Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

I want to know why young player of the year Gavin Coombes was snubbed by those wretched Lions selectors!

It's almost like back row is a deeper position and harder to break into than hooker

Great news on Ringrose. When he's fit and in form he's the best 13 we have.

Thought he was one of our best players in the AIs. Looks like he's thriving in Ireland's attacking system.

He passed 7 times vs NZ and 9 times vs Argentina. Against Argentina Henshaw was the only one from 11-15 to pass more than him (11 passes) but that’s to be expected. Against NZ Keenan passed 8 times (probably due to the NZ kicking game) and Lowe, Aki and Ringrose all passed 7 times. So he wasn’t really passing any less than his inside centre partners were. He was also using the additional space he had to make a good deal more metres and beat a good few more defenders than either Aki or Henshaw.

For me it's just a lack of inherent understanding when it comes to picking the pass and timing it perfectly to put others in as much space as possible. I can't understand it when I see people refer to him as a playmaker. When has he ever unlocked a set defence with a delayed pass?

That they don't know what they're talking about slash just parrot the narrative?

Have a look at the Argentine defence it was much ore aggressive outside the 13 channel than NZ and Argentina. Often the pass wasn't on, teams will adapt to our new style in attack and we will have to adapt our attack to match them on the Hoof.

Surely Carty will have to be in the six nations squad. A third match this season where he’s got a hat trick of assists

Agree with Okeke! Looks a high quality prospect. Munster are developing a serious group of back rows. Hodnett and Kendellen being the obvious ones. Jack O'Sullivan looks like a good player too!

This is true. But at the same time it's only right to point out who played well, regardless of the quality of the opposition.

Leinsters front row were excellent yesterday for example. Furlong won MoTM, but it could easily have gone to Kelleher who was destructive in the loose. Scrummaging was a bit iffy, but it was so solid with Ireland that it can be chalked off as a blip.

For all that, they won't shift POM for a while yet. He was brilliant today.

Scott Buckley man of the match. Will surely start seeing game time in the big games for Munster now as the competition at hooker isn’t too strong.

If Carbery is out it’s a huge opportunity for Ben Healy as the starter and Jack Crowley on the bench.

Of the team that beat NZ, Ryan, Henderson, Conan, Sexton and Aki were unavailable for selection this weekend. Hard to replace this quality

I'd be picking Hume ahead of Chris Farrell, he doesn't seem to be in as good form as previously. I think any two of Aki/Henshaw/Ringrose are first choice and I'm happy to see any combination really (I'd prefer Aki and Henshaw myself but it's a much of muchness). After that Hume is the next cab off the rank.