Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

I think that's a grossly unfair characterisation and doesn't really help things.

It's a characterisation borne of more than the Kleyn v Treadwell v McCarthy debate. If you'd like me to elaborate, I will, but I really don't think that will help things.

The dismissiveness that's being met with, even tho imo it's a very credible argument, is heightening things as much as the pro-Kleyn side are.

"Jean Kleyn was unlucky to miss out" is perhaps a credible argument. I don't agree with it, but it's not outlandish. I couldn't give a shyte which of Kleyn or Treadwell is in the squad, neither were ever going to be a big part of our RWC.

However, today's argument is "Kleyn has been called up by SA and this proves Farrell (note, always Farrell, never POC) got it wrong, it'll bite us in the ass etc". That is not credible. Nothing has changed since yesterday, nothing.

We are actually missing the best conspiracy theory here.

The incoming leinster coach picks kleyn to weaken munster rivals over the next couple of years. Get out your tinfoil hats!

You've said I backtracked on two arguments there. I backtracked on neither and I absolutely stand by both. You cannot criticise me for imprecision of language and then also criticise me when I attempt to make it more precise, and not wanting to go further down a rabbit hole of sh1t isn't backtracking.

Since it's semantics and syntax that seem to matter most, let's look at your last paragraph above. Given all that we have read on this forum over the last few weeks and months about Coombes, Hodnett, Haley, Frisch, Healy and Kleyn, it's hard to take your posts seriously when you can be so imprecise as to use the word "rare" in relation to criticism of the Kleyn non-selection. That statement was simply not justified by the available evidence.

You want... evidence that there has been a lot of criticism of the non-selection of many more players than Kleyn? Sure thing, click below.

Now I'm sure you don't personally agree with all of them, of course.

I keep on hearing the same adjectives here, e.g. ‘tired’ and ‘lazy’, about a dissenting view on Leinster's repeated failure against one particular team. If anything I would prefer ‘poorly informed’ which I am in fairness. However, I’m afraid we’re going to get the same result again unless the team offers a different challenge.

You list six selection calls over their three-and-a-half-year tenure.

Lol, that's an interesting approach. An absolute sh1tstorm of criticism in the last two weeks but sure if you average it out over three and half years, it's not that bad at all at all.

Come on, there has been a lot of criticism of late, and it was exactly the same in the Six Nations.

A small number of people are very, very unhappy with the coaches. If you are not one of them, that is great. It is absolutely not universal. Nor should it be, in case I'm accused of trying to shut down debate.

Kleyn ahead of Henderson lol

Nope. Nobody ever thought of that...hold on a second.

Did I say anything about Treadwell? Maybe you're confusing me with somebody else.

Coombes deserves nothing. A player I'd love to see succeed.

Doris or Conan (medical condition at the time, which I'm sure are aware of and was still a better 8) are starting 8s.

Crowely I hoe succeeds. Like the cut of his jib. Still lacking experience but 6 months is a long time.

Also my comment on insulting me. I see the difference in your posting style between the Ireland and muster threads and your moderation of each.

Why are all your posts so condescending? You know more about rugby than me?

Your last "cutting" remark of "progress of sorts". Very snide.

Also your comment on Treadwell...well it wasn't a point. Exactly? Why bring it in a reply to me? Absolute rubbish.

He was nominated on the longlist for EPCR player of the year

So was Jamie Osborne yet Farrell was lambasted for picking him over Frisch and Haley.

Edit; to confirm. It's utterly meaningless. But it's utterly meaningless for Coombes too.

We've had two weeks of constant criticism since the squad was announced, which followed a Grand Slam 6N which was also marked by constant criticism.

We can't look at thousands of posts accusing Farrell of everything from multiple mistakes at every turn to outright Leinster bias, and still come to the conclusion that everyone thinks he's doing a spiffing job.