Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Former Former Former · 20-10-2021 2:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118047622#Comment_118047622

Farrell wants to see how the discussion on boards.ie plays out, to be confident he's picking the right guys.

shootermacg · 20-10-2021 2:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118047466#Comment_118047466

The wiki is wrong, or he's grown since. Wycherley is approximately 6'5.

https://img.rasset.ie/00184c32-614.jpg?ratio=0.9

Dubinusa · 20-10-2021 2:31pm

I do think that starting for your province should be the benchmark for international call ups! My point with HB is, he is only selected purely on potential and the fact that none of the others have shown they can be the future 10.

I hope Doak gets to train with the squad, Prendergast too! These lads are ones for the future.

shootermacg · 20-10-2021 2:37pm

Someone made a great point about rushing kids through the system. Instead of learning their trade at a slower pace and picking up experience. Their focus switches from learning to surviving the rigors of international and club rugby. In effect, they stop learning and become limited.

aloooof · 20-10-2021 2:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118047724#Comment_118047724

The England games showed progress that can hopefully be continued. The strike move for Earls was class. We showed really good patience on phase play, good examples of changing the point of attack (Aki with some really nice passing, which you wouldn't necessarily associate with him), variation (Earls stepping in at first receiver) and and some off the cuff stuff too.

We even had Conan scoring on penalty advantage. That Sexton didn't kick away. Which he apparently does every single time.

But I don't know how you expect anyone to take you seriously when you roll out the "car park, underage AIL side" auld shite.

molloyjh · 20-10-2021 2:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118048155#Comment_118048155

Prendergast picked up a nasty looking injury at the weekend.

Doak though should be involved I think. Farrell hasn’t been slow in bringing guys in. Harry Byrne being a perfect example. I’d be confident he’ll be there, even just to be in the set-up and training with the squad.

Clegg · 20-10-2021 2:49pm

Would rather we didn't persist with McCloskey in the squad. He's never gonna be good enough. Plays a veey similar role to Aki as well. Could've been a good chance to have a look at Frawley.

Ciaran-Irl · 20-10-2021 3:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118048100#Comment_118048100

Why does Munster have him down as 1.93m (which isn't 6'4 incidentally) on their own site? https://www.munsterrugby.ie/player?PlayGuid=FW155642

He simply isn't big enough to play in the row.

salmocab · 20-10-2021 3:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118048451#Comment_118048451

Player stats are notoriously inaccurate when picked off the internet. They aren’t really worth bothering with.

1.93 is 6.4

Podge_irl · 20-10-2021 3:39pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118048155#Comment_118048155

It is for the most part, but ultimately coaches will both evaluate players differently and have different requirements. Once the player is getting decent gametime at the province it doesn't really matter if 1st choice or 2nd choice.

Mike Ross anchored the Ireland scrum for the entirety of the 2015 6N despite not even making the Leinster 23 for the European games as he was behind Moore and Furlong.

bilston · 20-10-2021 4:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118048327#Comment_118048327

I honestly think if McCloskey was given a run of matches you'd see a totally different player in green. But that's a luxury that international coaches can ill afford to give. It's a pity as he could be a weapon at test level in terms of getting Ireland over the gain line.

starkid · 20-10-2021 4:20pm

Jaysis we are goosed if our future is the likes of Prendergast. He simply isn't good enough. 105kg lock with 11 starts for Connacht. Same with Fineen. Neither should be in the squad. Solid young pros, miles away from being proper internationals. They are Billy Hollands mark ii, a million miles away from some of our best locks even in the darkest amateur days.

I think at this stage i'd be massivley worried for the NZ game, and Irish rugby in general.

Doak looks class just get him involved.

Ciaran-Irl · 20-10-2021 4:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118048557#Comment_118048557

It isn't actually. It's 6.332021 ft to be exact. So I'd call that 6'3. Photos of two lads hugging are also notoriously inexact and not worth bothering with. Either way, he's just not tall enough. Like Soroka, he'll hopefully be an excellent flanker, but he won't ever be a top level second row.

Bazzo · 20-10-2021 4:24pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118048822#Comment_118048822

It's 76 inches which is 6'4" or 6.34 feet

Happyhouse22 · 20-10-2021 4:26pm

Haha definitely logged on to see the “Is 1.93m equal to 6 foot 3 or 6 foot 4 debate.”

So much better than the Sexton v O’Gara debate..

Anyoen else blame the new site update?

realhorrorshow · 20-10-2021 4:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118048815#Comment_118048815

Do you watch rugby games or just read player profiles? Prendergast is a blindside, and if you have seen him play you should know that he's more than physical enough for the position. Anyway, he's injured so it's a moot point.

Bazzo · 20-10-2021 4:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118048815#Comment_118048815

Prendergast has lined out exclusively at 6 for the Connacht senior team

starkid · 20-10-2021 4:35pm

yeah thats fair he's a number 6 exclusively i am wrong. I thought he was a lock playing 6. he's played well this season, stats wise. but he's nowhere near the squad at present.

ShineyShiney · 20-10-2021 4:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118048918#Comment_118048918

So you haven't watched him but he's nowhere near the squad☺️ this place cheers me up everytime.

EachSmallChime · 20-10-2021 4:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118048815#Comment_118048815

The guy is literally 21 with only 11 (genuinely promising) starts and you're writing him off ever being an international. This thread lads...

salmocab · 20-10-2021 5:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118048822#Comment_118048822

Sorry wasn’t trying to get into a pedantic argument but it’s about the thickness of a finger nail off 6.4, it’s about 1mm less than 6.4. Anyone that height would certainly say they were 6.4.

jacothelad · 20-10-2021 5:16pm

1.93m = 75.984251968503 inches.

Must love hardship · 20-10-2021 5:28pm

Backs (18)

Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 31 caps

Robert Baloucoune (Ulster/Enniskillen) 1 cap

Harry Byrne (Leinster/Lansdowne) 1 cap

Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 24 caps

Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 3 caps

Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 25 caps

Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 93 caps

Ciaran Frawley (Leinster/UCD)*

Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 10 caps

James Hume (Ulster/Banbridge) 1 cap

Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 13 caps

Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 30 caps

James Lowe (Leinster) 6 caps

Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 5 caps

Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 89 caps

Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 34 caps

Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 99 caps CAPTAIN

Simon Zebo (Munster/Cork Constitution) 35 caps

Forwards (20)

Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 5 caps

Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 16 caps

Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 22 caps

Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 20 caps

Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) 2 caps

Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians) 19 caps

Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 9 caps

Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 49 caps

Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 109 caps

Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 63 caps

Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 22 caps

Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 13 caps

Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 45 caps

Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 76 caps

Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 1 cap

Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 37 caps

James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 37 caps

Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne)*

Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge) 1 cap

Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 32 caps

*denotes uncapped player

Development Players

Thomas Ahern (Munster/Shannon)

Jamie Osborne (Leinster/Naas)

Interested Observer · 20-10-2021 5:29pm

I'm so mad I could spit

Now, have to check the squad.

Eod100 · 20-10-2021 5:31pm

Read that as Zebo being captain for a second..

Interested Observer · 20-10-2021 5:32pm

I notice Henshaw isn't there. I haven't been paying any attention to rugby media recently so might have missed an injury, but not good. On the other hand, it is a big change for Frawley at Leinster at least. Good to see Frawley in the squad even if he doesn't get gametime, the game against Scarlets shows what having someone with his skillset can do for us at 12.

Other than that it's just a big list of everyone who is fit.

Former Former Former · 20-10-2021 5:32pm

Good squad. Plenty of youngsters.

Interesting that Henshaw is omitted but is rehabbing with Ireland rather than Leinster so they must be hoping he'll be available.

Must love hardship · 20-10-2021 5:34pm

Stockdale is out.. injured?

My only fault with the team is the 3rd choice scrum half so happy enough

roverjoyce · 20-10-2021 5:34pm

Remember this day when the World Cup arrives in 2 years

Teams are starting their 2 year cycle now, while Ireland pander to the central contacts and aging players

England are already in World Cup mode while Ireland seem to have forgotten bout it

Podge_irl · 20-10-2021 5:37pm

Surprised Doak wasn't brought in as a development player. Not much to get too upset about in that squad though I think. Looks like both Burns and Carty are out of the picture though and they are going with Carbery and HByrne. Risky given their form and injury profiles.

Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Comments

Development Players