Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Live in the now.

It's really not. The world cup is the pinnacle of rugby. It's the hardest competition to win and the only true marker of how good teams are, because everyone has equal preparation time and everyone is going all out to win it. Our record at world cups is embarrassing. Our best ever finish is the same as Canada's. And no matter how many times we beat NZ or how high we climb the world rankings, I don't believe we can ever consider ourselves a true powerhouse on the world stage until we at least win a knockout game. And we should absolutely be targeting winning it.

Suppose VDF misses the world cup? Suppose Connors does to. What experience against top level teams does Timoney have?

There's a fair chance that our back-up 7 is POM, not Timoney.

And one other thing. I've heard a lot of people complaining about "not building depth" and "repeating the same mistakes as the last cycle".

Was depth really our problem at the last world cup? I'd have said that our obsolete game plan, lack of evolution of said game plan post the 2018 GS, persistence with underperforming players, and performance anxiety as a result of an over-controlling coach, were far bigger problems than our depth.

I can't think of an example of a player being called upon due to injury, and then underperforming due to not being given enough exposure in the build up. I genuinely can't.

For the first 20 minutes of the Japan game, things were going great and Carty was pulling the strings really well. And let's not forget Sexton was also on the pitch when things turned to sh*t against England, Wales and NZ. I don't think Sexton would have made much of a difference.

Right! It's possible that was Farrells goal. Winning this series would be fantastic. Although, I think winning the 6nations is a better achievement!

I think Farrell has been very good! I wasn't chuffed when he got the job but, I was in favor of giving him the full cycle. He's done some good stuff.

I don't believe that we'll test many or any fringe lads in the autumn.

The whole building depth thing is only 1 aspect to squad management. It’s important, no doubt, but it’s still just 1 of a number of elements. I think the big thing that Farrell wants from this tour is getting the experience in our starting XV of winning big, high pressure games away from home. Remember, the RWC is effectively a tour. And there’s a bunch of guys in our 23 who are on their first ever tour now, and the only one they’ll be in before the RWC. It’s great having depth and all, but if we don’t have the mentality that we can win big, high pressure games away from home on the bounce (which we’ll have to do in the RWC and which can only truly be learned by actually doing it) then the depth won’t really matter that much in those knock out games.

when Ireland are putting players through 3 HIA tests to play a game

This is the protocol mandated by World Rugby.

The England guys (Itoje anyway) were ruled out after failing the second, post-game assessment. This is the 'early diagnosis of concussion' test - the HIA assessment during the game is only for 'potential concussion'.

TLDR Ireland are doing exactly as dictated by the governing body and exactly as other teams are doing.

Anyone else think Jackman is turning into a pretty decent pundit/analyst/commentator/whatever? I tend to learn quite a lot from listening to him, he goes into good technical detail on things the average fan wouldn't really spot.

He's easily one of the best pundits in Ireland. I think a lot of the big name pundits here are full of cliched waffle. Jackman is certainly one of the good ones.

.....

Props to you Jack! And Props are our problem!.....& Sexton!!

Weird to see Nucifora in the coaching box today. Im not entirely sure what the Performance Director does and doesnt do.

The 'elite player development pathway' hasn't unearthed a quality Test prop since...Porter? & then they switched him!

The prop position was a problem when he started in 2014. Feek was soon appointed as National Scrum coach and helping the National Scrum Development Programme. I think Fogarty's now also double jobs this role.

Ireland are in deep trouble going into WC year.

Wonder what young props will have made the grade to quality test props by 2027?

There are loads of loose-heads around, Calum Reid would be my one-to-watch.

For tight-heads, I think Aungier and one of the Munster props might make a break-through next season, French, Knox or Salanoa. I've a feeling French could come out as the best of them all.

Also, Abdaladze hasn't really had much exposure so far, would be interested to see him play and see what he could do. Clarkson is another one in the pipe-line, but not sure how far away he is from playing a lot of minutes.