Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

johnston had just signed his first pro contract when carbery signed and was 21, he easily could have been the longterm option if carbery wasnt being shoehorned in. he didnt get anywhere with ulster for similar reasons, burns was brought in and was always going to be backed over any other options

If Johnston was good enough he would have got his chance. The fact that he failed to make it at two provinces isn’t because he was being blocked by inferior players.

Depends on the game.

Carberry plays better for ireland than munster, i think he’d fit leinster pretty well.

This is all wrong.

I'd point out all the errors but what's the point, you just don't like Carbery. Fair enough, just say so.

Munster haven't won silverware because they've had a weak squad and rubbish coaches. There were 7 years between Munster's last trophy and Carbery arriving. Is that his fault too?

I agree with that honestly. I think he usually plays too timid. However, i often have the same criticism of Byrne.

Byrne squares up the defence, he’s just so glacially slow getting to the line, the defence can reset. Byrne is far better at arranging players around him though.

Interested to see JOB on the wing. IMO he doesn't have the out in out pace but perhaps Farrell is happy to slot him due to his defense. I taught balacoune is unlucky but he really didn't put his hand up. Defensively he was sloppy in that last try for Fiji so I think that frustrated Farrell the most.

I still think "Form" Stockdale competes with Lowe for the 11 jersey.

McCloskey starting again at 12 is exciting. Against south Africa, McCloskey was bypassed throughout each phase play as if he was told don't get involved. Lucky enough he put in a decent performance defensively. Against Fiji he made 17 passes and played more as a distributor but really didn't show too much in terms of carrying hard at defense. I hope this week he can get a few gainline carries to show pundits and fans his real

Can't wait to see Joe mcCarthy and crowley - look real prospects

That's fair enough. Its going to a massive 3 months in the URC and the champions cup for players like Stockdale and Larmour. Both guys will need to push hard to impress

I mean there’s almost no evidence that this is the case. Crowley has played 4 times for Munster since coming back from SA. He’s played more at FB than at 10 in those games. He’s played at 10 ahead of Healy all of once this season. But do continue to ignore facts in your scramble for support of your position.

Yeah you can't tell anything from this season's selectons, it's been so all over the place. Crowley was a million miles off the pace last season, but then that was under JVG...

The Toulouse game will be the acid test of who is where in the pecking order, especially if Haley stays healthy and we don't need to shunt Crowley to 15.

There is no disputing that Leinster have won more silverware in the past 13 years, but it's simply not true that Leinster have been the best team consistently. In recent years,

They haven't been the best team in Ireland every year for the past 13 years. For example.

in 2014/2015 they failed to make the knockouts in the Pro-12 and were knocked out of the Heineken cup in the Quarter finals

2015/16 Leinster were beaten in the Pro-12 final by Connacht, and came bottom of their pool in the Heineken cup

The next year. 2016/2017 Leinster and Munster both topped our Heineken cup pools and both teams got knocked out in the semi-finals, while Leinster got beaten in the semi final and Munster lost in the Final of the pro-12 (having topped the league table)

I'm not sure Stockdale was ever elite. He had a brilliant run of games where everything he tried came off. I think it over-stated his level. A bit like Fanning at Leinster for a while (I'm not suggesting Fanning was ever near as good as Stockdale).

His defense was always questionable even when he was in his purple patch. I would be surprised to see him make the RWC squad.

Van Der Flier had a good interview before the South Africa game on Virgin Media.

He spoke about how much analysis goes on in international rugby. He made the point that its easy to come into a squad and make an impact for a year but then you are a known quantity and teams plan around you.

He has countered this by adding different bits to his game every year and the Irish coaches have been great at figuring out what he can do differently to make an impact.

Stockdale I don't think has added anything to his play. He is more or less the same player he was in 2018 except a little slower from injuries. People have figured that he makes mistakes when pressured and how to pressure him, how he likes to turn etc.

For the record I wouldn't be surprised see Stockdale. He is one of the players that could grab what I expect to be the 6th back 3 spot.