Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

I don't think Carbery is over rated, he's rated against what he showed earlier in his career but injury and dire coaching has diminished him as a player.

The move to Munster hasn't worked out for him at all and the IRFU got that one wrong.

Not blaming Munster here either, loads of fault in the appointment of JVG from the blazers through to Nucifora.

Just two confirmed as far as I'm aware: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Rugby_World_Cup_warm-up_matches

Ever since David Wallace I tend to watch those games through my fingers.

Yeah I'd generally agree with you but I'm also mindful that there is a lot to factor in on a match day, particularly a World Cup match day. Thankfully Irish fans tend to travel well and tend to be loud at World Cups. Part of the preparation is getting used to being in an absolute cauldron of atmosphere which would be one of the reasons why these games tend to be fixtures (tickets and viewership being the more likely factor overall). Simulating as much of the world cup experience as part of the warm up makes good sense - and if the games go well (both matches so far are at home) it can stimulate the sense of momentum a team brings into a tournament.

Ireland and Farrell seem to be quite focused on the World cup despite the one game at a time attitude. Sure - they aren't prioritising it over absolutely everything else like Eddie Jones is implying (and I have a hard time believing that's why England aren't performing) but the Maori fixtures, Emerging Ireland and the NZ A game all suggest that there is very much a focus on building depth and looking at selections the last 10 months it seems to me that Farrell wants to be 3 positions deep throughout the pack come the World Cup.

I would imagine that the warm up games will copper fasten any last minute selection calls but also get around 22 forwards conditioned to go hard at it for over a month of rugby.

We've an awful draw but I think we're in a good place and I'm hopeful the warm ups provide good value for the squad and don't create serious headaches like they've done in the past.

Gatland returning may have a token impact on our margin of victory but we're still going to beat Wales.

They have some talented players but the standard of coaching in Wales is poor and Pivac seems to have had issues with the overall fitness of the available squad. Whether that's more excuses or a genuine issue is up for debate.

What they will have in February is a more organised and determined defence and that can count for a lot in terms of a one off fixture. What they will face in February however is a team much closer to the All Blacks than Argentina or Georgia.

They absolutely won't roll over and a loss at home in the opening round more than likely scuppers their six nations so they'll leave nothing in the dressing room (stop it Reggie). In years gone by I would be concerned about extended periods in their 22 not really getting anywhere because they'd defend like their lives depended on it but I think we've far more tools to break them down these days and there defence won't be enough.