Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Yeah Ross Byrne isn't very quick. Only question is how much of an issue it becomes.

But none of our current options are the complete package. That's why I think our next long term out half hasn't even been capped yet.

In the interim, Byrne might be the steadiest hand to let the rest of the team play. He won't be scything defences open on his own.

At least it's something that's consistent. You can plan effectively and build systems to adjust for known limitations, it's much harder to deal with inconsistency.

In general, I don't get the uproar and backlash here - maybe the papers have made a bit of a meal of "the answer was right under our noses!" but the reality is Byrne is a decent quality international outhalf. He's effective at most parts of the game, has one major limitation, but as said above its consistent and therefore manageable. He'll get a bunch more caps over the years, he'll act as an effective deputy through the next year, and he'll set a good minimum standard that our next big thing in the 10 jersey needs to meet to take the shirt off him - while also probably providing a stable backup at a point when he gets overtaken. Not sure what people really want here?

Crowley has a decent chance of getting there, but just needs more game time in the 10 jersey to really settle in to be more confident in directing attack rather than just trying to make it himself - realistically he's a better individual rugby player, but as we've seen over the years that's not the entirety of what we need at 10. I don't think he has any obvious career-limiting gaps at this stage that you'd point to that rule him out.

Good post this and just about sums up the Byrne issue - we'd all love him to have another couple of yards of pace but we can work with what he has and it isn't a big problem as long as we have the quality and defensive intelligence outside him. But it will no doubt become the cross that he gets beaten with endlessly now......

Might I point out that O'Gara managed to be a great Irish outhalf and wasn't exactly speedy.................

Crowley looks to have some of the goods but he needs to settle in as nailed on 10 for Munster and let's see how he develops.

Not if Henshaw comes back into the 23, as he's the 2nd best 13 in Ireland.

Based on that 27 man squad,

They kept the 23 that faced Italy, less Bealham, and Crowley, and added the 6 returning injured players.

I make it that unless injury changes things the team will probably be:

Porter, Sheehan or Kelleher, Furlong,

Ryan, Henderson,

Doris and O’Mahony or Conan, Van der Flier,

Gibson-Park or Murray or Casey, Sexton,

Lowe, McCloskey or Henshaw, Ringrose, Hansen,

Keenan.

Reps: Sheehan or Kelleher, Kilcoyne or Healy, O’Toole, Baird, O’Mahony or Conan, Gibson-Park or Murray or Casey, Byrne, McCloskey or Henshaw or O’Brien.

The uncertainty really is whether the returning players will be up to full speed, and no idea which scrum-half would be favoured by the coaches.

A few other calls for hooker, loose-head prop cover, 12 and 23.

I’d expect they’ll go with the best available, so if all fit probably Kilcoyne on the bench, O’Mahony starting with Conan on the bench, GP starting with Murray on the bench, and Sheehan starting, and Henshaw at 12 and McCloskey at 23 would be my guess.

I think Aki will miss out.

Cant see anyone outside the 27 forcing their way into the 23 barring injuries no matter how the URC matches go this wknd.

While we haven't been great, we've done well. I don't see any reason for McCloskey to miss out on starting. Or for that matter, Kilcoyne. Both have been grand. Obviously, Ringrose right back in and Sexton too.

I would think Furlong will struggle if he's right back in. He's no form at all, neither does Henshaw.

Porter

Kelleher

O'Toole

Henderson

Ryan

Pom

Vdf

Doris

Murray

J10

Lowe

Stu

Ringer

Hanson

Keenan

Sheehan

Killer

Tadg

Baird

Conan

Jgp

Ross

Job.

who are the other options though? ringrose is very good but he doesnt kick that regularly for leinster so should only be an emergency option, other than that it would mean bringing in doak/cooney and i dont see that happening pre-rwc.

i do think carty is at a disadvantage playing in the sportsground though to be fair to him

You'd probably get the exact same response from the Scots. Do you think they'd swap Mack Hansen for DVDM? I would say you'd get something close to zero Scottish fans who would make that trade. Anyway we'll find out in about 2 weeks.

Van der Merwe is probably the only one they could make a case for (im not a big fan personally but i can understand why). there was a time where there was an argument for hogg too but keenan is so far ahead of him now theres no contest. apart from that the irish backline is much better, both overall and on an individual level