland's track record at World Cups. Things have nearly always gone pear-shaped. It's not that difficult to imagine a loss to SA and then a red card for an inadvertent high tackle against Scotland really putting them behind the 8-ball.

I love what Farrell's done with the side in terms of how enterprising (and effective!) their play is. And his attitude that they should relish adversity is absolutely the right one. I hope it's a positive World Cup for them. It'd be a real feather in Farrell's cap if they break new ground.

AbusesToilets

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121071531#Comment_121071531

Asked it previously, but any idea what would happen if a team said it couldn't field a front row prior to a match?

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121073231#Comment_121073231

It's not that difficult to imagine a loss to SA and then a red card for an inadvertent high tackle against Scotland really putting them behind the 8-ball.

Our discipline has been exceptionally good for the last 2 years tho. I’m almost certain we have the fewest number of red and yellow cards of any Tier 1 Nation over that period.

We certainly did going into the AI’s. And we didn’t receive any card during the 6 Nations, and I don’t think we did during the AI’s either? So the gap will only have widened.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121073231#Comment_121073231

Literally no one doesn't know that. I intend to enjoy it while I can.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121073249#Comment_121073249

Can't field a front row at all? forfeit

Can't field 6 front rows? Then they have to have a reduced bench and will likely end up playing with 14 if front rows have to come off that can't be replaced.

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121073329#Comment_121073329

That's definitely the ruling at amateur level where you progressively lose seats on the bench , not sure if that applies in the Pro game - Just don't think it's ever come to pass.

I would imagine that if it was Injury driven they might allow for waivers to the 48hr rules to avoid games being forfeit.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121073391#Comment_121073391

I'm fairly certain it's ruling in pro game as well. Would be very surprised any waivers would be allowed to 48 hour rule as well

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121073443#Comment_121073443

You are likely right , just think they'd do everything they could to avoid a team forfeiting due to Injuries - Suspensions would a different scenario though.