Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Are you seriously saying 32 is too old?

No, the opposite.

32 is a good age for a prop, practically in their prime, especially compared with 35/36.

They will likely bring a big squad. I don't think it's very likely, but I wouldn't rule it out completely. But certainly as you say if Osborne is being discussed (and I rate him very highly) then so should Moore, even more so really.

32 is a good age for a prop who's already a proven operator. It's very old for a guy with zero caps to be coming into test rugby.

Still, we're not bating props away with a stick so maybe he's worth a look.

I was disappointed for him how "easily" (relatively of course) he was caught on his breakaway against Munster alright.

He's got great feet, lovely hands, capable of putting in a massive hit and is a bit of an all around wing. But watching him get snagged there all I could think was there are a lot of his peers who'd have stuck the afterburners on alright and run away with it

I think we have to assume Healy and Kilcoyne will be past it by October 2023.

We have to give younger players some opportunities to show what they can do.

Jack McGrath is also gone.

So, assuming Porter keeps improving and is there as a loose-head prop come the World Cup, we need to develop two more loose-heads.

As a prerequisite, I’d look around the provinces to see who’s getting game time and performing.

Leinster have Ed Byrne but if he’s not getting regular game time then that should count him out.

Ulster are doing great, Warwick is consistently being selected ahead of O’Sullivan, and Warwick will be young enough to play a part in the World Cup then he would be top of my list to give him some game time on this tour to see if he’s capable of holding his own.

Next in line I’d look at Loughman, he’s big and strong, a bit younger, he’d be 28 at the World Cup. He’s put in some good performances over the past couple of seasons.

Then for next season I’d hope to see Dooley push on for Connacht and become another good option. He’ll be 29 by the time of the World Cup.

Then I’d look at Eric O’Sullivan if hee can get enough game time.

After that the prospects are much younger, Wycherley, Reid, Milne, Burke. If any of them can get game time and impress they might have a shot but they don’t have much time.

Wycherley is the only one that could possibly get a call up as he played a few important games for Munster. Not sure he’s done enough though.

That McIlroy thing is textbook tying up. He doesn't trust his pace and tries too hard and runs out of legs. He needs to work on relaxation, on his running mechanics and on speed endurance. Then maybe he'd be conditioned to run at top speed for 100m rather than for 30m.

Aaron Sexton says hello.

Never really thought Stockdale or Gilroy were slow to be honest.

A lack of top end pace in the back three has been a problem for years. It's the one area we've always struggled with. The last genuine speedster I can remember Ireland having is Denis Hickie. And he last played for Ireland in 2007.

We've had many fine outside backs in the time since then, some broaching on world class like Bowe and Kearney. But it was always the more technical aspects of their game which got them there, rather than pure athleticism. In general you'd rather have the former, but sometimes you just can't beat out and out speed. It terrifies defences and gives an element of unpredictability that no amount of pre-match analysis can prepare you for.

Earls, Stockdale, Zebo, Fitzgerald et al were and are quick players. But imo none have the top end speed of a Watson, May, Teddy Thomas etc.

On the back of Leinsters loss today. Have ireland been found out? Ireland are 80% Leinster and we have sexton who probably has year left till the World Cup.

We have no 10s coming up that are near the quality of sexton. And our front row of the scrum and been struggling. Could be a similar World Cup to the last one. Utter disappointment

Until the demographic of Irish rugby significantly changes, this will keep happening to Leinster and Ireland when it comes to the crunch.

Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face, and whenever Leinster or Ireland get punched in the face, they crumble to pieces.

There's definitely an aspect of Leinster weakening in the final 20 and struggling for a plan B if they can't get a big lead from the initial gameplan that we've also seen with Ireland.

Both teams are honestly unfamiliar with an actual arm wrestle of a contest, it happens so seldom and they struggle when someone can bring it. French teams live in that environment every week but Leinster even in Europe will be out of sight after 60 minutes 90% of the time. It's a problem for sure.

They've been found out if they don't fix the problem...continuing to check out the minute someone punches them in the face isnt good enough for any team let alone a team that wants to perceive itself as a RWC contender.