Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Can one game count as a trajectory?

Having watched him play 10, I would have to disagree.

Fair enough would you 12 is his best position?

I think so, it suits his skillset better, he’s creative and a great distributor. Just don’t think he has the game management for a top level 10.

Luke Fitz has been banging the Frawley at 10 drum for quite a while now (not sure how much I'd read into that) but it's an interesting debate. He's such a cultured, natural footballer and he's the perfect size for a 10. But I do have concerns about his size as an international 12. He may need to bulk up, but playing above your natural body weight can lead to dip in performance or injury. Henshaw put on a lot of size to play 12 but his form sky rocketed when he slimmed down after the WC.

I've got a sneaking suspicion Frawley won't be at Leinster too much longer. With the new URC having no games during international windows and Henshaw to come back, he'll struggle to get enough game time at Leinster. Unless Ringrose is moved to wing to accommodate him.

I wouldn't be surprised to hear about Ulster (who are shortest at 10) sniffing around, or Connacht if Carty leaves.

I wouldn’t necessarily disagree based on what we have seen so far. Both immensely talented players but neither are natural 10’s.

This is true, but Havili is more wiry and has an agility about him which helps him not get dominated in the contact area. Redpath is similar. Gavin Henson was too.

Frawley doesn't posses the evasion and speed to make up for his lack of physicality IMO. He very much looks like a 10 playing at 12 for me.

I'm not saying Frawley can't be a 12 but you'd need someone outside him to do the hard yards like Tuilagi does for England when Farrell is at 12. They tried Farrell and Slade but it just doesn't work. Frawley trucking it up into a South African or English midfield would worry me.

I'd like to see more of Frawley/Henshaw. It's balanced and they played together away at Montpellier last season and wentt really well.

The back 3 will be interesting. Keenan is probably nailed onto start at 15. I really rate Baloucoune and I think he should be given the opportunity in these games. The other wing position for me is harder to decide. Keith Earls was brilliant against England in the 6 nations but I think we should be looking to the future. James Lowe is too much of a weakness defensively. That leaves Larmour or Zebo. Not sure who’d be the best option out of those 2.

I agree completely. Ryan's form over the past year should in no way ensure his place in the starting XV. Both Henderson and Beirne have been far more impressive with Beirne being, in my opinion, our best player last season.

Yeah I think in second row, Ryan and Henderson have more physicality in the tight and Beirnes skills are more suited to 6(though is is quality in the row as well). I think the 3 of them could start vs NZ.

While Ryan had a bad patch last year, I think he's looking back to his top form lately. He's doing a serious number on opposition line outs as well.

I had a feeling that Gatland was going to use Beirne as a bench option because of his versatility, I'm wondering is Farrell thinking along the same lines, we'll find out next week I suppose.

For NZ I'd go

4 Ryan 5 Hendo 6 Beirne 7 VDF 8 Conan 19 Baird 20 Dorris

I agree Beirne at 6 is likely but it’ll be very tough on whoever doesn’t make the match day 23 out of Doris and Coombes. I’d expect Conan to definitely make the 23 anyway with how he did for the Lions. 3 excellent number 8s we have at our disposal.

For NZ I'd go

4 Ryan 5 Hendo 6 Dorris 7 VDF 8 Conan 19 Bierne 20 Pom

For jpy id go.

4 Ryan 5 Bierne 6 Coombes 7 Timoney 8 Conan 19 Henderson 20 Doris

I agree with all that (he wasn't playing badly and is on better form this year) but i think it's interesting that Ryan is the first second row on the sheet and the other second row is up for debate. I think Irish people convinced ourselves that Ryan was the new Paul O Connell and even when his performance dipped, we didn't acknowledge it because we had just gotten into the lazy habit of presuming he played brilliantly (Paul O'Connell-esque) in every game. I think a lot of people were shocked when he didn't make the lions selection and even now we're already back to assuming he's the best second row. Henderson regularly captains his club side and goes on the lions but has to fight for the second place in the second row behind Ryan.

The responses above show that not everyone is blind to his dip in form and are judging him on his current performance level (which is pretty good). I think he is just assumed to be the best player and the only way he doesn't start is if he's injured. I also think they're trying to shoehorn him into captaincy which i don't think he's suited to at all from the look of it, but that's another story.