Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Can't see Mccarthy getting the nod, wouldn't be a bad shout though. I'd be surprised if Farrell doesn't go with Beirne, Ryan, Dorris, POM, Conan.

Conan's looking powerful this season and looking dominant in the tackle which we'll need against SA.

I'd like to see Farrell use Australia to get big match experience for the lower cap players- Timoney, Coombes, Prendergast, Loughman, Mccarthy, O'Toole. Its an ideal game to see what they can do against a tier 1 nation. I recon he'll go full strength and just use the Fiji game to mix it up though

I personally think that pack make up is too light to take on South Africa.

I mean how big the pack is does matter in the scrum and the maul.

I also think that conan and POM are too much alike to be in the same pack. I’d rather have one of them and coombes . Or one of them and timoney. Depending on if you want heavy ball carrying or a tackling machine.

If you want someone to contest their lineout POM, if you want the better ball carrier out wide, Conan.

There is a difference between struggling and being wiped out.

Every time i watch an ireland game, POM and Conan operate in the same areas. And Conan doesnt seem to be used as a heavy ball carrier in the middle. Hes used as a dynamic ball carrier further wide. When you see POM, its often as the first person to a ruck in a wider area. That’s an overlap. Maybe Conan is a powerful ball carrier and hes just misused by ireland, but i dont see that as the best use of his skillset at all.

That’s Doris’ skillset.

Conan and POM are fighting for the same spot and subbed for each other for a reason. They occupy the same space.

yea; but if we are repurposing POM to more VDF’s role, then give me timoney. And if you are using conan more for power; give me coombes.

I dont think pro rugby coaches think ‘these are the 4 back rows in our 23, and if ANY of them get injured, then the bench guy will slot in next game’.

The only one of those three that id consider to be so good that they’d slot into any possible ireland back row is Doris. After that its skillset to me, but we will see what happens.

I agree that POM is the next best 7 but hes a 7 with a different skillset. You could pick him, but you’d have to juggle roles and responsibilities some. Timoney is a more one for one pick for me.

presume you mean backs rather than back row? for attack its usually the first receiver (and by extension, usually the 10) but it can be anyone. defense probably one of the centres

There was a press briefing from David Nucifora today. Apparently he talked for about 90 minutes. I've read a few articles on the briefing. I think I will talk about the whole briefing here as its about Irish rugby rather than splitting the post between a few different threads.

He spoke about a number of things. He is fishing for an extension to his contract adding a year or so which he expects to spend transitioning to a replacement.

Contract extensions for the senior team's coaches are being negotiated at the moment.

The IRFU are hunting for a new forwards coach for the under 20s at the moment.

He acknowledged something I've mentioned a few times which is that the URC doesn't have enough game time for developing young players at the moment. An emerging Ireland taking part in the Currie cup or a provincial development competition played during international windows are being explored.

Apparently there are negotiations going on for a sevens six nations which could be an interesting event. Not sure it will work as Wales Scotland and England have shut down their sevens programs (being replaced by a Team GB sevens program). Getting an international event played here could be great imo for exposure of sevens.

Nucifora claims that 29/37 womens rugby contracts have been accepted. 4 Irish players rejected the offer focusing on their non rugby careers and 4 UK based players rejected the offer as they have existing contracts.

There is planned to be a women's Celtic cup this season with 3 teams (one from each country) that will play between the interpros and the six nations. Thats expected to double in 2024 to 2 Irish teams and 6 over all.

There is a new annual womens XVs international tournament that will be played in the autumn international window for womens rugby. There will be 3 divisions and this years six nations results will serve to determine eligibility for division 1 (top 3 qualify). All games in each division will take place "on location".

A few articles covering some or all of this press briefing are below.

i think i heard somewhere (otb probably) that the lower end of the scale was to add onto the sevens players that already are contracted, so everyone ends up around the 30,000 mark. could be wrong on that all the same

the contracts are obviously a joke compared to mens ones though

Those early contracts were handed out to players who played for their clubs and based in their provinces so could live at home or at least in affordable rented accomodation.

Where do you get that in Dublin, all contracted players have base themselves or travel to Dublin

id imagine if you compared cost of living etc, these contracts would be worth alot less to be honest

Jenkins is in I see..

Interesting. I wonder will he play v ireland or munster.

I said it a few weeks ago. He is a good person to have in the SA squad as has excellent knowledge of both the Leinster and Munster players and how they act in the lineouts and scrum and general play. Smart move by South Africa including him.