Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

And I would love to be a millionaire. Except Argentina have shown nothing in 2021 to make us think they will be able to catch Ireland on the hop and if anything are more likely to lose more heavily than the handicap suggests.

Been thinking a bit about squad development and all the accusations of being conservative (which I never agreed with even before the Japan game) but we've actually learned quite a lot from this series:

• Kelleher and Doris are definitely international standard, this isn't a huge surprise but they've gone and announced themselves on a big stage
• Porter is now our nailed on #1 and we've one of the best front rows in the world, similarly Conan is now our nailed on #8
• JGP is pretty much without a doubt the best SH for our current playstyle and is well up to this level
• James Lowe redeemed himself and is an absolute weapon
• Remains to be seen how he plays but Balacoune has a chance to make himself a live option on the wing, up to him now to take it
• Keenan looks like he'll be the Ireland 15 for a long long time to come

Beyond that we know Ringrose is back to himself, Aki is playing really well, we've 3 top quality second rows. Our pack is completely refreshed from 2020. The only 3 players who you'd consider first choice then and now are Furlong, Ryan and VdF (and I think VdF might be arguable, both then and now).

For me the biggest missed opportunity has been Coombes and Casey. It's a pity the former won't get any minutes at all, I know he was ill for the first two games but still. I hope Casey gets a good run on Sunday.

The starting XV is obviously experienced, but let's not forget Porter is relatively new at LH, Doris doesn't have many caps, Carbery is in at 10 and Baloucoune is winning only his 2nd cap, so there is plenty of change.

Then you have Sheahen, O'Toole, Casey and Byrne on the bench.

So to be fair I think there is plenty of development in this squad taking place.

If it were me, I'd have had either Baird or Coombes on the bench (not both though as you need some experienxed protection in either Beirne or O'Mahony), and I'd have probably stuck Zebo in at 15, just because Keenan is miles ahead of everyone else at full back and we need another option so that we dont become as reliant on Keenan as we have become on Sexton.

Overall, a decent mix, and more than good enough to win.

Re Coombes, I’ve heard rumours online that the virus he had for a couple of weeks cost him a few pounds. He’s probably still not recovered enough for a big battle vs Argentina.

Stockdale finds the above confusing.

True but he hardly saw the ball for the 3 years post 2018.

He scored 11 tries in his first 9 caps and then only scored 8 in his next 26.

He barely scored for Ulster either think it was something like 1/2 tries in a year

Thats questionable based on their performances in 2021.

And what, Ireland are slouches? Atleast Ireland actually have a fly half at 10.

It seems abit weird how you highlight and possibly exadurate the negative side of Ireland’s selection at 10 but then disregard the fact Argentine have a 15 in that position.

Possibly! But that just an opinion.

Well, tbh, I reference our half backs. I don't have much confidence in either. Argentina are not world beaters! But, they're going to be physical and give us a good run.

I don't know! They won't test Ireland! We're just so good! We shouldn't even show up! This child's play!

Im just seeing a trend recently from the Japan & NZL games where we seemed to talk up our opposition to the highest of heights and talk down Ireland and then when Ireland go out and demolish the opposition the same people seem to back track and say Japan are sh*t and NZL are tired and we should have been confident of winning anyway...Predicting Argentina to make this a close game when there is no evidence of them being capable of doing that based on what we've seen from Ireland & Argentina so far in 2021 seems to be following the same trend.

There's respecting the opposition and then there is being realistic.

We should respect the opposition but some here predicting this to be a tight game based on no evidence this season isnt being realistic. The bookies have Ireland by 13.5, the average margin of victory over Argentina based on the last 4 games in Dublin is 16 points. You add in where both teams are at currently and if anything you would expect the margin to be North of 13.5 & 16 rather than south of it. Just saying anyone who say's this will be close I dont want to see them Sunday evening coming back and saying us winning comfortably was obvious, they lose all credibility at that point.

Yeah, we won back in 2018. Also I dont recall us underestimating Argentina in 2015 if that's what you are referring to, in fact if anything we treated them with the utmost respect.