Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

I'd have Baird ahead of Henderson on current form tbh

What’s your 33 then? In what position are you cutting a player?

Basically, one way of looking at it is 3 players per front row position and 2 players per every other position.

So to have 3 scrum-halves another position must be short, or a player that can cover two positions must be selected.

Same if you select 3 out-halves.

I think you are probably being over simplistic. Generally there are players in the squad that can cover, especially in the back 5 so they won’t pick say 10 back 5 players and probably something similar in the second and back rows, a bit of wiggle room with players like Baird that can cover a couple of positions. I’d say we are looking at 3 full front rows 3 scrum halves and 3 out halves.

Be interesting to see how Osbourne gets on in camp. I could see the argument for taking him over Frawley, if Farrell takes 3 OHs.

As I see it, the likely squad makeup is probably 3 hookers, 6 props, 4 locks, 5 backrows, 3 SHs, 3 OHs, 4 Centres, 5 back threes

What position Baird travels as is an interesting point of discussion. He was named in the 6N squad as a backrow, but was used as a lock when Beirne and Hendy got injured. (Although I think McCarthy might have got in ahead of him had he not get injured). So even though he's named as a backrow again, it's very possible he travels as a lock, even though I prefer him at 6. He did play very well at lock during the 6N.

Who would be the option for that? Deegan comes to mind, but hasn't gotten to feature at the top end. Coombes as you said is different style of 8. Prendergast is even less experienced. From the likely squad, perhaps Baird could be decent?

Just one of long list of lads stuck in the queue unfortunately.

Apart from the ultra specialist positions (hooker, props, SH and OH) you can only have at most two guys for each position in a WC squad, and in some cases only one. The simple reason being, you can't take 45 players. No team is going to be taking more than two 8s. So if somehow both Doris and Conan get injured in a warmup, we'll have POM, VDF or Prendergast playing 8.

If we take Baird AND Prendergast, Baird will be there as a one of the 4 locks

Oh, i didn’t mean you in particular. I meant that your post in general just made me realize that about our overall squad.

The only thing I'd highlight about Osborne is that, despite not playing for the last 3-4 months and being uncapped, he was still named somewhat unexpectedly in the squad. Whatever he has done in the Irish camp in November and February must have impressed the coaching staff.

He's an outside bet but I think he's an interesting one for a proper bolter. He ticks a number of the boxes that the Irish staff like. He's a very big, physical guy, covers multiple positions and has an absolute monster of a left boot.

I think a lot will depend on the make up of the squad. I assume we're going to go with 19 forwards and 6 halfbacks leaving 8 spots....Aki, Ringrose, Henshaw, Keenan, Lowe and Hansen are nailed on. Then we've JOB who is very close to it, one would assume.

I'd back Earls for that final spot given his experience and I think the coaching staff like what he brings to the group as much off the pitch as on. But a genuinely versatile option would also be tempting for them. It wouldn't be outlandish for them to take only 5 props or 5 backrow players (with Baird as a lock) but I'm leaning more towards the 19/15 split right now. The presence of Crowley also gives a bit of leeway in terms of versatility and strengthens the Earls inclusion.