Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

If form was the only metric for inclusion. Carberry would be nowhere near the team. Carty’s form has been what it always is, erratic.

Based on what we've seen so far in Farrell's tenure, Carty isn't competing with Carbery or even Harry Byrne. He's competing with Ross Byrne for the fifth-choice spot.

That “selection policy” isn’t unique to Ireland though. If you don’t know what you’re going to get from a player then it’s really hard to justify his selection. Especially in such a pivotal position. Harry Byrne has been in camp consistently and has obviously shown enough, given his age, to warrant inclusion. Carty has 7 or 8 years on him so that will impact the decision making too. Whatever issues Byrne might have in his game can be ironed out. Carty isn’t likely to change much at this stage in his career.

Burns starts big games in Ulster as they have no one else, would have him Sexton, both byrnes and even frawley at outhalf if he was Leinster.

If the biggest knock against Carty is inconsistency, there are steps that could be taken to mitigate the negatives. There are other players capable of taking kicks at goal, a facet of the squad that ought be developed anyway. Outside of Sexton, he's the only OH who has shown an ability to create attacking opportunities.

I can't agree with that. Being inconsistent isn't the same as not being good enough. I'd rather see him lining out, knowing there's a possibility he can do something, versus Bryne or Carberry, who haven't shown that they produce at all.

I wish we were in a situation where Sexton is there in addition to a younger ten who is reliable and starting regularly, but we aren't there unfortunately, partly because we haven't got that other ten, partly because of injuries, partly because of poor succession planning and partly just bad luck. I rewatched the 1/4 final against the All Blacks again, and last Summer's Japan test. The AB's game was one of the worst half back performances I've seen. Both Sexton and Murray were hopeless and the AB's were feasting off their mistakes, Murray's game was one of those you'd say should ensure he never plays a test again. When Sexton went off we still hadn't scored. We should keep performances like this in mind when taking for granted that Sexton is miles ahead of where others can get to, he is consistent but he has bombed quite often in his test career.

I'm actually OK with the third choice out half being there based on potential. The same as Casey was there last year based on potential.

However burns should be there ahead of carberry. Carberry is in poor form, hasn't really the credit in the bank and is incredibly injury probe. He does not deserve to be there, and I'm saying that as a munster fan. The next best outhalf in Ireland is burns. Carty was the best outhalf in Ireland last week, and the worst the week before. You just can't trust him and hence he shouldn't be in the Ireland conversation.

I find the squad a very good balance of youth and experience. Winger is the area that is a little disappointing with earls there but there isn't really anyone that should feel they deserve to be there.

Again I find it strange that Haley misses out. I know he's only a full back but if keenan missed a tournament I'd have him as the next best full back and for that reason I'd have him in these wider squads.

No he hasn't.

I like Doak a lot but that is just factually incorrect.

Byrne's development had been hindered by injuries but he's been playing for Leinster since 2019 and he has had some very good games. Byrne also has a European appearance and an Ireland cap.

I sense some recency bias there because Byrne has been injured lately while Doak has been playing well. But to say Doak has shown more at senior level just isn't true.

That's not to detract from Doak, who is very good.

I wasnt wrong, look at the R.Byrne performance versus England to Sexton's performance in March 2020 versus England.

We desperately need to move away from the Murray-Sexton axis.

It just doesn't work anymore. It's had it's day and belongs in 2018. We need a 9 who plays direct, round the corner and at a high tempo.

Calling JGP band average is very harsh. He's a decent albeit not world class player. You can clearly see why Farrell likes him as he plays the game the way Farrell wants to. Very quick delivery, likes to take a few steps and commit fringe defenders and is a running threat. He was excellent v Japan in the summer.

I can see him being a stop-gap player while Casey develops. Similar to how Herring was for Kelleher.

Nah I think Kelleher is definitley 1st choice now.

I could be wrong of course, but I'm 90% sure he starts against NZ

He's was unreal in the summer and the experience of being away with the Lions looks to have elevated him as he's started the season really well.

He's the epitome of the modern day hooker, basically a 4th back rower. He has the potential to be one of, if not the best hooker in the world. Up there with Taylor, Marx and Marchand.

Leinster have a phenomenal talent for developing quality layers in the same position. Porter/Furlong mc grath/Healy a pile of back rows but then struggle to get a top class 9.