‘Emerging’ Ireland LiteAce Tour '22 v Griquas Sep30 12:45, v Pumas Oct5 4pm, v Cheetahs Oct9 12pm KO

It's looking ill already! Great idea, poorly executed. We'll not learn too much about anyone in this tour.

Osborne has started at FB against Edinburgh early this year, and may have been put in there off the bench on other occasions.

What does Baloucoune on the left wing rather than the right mean for his Ireland chances?

Are they happy with Hansen and Conway as right wing options, and unsure of Lowe's and Stockdale's likelihood of being uninjured?

From a South African article on the tour that I read a few weeks ago. Emerging Ireland vs Griquas and Pumas are friendlies while the game v Cheetahs is a challenge game with significant prize money to the winner paid by the sponsor (probably significant to Cheetahs rather than significant to the IRFU).

Doak and Stewart would be on the bench tomorrow so I think we actually will learn more about them.

As for Baloucoune, he's exactly where he needs to be.

And instead of having Tom ahern and hodnett in wales last we forced POM and Beirne back into action this early in the season.

I cant see this tour doing anything for the players that have travelled except maybe Jack Crowley but lets be honest he is behind a long list of players and standout performances here wont change anything.

Farce is being polite.

I guess it depends who "we" is.

If you're talking about yourself as a randomer who thinks international selection depends only on the 80 minutes you see on a Friday night, then no, "we" won't learn much.

If you're talking about the people who actually pick the team and want to see as much of these players as possible, then "we" will learn loads for seeing them day in, day out for two weeks.

Do you think that if Simon Easterby and Paul O'Connell come back from SA absolutely raving about a young forward, Farrell is just going to shrug and say he wasn't there?

Some people will only see the negative in absolutely everything

That doesn't mean it won't be valuable.

There are two interpros this week and next. Maybe he'll be watching those.

Value is relative.

It might be valuable to some third and fourth choice players who might only be playing AIL this week, but its certainly not valuable to the clubs that had to make significant changes last week or to the players that would be in the matchday 23 for interpros this week and next week.

So who are the players who'd be in the provincial 23s this week and next? Baloucoune, Blade, Prendergast and maybe Frisch?

Of those, only Prendergast would be better served being at home.

Baloucoune has been discussed to death. He absolutely needs to be in SA, I hope he understands that even if the internet doesn't.

Blade has been threatening to displace Marmion for about four years and hasn't quite managed it. Another two weeks of that is no value to him.

Frisch is fresh off the boat, if he's a live option for Ireland (and I have no idea if he is), then the coaches need to know that NOW.

Fair enough, forgot about Doak. But again, he's starting in a green jersey versus benching in a white one. The coaches seem to really like Casey so on a personal level for Doak, this absolutely has to be a good thing.

And sure ye have Dave Shanahan, what's the beef?

Where is it shown? YouTube or sky or what?

Edit. I see its on the IRFU website

Stream cutting out a lot for everyone else?

Like playing a game with about 5 frames per second

Joe looking like an absolute menace, nice too see.