Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Salanoa is an interesting one. He fits the mould of athletic, powerful and dynamic forward Farrell is looking for, so I suppose his selection shouldn't come as a surprise.

Junket? You really are impossible to discuss things with at times. The fact that you believe this is a junket, shows exactly how unreasonable your position is.

Listening to Easterby at the squad announcement, it's clear this isn't about wins or performances (although I'd imagine you wouldn't want to look poor against those teams). It's literally about prepping these players to be able to play the way Ireland want and be familiar with the systems at the drop of a hat if they have to be called up. These are extended training runs where Ireland and the provinces are only providing half the players.

In the Autumn nations, Timoney got a call on a Saturday morning to come down and okay a test that night and was able to, because he had just been sent home from the extended training squad. They want to widen the pool of players able to do that, and have a look at potential bolters.

There is no good time of year for that to happen. It'll be a very tight table again this year.

Ryan Baird would be ahead of McCarthy too imo.

Frawley also I'd rate as a possibility for the strongest 23. There's a few people who can get ahead of him as the outside back cover and he may only be 4th choice at 10. He may be higher up in Leinster at 10.

Interesting to see Esterby's comments

"We feel Frawls has the potential to lead in a number of different positions. Obviously, he has played 12 a fair bit for Leinster but we see him, which he did in the Maori weeks, as being a guy who can lead from the front at 10, and lead a week.

"He'll be asked in the next few weeks to do a slightly different role to what he did in New Zealand because he had lots of senior players around him. We feel he has the ability to step up and front the week, lead the week, as someone like at the extreme, Johnny Sexton does week in, week out and has done for a number of years.

"Giving those players like Frawls the opportunity to put himself at the forefront of a week, lead it, take the team to a performance at the weekend in that position at 10, is crucial for us. We're still finding out a little bit about Frawls and the way he can play.

"You can see that when they're playing for their provinces in the URC but it is slightly different and there's not a huge difference, but there is a difference when you have them in your environment across a couple of weeks period. Hopefully, we can benefit from that time and Frawls can benefit from that time when he goes back into Leinster after this trip."

https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2022/0914/1323410-easterby-wary-of-compromises-over-emerging-ireland/

I'm suspecting that the captain will be chosen when people get together.

The captain has to emerge rather than be chosen in this (which is a bit of a scratch squad).

I've got a feeling based on Easterby's comment that Frawley is going to be given a chance to establish himself as a leader. If he does he might be in the running for captain.

There’s also the level behind the guys in the RWC squad. The ones who will get called up due to injuries. There could well be a few spots up for grabs there for the likes of Blade and Doak at 9, Wycherley, McCarthy, Deegan and Prendergast.

Then when it comes to someone like Balacoune, his injuries the last while have hindered his involvement with Ireland. And with Stockdale back opportunities in November could be limited further. This gives the coaches a chance to get some time with him and see where he is at and what he needs to work on with a view to deciding on his selection in November. Back 3 is a bit backed up now. Earls, Conway, Lowe, Hansen, Stockdale, Keenan and Larmour would all be there or thereabouts. Can they really bring 8 back 3 players into the squad? Doubtful. And so who misses out? All the others have spent meaningful time in the squad other than Balacoune. So immediately he’s on the back foot.

You're a moron for suggesting that there are players who have been good enough to play for Ireland, but who have been left out based on their ethnicity.

I'd be fascinated to hear who these players are, that rugby has "failed to recognise".

Equally, it's an insult to guys like Illo, to suggest that his selection is a result of the IRFU "recognising change". He's there on talent alone.

I don't see why people need to make a song and dance about what people look like. I thought we'd moved on from this.