Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

I think McElroy will be pushing on soon. He is looking like a quality player. Barron in Munster could be the starter in Munster by the end of the season. He also looks quality. But, I am really crossing my fingers that one of Munsters young out halves steps up and takes the 10 shirt. My opinion, is Carberry is not able to stay injury free and he's not good enough. One of Crowley, Flannery or Healy could be our future international 10.

At Connacht, Prendergast could soon be knocking on the door. I think Blade will be close also and of course Hansen.

I still can't believe that Farrell doesn't rate Marty Moore! He's been great whenever I've seen him.

Stockdale has a lot of ground to cover to get back into the frame. I'm concerned about his recent injury profile. He's not strung a lot of playing time together.

Your judging him off a game post him being in lockdown for weeks between here and south Africa. You shouldn't.

I assume your talking about healy vs Arnold? They play different positions.

It's funny your saying healys chubby someone on the game thread said he was skinny.

No he said he mentioned Arnold. I know your right there's little point engaging. Iv probably not kept myself busy enough the last few days easy to get sucked I when your being lazy 🤣

So, apparently the guy who outpaced everybody else from his own kick to block down an opposition player to directly set up a try has "no intensity", is "very out of shape" and can't be bothered to "break sweet".

Congrats Jim, it's taken a record breaking 51 posts to make the block list.

Moving on from the fishing expedition, neither of the side's players today really did anything to cement their international places. Carty hit and miss, and for all the fuss kicked up in the Connacht thread, Dillane's departure is no real loss to Irish rugby. Had one nice bit of interplay, but otherwise a liability. His "reserve second row who isn't really trusted to play anyways" slot in the squad is better filled by the likes of Ahern and Prendergast, (assuming Hendo, Ryan, Beirne, Baird are 4/5). On the Munster side, Craig admittedly underperformed despite some aforementioned excellent box kicking early on - that intercept was dreadful. Haley reliable enough as always, one drop aside, but he's been reliable for nearly three years and that hasn't seen him break into the Irish squad.

There are places in the Six Nations squad which are wide open - the next few weeks will be interesting to observe.

Certainly agree about calibre of recent players coming thru like Coombes Hume,Baird Sheehan and Kelleher.Think I would prefer to pick our 6 nations team from Leinster /Ulster though.

I'm a Leinster fan you idiot

So if the 6 nation's is still behind closed doors here would there be any reason Ireland couldn't play their home games in raven hill to a capacity crowd?

They must have made an exception for the years they used Croke Park. Raven Hill would be a good idea in some ways.

There were no naming rights in place on Lansdowne Road those years. So no contract to breach.

I wouldn't have a problem with that. Given the circumstances, it would be better than an empty Aviva

Edgy stuff