Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Delighted, if slightly taken aback, to see Marty Moore in the A squad.

Personally, I would have had McIlroy over Nash, but given we've lost Baloucoune, Lowry and Stockdale from our back three and Addison's (inevitably) injured, glad he wasn't, from an Ulster point of view.

Not sure what the crack is with Doak.

McCloskey's Ireland resurgence happens to come when we've a head coach who likes off-loading. No surprise. It's understandable obviously that he's behind Ringrose, Aki and Henshaw, but he was always an ill fit with Schmidt's game plan.

Nash is probably a better right wing than Daly. The latter is more at home on the left - if he's playing wing - in my opinion.

Don't think there are any contentious calls in the squad really. It's a selection of all the fit senior players; a sprinkling of very promising uncapped players; and an A side who are just as promising but a but further down the depth chart.

In recent years Farrell has gotten his selection right for the 23 and the wider squad. We're in a very good position right now, barring the injuries to Lowe, JGP, Henderson etc.

I'd rather be in our position now than Scotland's for instance. They've removed the captaincy from Hogg and dropped Russell from the squad altogether.

Sorry, you want me to engage with you so you can have an argument about something I didn't say.

That's mad Ted

Most moronic troll account here by miles. Indictment on the moderators that they don’t cut out this shite.

Does Daly have a higher upside? He's 25 (almost 26) and has never stood out in any big games for Munster. I'm not saying Nash is definitely better, but I've never seen compelling evidence that Daly is better either. They were both on the emerging tour and Nash obviously impressed them more. He was also better v the Bulls.

I'm surprised McIlroy wasn't picked actually. He's done it in huge European games for Ulster.

Let people win arguments on purpose to conserve your own mental peace.

Exactly and that extra competition is likely to bring the best out of all the players in these positions as there is no shortage of quality to replace them if they have an off day.

True but he is a 3 test Lions starter (even keeping out Faletau of a Lions side coaches by Warren Gatland which was probably seen as impossible until it happened) and pretty much becoming our established 8 up until the NZL tour, in NZL it was more of a horses for courses selection as O'Mahony is crucial for the lineout and Doris just being a better player.

The fact of the matter is in less than 2 years he went from being a good option but ultimately not one you would bank at being a big player for Ireland at test level, to being just that granted with the competition in the BR he will inevitably find himself on the bench from time to time ( the only exception is if you are VDF who is probably our best player right now). I definitely see similarities in McCloskey, everyone can see he's a quality player but what he needs now is a proper opportunity in this window to stake a claim, I would say against Australia as SA you need you're proven best team out if possible, and if he does maybe he'll prove himself to be a could alternative to Henshaw and Aki at 12 rather than just being a tackle bag holder.

The one thing Murray is head and shoulders above the others is his defence esp when we're defending our try line.

McCloskey is absolutely the beneficiary of Aki and Hume's misfortune and even Frawley's redeployment to out-half, but that said, he's one tweaked hamstring away from starting against South Africa. After that, who knows? Plenty of guys have got a shot through some sort of lucky break, where they diverge is that some guys seize those chances and don't give the jersey back, others fade back into the chasing pack.

And in fairness to Farrell, he's shown that he's not overly loyal to anyone.

And yet, the Three Red Kings guy from PSOM was ranting on twitter that Munster's Jack Crowley should have been ahead of Frawley.

Crowley, who is 3rd choice at Munster...

Wouldn't take anything that guy says seriously.

No more than Crowley being 3rd choice at Munster. The guy from PSOM is complaining that Frawley is picked while 3rd choice at Leinster, but wants Munster's 3rd choice 10 (Crowley) picked ahead of him. I'm just pointing out his hypocrisy.

I mean, yeah it's a worry. But our whole situation at 10, and the fact that Ireland's entire world cup hopes rest on a 38 year old not getting injured is also a worry.