Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

molloyjh · 15-02-2022 1:02am

People are in for a big shock if they expect wholesale changes. France and England playing full strength sides vs Italy. We’re still in the hunt for a Championship and PD could well be very important. And the England game in Twickenham is 4 weeks after the France game in Paris. We may see 1 or 2 changes, mainly on the bench, but by and large it’ll be a strong side we put out.

bilston · 15-02-2022 8:01am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118632631#Comment_118632631

I don't disagree with the general point, but I believe England made 6 changes between the Scotland and Italy matches and still won 33 0 away from home.

I'd be confident enough that we could make the same number of changes and still secure a bonus point at home to Italy. But as I said before I think Farrell will be conservative and we'll see Henderson and Henshaw come in and maybe a couple of other changes.

Former Former Former · 15-02-2022 9:11am

I would like to see Bealham start with TOT on the bench. We are very vulnerable for prop replacements.

I expect Henderson and Henshaw to start but after that it will be minimal enough.

It will be interesting to see if Lowe gets called up for rounds 4 and 5.

phog · 15-02-2022 9:50am

Does Sexton start or do you give Joey another start? I'd start Joey just to give him match time. If fact I'd start most of the guys that have benched for the first two games just to give them match time.

starkid · 15-02-2022 9:55am

nobody is looking for alot of changes.

one or two options to be looked at.

if we don't do that, we are being utterly stupid.

salmocab · 15-02-2022 9:57am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118633139#Comment_118633139

I’d say Joey stays in regardless of Sextons fitness for Wales, Henderson and Henshaw will start apart from that can’t see much changing, maybe one change in the back row and one in the back three, could see Coombes getting a go. With Hansen only having 2 caps I’d say he’s certain to stay so maybe one change at either fullback or wing. Front row is already likely to have Sheehan in so don’t see any more changes there

it’ll be a very recognisable team with no real surprise picks.

awec · 15-02-2022 11:04am

Henderson and Henshaw will certainly start.

I'd also bring in Coombes, I'd play Beirne at 6, I'd keep Carbery and I'd have Baloucoune either at 14 or 23.

Could he go with a Henshaw Hume centre duo? Would certainly be an interesting call.

Realistically there's a 0% chance of us losing this, and we're going to bonus point them with ease.

Burkie1203 · 15-02-2022 11:11am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118632631#Comment_118632631

Kelleher looks to be out, that's one change

Carbery to start with Sexton on the bench

Think we should give Coombes and/or Timoney a shot.

I agree, won't be wholesale changes but still reckon we will have 3/4/5 changes in the 23

Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Ryan, Beirne, Doris, VDF, Conan

JGP, Carbery, Hansen, Aki, Henshaw, Balacoune, Keenan

Bench

TOT, Herring, Bealham, Henderson, Coombes/Timoney, Murray, Sexton, Henshaw/Conway

Clegg · 15-02-2022 12:27pm

Carbery should start against Italy with Sexton getting 20/25 minutes from the bench. The way fixtures fall, if Sexton doesn't get any time before the England game, it will have been 5 weeks since he played.

Must love hardship · 15-02-2022 12:44pm

Aki was very heavily strapped v France and didn't have much of an impact. Going forward.

Wouldnt be suprised to see Henshaw come back in at 12.

Looking at the stats from the game most were very similar tackling, metres made, turnover etc the biggest difference was we conceded 6 penalties in our half and they only conceded 3.

They scored 6 penos to our 1.

Also we missed 5 more tackles than them. Plenty to work on. But nothing that can't be fixed before the England game

Shehal · 15-02-2022 1:07pm

The big difference was the penalty count and turnover count which went against us, not significantly but enough to decide the final scoreline.

Yeah_Right · 15-02-2022 1:40pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118629165#Comment_118629165

Theres 3 certainties in life - death, taxes and Irish fans complaining about the ref.

I think Gardner is a good ref. I thought he had a decent game. I counted 3 mistakes/questionable decisions. 2 in favour of France and 1 in favour of Ireland.

sydthebeat · 15-02-2022 1:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118633160#Comment_118633160

i can guarantee you there will be at least two changes for the italy game

Yeah_Right · 15-02-2022 1:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118629893#Comment_118629893

I've watched a lot of Casey over the last couple of years and I'm a fan. I wouldn't call him a hot head and can't recall any tantrums. Do you have examples? Genuine question.

irelandrover · 15-02-2022 1:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118634403#Comment_118634403

Absolutely every losing teams fans complain about the ref.

I don't think he had a bad game, he let the ruck go but for both teams. He missed a few things but every ref does. The only really infuriating call for me was the very short advantage call.

AbusesToilets · 15-02-2022 1:57pm

The way he reffed the ruck would be the biggest complaint. He was allowing French players to lie on our side with impunity, which nowadays refs are pretty quick to blow up. He ignores all that, yet pings Kelleher for a pretty marginal offsides on a contested kick. There were also multiple breakdowns where he let the French either play the ball while on the ground, or without ever releasing the tackled player. Those are pretty basic things to miss repeatedly.

eagle eye · 15-02-2022 2:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118633160#Comment_118633160

I'd be of the opinion that your best way to a big points haul is start everyone off the bench and use the regular starters after 50+ minutes who are then facing the Italian second string. We could score a lot in the final half hour.

Former Former Former · 15-02-2022 2:20pm

Three year central contract for Beirne. Nice bit of business.

molloyjh · 15-02-2022 2:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118634403#Comment_118634403

Fans everywhere give out about referees. Gardner was fine overall from my blurry recollection, but there were a few areas he frustrated me. France jumping across our line out constantly and that ridiculously short advantage. I’d like to see a less blurry view of the rucks too but haven’t had a chance to watch back yet.

stephen_n · 15-02-2022 3:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118634542#Comment_118634542

Never really works out that way. The changes cause disruption, as the players coming in get up to speed. Even when good players are coming on, they don’t always perform as well as when they are starting. Trying to force things and make an impact.

Yeah_Right · 15-02-2022 10:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118634470#Comment_118634470

Absolutely. Every country's fans do it. Just in my experience Irish fans seem to do it more than most. Even when they win. Just my feeling in the 15 or so years I've lived here. Maybe I'd have a different perspective if I lived in Wales or France.

I agree that calling advantage over when he did was a strange one and inconsistent. He did make a big call in Ireland's favour when he said Sheehan held the ball up. I reckon if he'd said onfield decision was a try, the TMO wouldn't have over turned it. I think it was a try. Theres no way some part of ball didn't touch grass in that situation.

pickarooney · 15-02-2022 10:46pm

Even if Sheehan hadn't prevented the try, which every replay showed he did, Lucu clearly knocked on at the base. They showed the replay and it was clear as day. I found it bizarre they even looked at the grounding given it was no try from the moment he knocked on.

Gardner had a decent game all round. Players know what to expect and if they don't they have to adapt quickly. Gardner wasn't the one blasting Irish players off the ball in any case.

OldRio · 15-02-2022 11:30pm

I'd imagine someone might have a word with Gardner re the lineout. Start with the gap. Always technical that one. Measurements and everything.

When he's mastered distance perhaps his next focus could be on the projection of bodies across said gap.

Well leave the breakdown for another day.

BTW the loss was on Ireland, Noone else.

Yeah_Right · 16-02-2022 12:13am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118637690#Comment_118637690

I'd forgotten about the little knock on. TMO should have picked that up. Do you think the TMO would have over turned the call if Gardner had said it was a try? I don't think he would have.

JRant · 16-02-2022 12:34am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118637562#Comment_118637562

He should have gone upstairs for a look at the second d French try. Looked like a French boot kicked it out of the preceeding ruck and then he got in the way of POM making a tackle on the line.

Must love hardship · 16-02-2022 1:21am

If ireland ever went with a 6 2 split who's our best option in the backs?

Could doak potentially offer us that 9/10 cover on the bench we probably need to pull it off.

Aki probably misses out in the centre as he is mainly a 12..

Carberry could play 10/15.

Sexton 10/12.

Keenan 14/15

Ringrose 13/14

Henshaw 12/13,15?

Hansen 10/11/15

Larmour 13,14,15.

Dubinusa · 16-02-2022 3:12am

Henshaw will not play 15! That ship has sailed!

RichieRich_89 · 16-02-2022 3:24am

Yeah, probably Doak as 9/10 cover, and then you'd be looking for a versatile #23.

Add 12 for Ringrose, 11 and maybe 13 for Keenan and 11 for Larmour.

Some others:

Keith Earls 14, 11, 13, 15, maybe 12

Ciarán Frawley 12, 10, 15

Jimmy O'Brien 15, 13, 11, probably 14

Tommy O'Brien 11, 12, 13, 14

Rory O'Loughlin 13, 11, 12, 14

Shane Daly 15, 11, 14, 13*

Jamie Osborne 13, 15, 12

Calvin Nash 14, 11, 13

Addison can play fullback, 13 and wing - but he's never available

*I don't think he's played 13 at senior level. Is his defence up to it?

So... Doak and Ringrose (if you've got a winger who can move to 15) or Doak and JOB otherwise? Don't trust Larmour at 13 myself, and Earls is old.

salmocab · 16-02-2022 8:01am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118637562#Comment_118637562

You just get that impression because you’re here so exposed to it more. There are fans everywhere that do much the same and social media just exaggerates how much you see of it.

Podge_irl · 16-02-2022 9:09am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118638207#Comment_118638207

Nah, not a hope. That was always gonna stay with the on-field decision.

Though I tend to think it genuinely wasn't a try.

Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

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