Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

We did send a side to Tbilisi one year! It was not really challenging except that the Boks had a side, IIRC. Maybe that would be an option?

Wasn't the Tblissi Cup a step even below the Churchill Cup? It was more like a 3rd team? Maybe I'm misremembering it.

Emerging Ireland, that's right! Forgot that! I did think it was "A" rugby. Might be worth doing something similar.

Ire v Arg match thread here

One worry for me is back up 9. It's important that we have a replacement/substitute for JGP who can keep up the tempo of our play. Murray isn't that player. He's a far more deliberate 9 who wants to assess the options he has when he gets to the ruck rather than get the ball out quickly. He didn't play well against Argentina mainly down to the slowness of his style. That had a knock on to what the rest of the side was able to do.

I wonder who should be the backup nine? Lots of options but far from clear who they should go with. Seems like we need someone similar enough to Gibson Park so our playing style doesn't change when he departs. Option A appear to be Murray right now but he is noticeably slower than Gibson Park and it does hamper us. Casey is next in line and while he brings great tempo and has great potential I'm not sure if he is ready to be the second choice nine at international level, Luke McGrath has to come into consideration - he stills seems ahead of Gibson-Park at provincial level and Leinster don't seem to alter their style when he play . Marmion maybe? What about Blade? Always struck me as a pacy player but probably needs to get ahead of MArmion first to be a realistic option. Cooney at Ulster has looked great for a few years, but think that possibility has passed, also not sure if his style is the pacy fast one that I'm thinking Ireland now need. What about Doak, lots of talk about him and his potential - what type of scumhalf is her?

Next Friday might tell us alot about Doak. If he starts v Leinster there is a fair chance his pack won't have dominance..

He looked a superstar in first few games but when Ulster were in trouble v connacht the last day out he was ordinary enough.. saying that no one from ulster was great really.

As per your question what sort of scrum half is it. The most common comparison he is getting is Ruan pienar and its not far off.

He is an excellant prospect. Over 6 foot tall. well able to control a game, great pass, has an eye for a try and excellent kicker. Might not be lightening fast at the base of a ruck but not slow either. Normally surveys the defence before he gets to the ruck not when he is there slowing it too much and mixes pass running and kicking fairly well.

Id imagine he will be the 2023 world squad bolter but not sure who misses out from the November scrum halves.

Some of his passing from the base took that extra second at times. Other times it was snappy, particularly in their 22. Other times our forwards were not protecting or presenting the pill as best as they could, Argentina spoiled or disrupted a lot of our rucks. Go look at the rucks from the first half and the ball squirting out, hitting off legs. That's not all down to Murray - some of the ball he got handed was crap. Things tightened up after before and after half time as Argentina tired and we wore them down. Reading people during the game complaining he's slow when he's taking his time setting up for an exit boxkick from inside the 22... as if he should be flinging it wide rapidly in every scenario.

I don't think he'll be the number one going forward but I don't think he was as bad today as many are making out (or maybe even hoping) on here. Two boxkicks got us in behind them and eventually led to tries, but for a slapped ball down he was in for one himself and a break off a scrum where he then tracked play and got it again in the 22 eventually led to a score if my memory serves me right.

Casey had a much easier ride (as you'd argue it should be for a sub 9 when he comes on if the pack have done their job). His passing is snappier than Murray's generally anyway though. I'd be happy to see Casey in the 23 for the Six Nations, I think his time is coming soon and would be good to bed him in for (potentially) a World Cup squad.

A good autumn. But, we'll see were we are come the 6nations and the summer tour. I was very impressed with the pack throughout the 3 matches. Big efforts from them all.

Pity that Ryan was injured. He was having a good outing. I am a bit concerned for his health. Hopefully he recovers soon.

Casey was a catalyst when he came on. Serious pace to his game. He's the future, imo. Murray wasn't bad! He's just not that good!

Carberry was decent. His kicking off the tee was brilliant. Would have liked to see him play alongside Casey. HB was ok. Some mistakes, poor ones. But, he does really attack the line. It was obvious he has not played in months.

Thought the subs did very well! Very good impact. Lavanini is a maggot.

I think we are seeing a little changing of the guard, so to speak. Besides the the newer version of our play and the factors that are involved, I would assume AF has set his sights on a more fluid and faster style of play for the past 18 months.

He is to be commended for the lads he's brought into the set up and in particular, the type of player he has included. If we look at each position, it's plain to see what he's looking for. I.e, loose head, Porter switching has been ideal and he has also had E.O.S involved. In general, the pack are very mobile and skillful. He is trying to layer the team with mobility, speed and intensity. So far it's been good.

So Porter is the 1st choice. Healy has been relegated to the bench. Kilcoyne is on the outside looking in. EOS has not managed to improve in the Aretha they wanted, so he was left out. Another similar type player as Porter would be ideal. There are a couple of young players that could make the grade. I think Healy won't make the world cup!

Hooker is now an are of strenght. Kelleher has exceeded my expectations and so has Sheehan! Herring will be thereabouts, but it's pointing towards the Leinster duo. There's other young players who could make a push, Tom Stewart, Barron at Munster.

Tight head is also quite strong. Furlong is world class. Bealham has been impressive and O'Toole is that type of mobile player that could easily slot in. I think he will improve with time.

At lock there's the holy trinity of Beirne, Henderson and Ryan. All superb options. The options behind them are too bad either, Dillane; Baird and Ahern in the future.

Back row is ridiculous. Where do you start? I think we have the deepest pool of quality in the 6nations for back row.

9 is JGP's now! He has it locked down. Murray will do well to hold off Casey. Eventually, Casey will be the starter, imo. Then there's Blade! Doak! and other capable players.

10 is Sexton! Not even close. Carberry is in pole position as back up, but HB will improve with time. Healy and Crowley could step up too. The rest are outside the box right now.

Back 3 is loaded. Keenan and Conway are top class. Lowe has shown improvement and then there's Zebo; Larmour and Stockdale! All could play their way into the team. I think Earls benching for all the matches, is a changing of the guard. Lest I forget, Balacoune. A player who appears to be the complete package. Hansen has been the best wing so far this year, my opinion.

Center is ok. 3 top class performers and a few decent players below that level. The ones to watch would be Hume and Frawley.

It been a revelation watching the transformation of our style. Hopefully, it continues !

Great Autumn but it will be another quarter final exit in France.