Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

True. And even when Best was captain Sexton was the leader of the group. But a least Best could take the burden of captaincy (ref etc) and also captain the forwards and Sexton the backs.

Ideally I wouldn't have had Sexton in the Autumn squad at all. Just to give the others game time and ownership. But even by selecting him Farrell could have given captaincy to Ryan. Started Carbery (v Jap and NZ) and given Sexton his moment v Argentina.

You cannot seriously compare 2nd rows with out halves. The 2 positions couldn't be more different.

Locks playing at a high level deep into their 30s is quite a regular occurrence (Thorn, Matfield, Shaw)

Out Halves playing at the top level at 38 is unheard of. The oldest out half in 6N history is Diego Dominguez and he was 36.

Sexton is playing great right now and long may that continue and I've no issue with him being our 10 as long as he's the best. But the idea that he'll be our 10 at the RWC is fanciful stuff.

Murray, any chance of another chaos-inciting Tuesday "possible" teamsheet please?

If Sexton is even the third best out-half in October 2023 he should still travel, which is possible. I don’t think it’s likely he will be the first choice by then but as a backup he might be better than bringing a younger less experienced player.

Rob Herring should have been selected over Best at the time (RWC’19), I felt at the time that the selectors got that wrong, and since Best has retired Herring has pretty much proved that point.

Sexton is playing great! It seems that he's unmoveable and a part of the furniture. But, that's not his fault.. he's better than our other options. It's up to someone to move Sexton off the perch! Right now, he's coasting along, no other 10 is at his level. Sexton is unique in the sense that he is such a competitor and has the desire and will to play at this level. He still has the ability and skillset.

Below him is a minefield. The chosen one Carberry is not close to the level and HB has not been tested. Farrell has no alternative, the also runs are not good enough yet!

This may change over the course of the coming 2 yrs. I would guess that Ben Healy will get a shot at the Munster 10 jersey. If Healy takes that from Carberry he will be in the frame. HB is a difficult pick! He's 3rd choice at Leinster atm, I think if he doesn't pass RB soon, his international options will flare out.

The other options just have not been good. I'm a big fan of RB. He just isn't athletic enough. Burns is probably not the answer either and Carty is too inconsistent. Sexton has started the season like a man on a mission and is easily the best option. He should be picked. I think he could have benched last Saturday, I don't think he's going to play against Argentina. I would have started Carberry last weekend. But, Farrell wanted a win! Sexton is the best choice to accomplish that! Until Carberry or someone else steps up and betters Sexton, the choice is simple. Even at 36!

And I am sure you would be the first person on Whining if Ireland lost to Japan and got thrashed by New Zealand (could still happen). Lads need to earn their jerseys no one at interprovincial level has been consistently good enough to take Sextons jersey never mind international level. In the last 2 years we have Ross Byrne, Billy Burns, Carberry, Carty and Harry Byrne what other major nation has given as many outhalfs a chance to make the Jersey their own (maybe france took them ages to settle on a 10).

Would love one of them to step up like Sexton did when he came off bench in Semi final in Croke park to dominate a game, so far none have. A couple have a couple of decent games and then are very poor, carty springs to mind. They need to take the jersey off Sexton not just be given it for changes sake.

No, that leaves this Autumn series, the Six Nations, a three test summer tour in New Zealand, the next Autumn series, the next Six Nations, the summer training camp, the World Cup warm-up series.

That’s not even including two full seasons of club rugby.

Relax, plenty of time.

I'm not one to pass a positive comment but last weekend was the most pleasing Irish rugby game I have watched. And I go back to Fergus Slattery, Mike Gibson times. It was a joy to watch. Long may it continue. Loved most of the game until Murray came on and it was back to the old Ireland. It's amazing how one player can influence how a team is good or bad but Conor defined that position

"Pinning our hopes on Carbery". I was trying to remember when the last time Carbery gave a standout performance in green and I can't recall it. He played fine off the bench in the 2018 6 nations when everything was going great and I saw him in Chicago on his debut and again he was solid. He has 25 caps for Ireland an 1 try and I know I've seen him play some lovely rugby before his injury but I can't think of a tier one game where he confirmed the suspicions that he is a potentially great player. I don't have any particular point other than to wonder why he is so often regarded as the next best to Sexton.