Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

What utter nonsense. This is a high risk high reward game plan and mistakes will be part of it. Our gameplan the last 2 weeks are pretty much built for JGP over any other 9 we have IMO. A few mistakes but he did a hell of lot on the other side of the ledger which went a long way towards this win.

In fairness this is what we want to move away from - guaranteed starters. This is why we failed at the world Cup. We need to pick the in form players, now this is our best 8(Beirne could also slot in with no drop). Come 6 nations it could change a lot. We need the competition for places to drive on performances

What I’d go for against Argentina. A good mix I think.

Porter Kelleher Furlong 

Beirne Ryan

Coombes VDF Doris

GibsonPark Carbery

Frawley Ringrose 

Baloucoune Keenan Lowe

Kilcoyne 

Sheehan

O’Toole

Baird

O’Mahony

Casey

Byrne

Larmour

Scroll up a bit

Will Connors will be back in the running soon? As will Stockdale!

Eh, what!?

Ireland look better with JGP. Faster distribution and better tempo. Could be a reason why the forwards are looking so good! Not to mention the backs. I think JGP is a stop gap player. He's going to be around for a while until Casey Knocks him off his perch! Or someone else. He's added a variation to our play that Murray just can't provide. Farrell rates him and he's played in big level games with Leinster. He's timed this move perfectly! Whether he can remain the starter, remains to be seen. I think he will be for this 6nations. He deserves to be.

But that's just it. We sort of do need to prove it.

It's been our downfall at World Cups.

Big performance v Italy in 2011, crumble v Wales the next week

Big performance v France in 2015, crumble v Argentina the next week

Big performance v Scotland in 2019, crumble v Japan the next week

If players need to be wrapped up and rested after 1 big performance, why do we even bother going to World Cups? We may as well stay at home.

We should treat this game like a semi final, and the NZ game was a 1/4 final. How do we back it up?

Maybe Casey will but if we've another 9 who will put in a better performance than JGP did yesterday that is one of those good problems to have. A really good problem.

I've watched the game again last night and skimmed through again this morning and definitely the best I've seen an Ireland team play. The 15 mins after half time was basically as good as I've seen any team play, it was total rugby in attack and defence. Every single player had outstanding moments. Think my MotM would have been Kelleher, he was on another level imo. Did not think Farrell & Co could get Ireland to this standard but obviously I was very wrong. Exciting times now heading towards the 6N but we have to back it up. Leinster playing this sort of style as well should help.

I've always been very impressed with Henderson and think he's one of our best players, but I think some of his best performances come as an impact player off the bench with about 30 minutes to go. The energy and intensity he brings when he takes the field can bring a massive lift to the rest of the team.

The last thing we want is to lose momentum by losing to Argentina so I think changes will be minimal and I'd hope and expect that a lot of thought will be put behind them.

I think everyone would expect Carbery to start 10 with Byrne on the bench. The issue there is do you risk having Casey on the bench. Do we want Casey and Byrne on the pitch in the last 20 mins together if it's a tight match. Is it not fairer to give one or other a more senior partner?

I remember Stringer and O'Gara starting together against Scotland back in 2000 and honestly for the first 15 or 20 mins they were all over the place. They got it together and the rest is history, but personally I'd avoid having Casey and Byrne on the pitch at the same time for now.

I'd give Dan Sheahen a start and probably give Porter more test match experience at LH. I'd probably rest Ryan and start Henderson and Beirne, unless they want Ryan to skipper, but Henderson can do that as well.

I can see O'Mahony starting in the back row alongside Doris and Conan.

As mentioned I'd go for Gibson Park and Carbery at 9 and 10. 10 is more critical than 9 in terms of developing options so Casey may have to bide his time.

Centres and back three are anyone's guess. If I were Farrell I'd want to test someone else at FB and IMO the most likely candidate is Zebo. Id love to see Baloucoune get a run as well.

It should be the most interesting selection of the Autumn anyway.