Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

I have very high regard for Earls but I'd find it pretty disappointing if he started ahead of Hansen, Balacoune or Conway. I would also comfortably have Larmour ahead given how well he was playing at the end of last season but the Irish coaches obviously don't.

It looks to me as if Earls is really slowing down, and Larmour is a flawed player. I'd have them behind Lowe, Stockdale and Hansen for the left wing, and behind Hansen, Baloucoune and Conway for the right wing. Come to think of it, maybe I'd prefer Baloucoune and Conway at 11 too. And I think Larmour shouldn't be ahead of Keenan, JOB and Lowry at fullback.

Their best opportunity might be as "versatile" bench options, but the extent to which they (especially Larmour) actually cover centre well is very debatable. I don't trust Larmour's defensive instincts at all. He's inclined to get too narrow, leaving the possibility for the opposition to outflank the defence. Jimmy O'Brien would be a better #23 if you want versatility. He's a technically sound defender of the 13 channel, and is a far more assured fullback than Larmour.

That sounds like a very negative appraisal, reading it back. Larmour does have quality. Perhaps he'd bring more 'impact' off the bench than a Conway or a JOB.

The 'Farrell is looking for a playmaker' line doesn't really hold up as an explanation for Hansen over Baloucoune when you also consider the fact that Conway has been a favourite of Farrell's. Conway has virtually no playmaking game. Baloucoune looks like a gun player to me. It's a bit curious he hasn't been involved more. Not enough of a kicking game? Not good enough at contesting box kicks? I don't quite get it. He's got so many outstanding qualities. Faster than Hickie? Maybe. And he's up there with Bowe and Fitzgerald as the best wing defenders I've seen.

Why? Lowe offers a boot that nobody else does and has himself been very good for Ireland. Why is he in the firing line over Hansen?

Carty has played ninety seconds in green since the RWC in 2019. It's not fair to judge him on chances he hasn't had. But maybe the point is thatv AF appears to have already come to a conclusion on that issue. Injuries may force him to reconsider, but that is the lie of the land.

Well, that is your opinion.

Yes, it’s been a bit of a wait. However, we’ve also had the situation in times past where we had two equally talented individuals, vying for the same No.10 shirt. Ward, Campbell. O’Gara, Humphreys. O’Gara, Sexton.

I rate Eric Elwood you may not, that’s part of the fun of offering one’s opinion. Besides, Eric Elwood is the 4th highest scoring Fly Half for Ireland of all time. Be it total points scored or points average, only, Sexton, O’Gara and Ollie Campbell have better game averages.

Im also lucky enough to have seen 9 of the 10 players that I listed, playing for Ireland.

Not unless you have a very very loose definition of “Wold Class”. Yes we have had international class outhalves. Sexton is the only world class outhalf we have ever had though. Even O’Gara at his peak, would not have qualified as world class and he was next best.

If you’re going to use Ward, why not throw Madigan in there. Ward was a brilliant individual player but he was no where even remotely close to world class. I have seen nearly all the players you mentioned play. Especially Ward as he was my clubs outhalf. When they asked the Scrumhalf what it was like to play with someone, who the opposition never knew what he’d do. The reply was yeah but neither do we.

Ralph Keyes was a stop gap in one of the worst periods of Irish rugby ever. As poor as Carberry has been, he would still be an upgrade on Keyes. To call Humphries and Elwood world class is like upselling glass as diamonds.

I think after this year its a tussle between Ross Byrne and Frawley for the Leinster Jersey. Farrell has no problem picking players who aren't starting at their provinces so we could well see Frawley leep frog Ross in that sense. It's so hard to see where Harry is as he just doenst play enough.

Reckon Billy Burns gets another shot?

I think Larmour could be the player Farrell wants but, the fact that he's so poor under the high ball is probably the deal breaker. I think the 23 jersey is Larmours best option.