Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Coaches don't pick on form. They pick based on what quality of performance they think the players will probably deliver.

Casey's been good in a average (at best) Munster team, Murray on the other hand should be nowhere near the team. I would have picked Doak over him for instance.

I'd like to have seen Josh Murphy in, and they could maybe have taken along another loosehead to try to grow the depth, but it's a pretty good squad overall. It's such a shame about Baloucoune, though.

Cian Healy! He's done! He offers very little. Delighted for Loughman. It's good to see someone who's bee around for a while getting an opportunity. Murray is just so poor. He's not up to high tempo rugby. His performance against Ulster may have been his worst ever!

Prendergast and Coombes could be a nice pairing. They are both knocking on the door.

Losing Kelleher is a blow. Sheehan has developed a lot as a player this season, but the former is still better.

Not convinced that Baird is worth his spot at 6 with Leinster, let alone Ireland.

Happy enough with that squad. Lots of guys with minimal test experience.

Think Burns might be unlucky but H Byrne obviously made an impression during previous camps and that's what matters to these coaches.

Surprised by Loughman but fair play to him.

Otherwise no surprises really. Injuries probably resolved a couple of the tough calls, especially in the back three

Front Row - Loughman is a surprise inclusion. I’d have had Wycherley in ahead of him. But he has good ball handling skills so that may have helped. Otherwise nothing to see there. We do have a short to medium term issue with depth at 1 and 3.

Second Row - Treadwell an interesting selection. Kleyn is the other obvious contender but Farrell does seem to like Treadwell. It’s good to see McCarthy getting the nod too. He’s had a stellar few months.

Back Row - Baird in as a back row is interesting. Both Leinster and Ireland seem keen to use his athleticism in some way but he still needs to develop that bit of dog, even if playing in the back row. But hard to see any issues with that selection.

Scrum Half - I think Murray’s form has been better than some describe. He’s been playing in a dysfunctional team and inside a 10 who simply cannot seem to control proceedings at all. For most of the season though Murray has been good so no issues with that call. Hopefully the different environment can bring out the best in him. Nobody else is calling for inclusion either. Cooney shot himself in the foot with his comments on Sexton, Doak isn’t getting much of a look in at Ulster now, McGraths passing isn’t good enough and Farrell has clearly never rated Marmion.

Out Half - Burns not being called up is disappointing. He’s gotten a good run of form lately and is clearly playing better than Carbery or Harry Byrne. But at this stage HB is a selection for the future (not a totally bad thing) and Carbery is a sunk cost. You have to wonder when the latter will be good enough or deemed to no longer be worth investing in.

Centres: Frawley is another interesting call, especially ahead of Moore. But his ability to cover 10 probably gets him the nod. Aki needs to find some form as he’s been awful since the 6Ns. Like Murray, hopefully the Irish environment can bring that out.

Back Three: No major calls here really at all. You’d think that if Balacoune was fit that he’d take either JOB or Larmours spot. Otherwise not really any talking points here.

Murray and Healy shouldn't be on the plane, their performances this year are not up to scratch and are not likely to improve before the WC

Carbery is probably on a last chance saloon deal, where he'll be given a shot with a full strength Irish team in a full intensity test game and see if he's worthy of continuing with to the WC or if we need to move on to someone else.

Harry Byrne has done absolutey nothing to deserve getting this opportunity other than possibly wearing a blue jersey. Being 3rd choice for his own club, only 4 starts at 10 in the whole season,

Farrell doesn't pick the Leinster team though.

Some of his decisions to back players who weren't first choice at their respective provinces have worked out really well. JGP, obviously, and now O'Toole is coming good.

Yeah Farrell has been happy to select guys who aren’t first choice for their province ahead of the guys who are. Loughman, Treadwell and JGP being the obvious examples. Byrne was behind Carty prior to this so we’re effectively talking about 4th choice 10 so is it really one to get bothered by?

Burns can feel aggrieved though. At least with Byrne you think that he’s being selected because of his potential to be a top class 10. So investing in him now is forward planning and not totally a bad thing. At some point Carbery needs to either come good or be cut loose because after a while potential needs to translate. And we’re still waiting there after a good few (albeit injury disrupted) years.

Sexton is still good though, as is POM. No issues them being there.

Not a surprising squad , given where we are at . Must target the first test or else it could get ugly

You think Murray should be there?