Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Who is “schmidth”?

I would still rate NZ as the best team at the last RWC - in a sustained league situation I think NZ would have won against the other teams. England had a France moment and played out of their boots to beat them. Our performance between Cups has been fantastic this time. We’ll have to wait and see if it makes any difference to the usual turn of events.

Yeah, hard to see past them if their performance against SA is anything to go by. Like Ireland, if they get a good start its very hard to stay with them. Ireland will come into it with a lot of confidence and a successful gameplay that's hard to deal with so these two laying against each other is a very hard call. 1st or third test?

What's the error? SA were poor before the last World Cup but because they have a habit of winning it no-one would bet against them, basically the same point Ive been making for a couple of days here. Same goes for NZ, they might be terrible but they could still win the WC. Even before their performance against SA recently many pundits had them as favourites/joint favourites w France. I repeat, SA were in poor form throughout the period before the last WC yet they were highly favoured anyway because they are SA who are always likely to win it. Are you arguing that because the bookies had them as one of the favourites they'd been excellent in the previous period because the record does not near that out?

You're just refusing to read it. SA not great before the last WC but won it anyway. In my view they're just as dangerous this time even with their problems at 10 and the front row. I would never count them out. You can disagree with it but I've no idea what doesn't align.

Trust me I aint dying on any hill! This is an opinion forum so I'm not going to criticise you for having an opinion but what I wont do is let you spread false information and get away with it. In 2019 SA were in the top 4 teams in the world, 2nd in the odds and rugby championship holders. To say they weren't a very good team is factually incorrect so continuing to say they weren't is just damaging you're credibility.

You don’t get a star on your shirt for winning the RWC.

You get to put the emblem of the William Webb Ellis trophy on your sleeve and the year you won it underneath. And only on jerseys worn at following RWCs.

Ill answer you're 2nd question first. Basically what all the stats in 2019 prove is that SA weren't "no hopers" going into that WC that people claim.

One thing I'll caveat with those stats both in the betting and ranking is when Erasmus took over SA were like 7th in the world and their odds were alot longer (in September 2018 they were 12/1 so can only imagine they were alot longer when Erasmus took over after the 2017 season) so what you can see between when he took over and the RWC they went up 3 places in the rankings and had their odds slashed both in terms of positions and the odds themselves. This time however they've went from 1st in the world to 4th and their odds havent really moved at all ( I would imagine this largely down to the fact that England/Wales/Australia have collapsed and Ireland have really shortened so almost by default SA have held their position) so when you break it down SA have gone backwards despite the data being similar as they started in a far FAR stronger position this cycle compared to when Erasmus took over.

I dont think I have dismissed their chances, they definitely are contenders and could very well end up as champions but if I look at the 4 sides they are the only ones with massive red flags sticking out, you don't see Ireland or France having shockers like 2 weeks ago for instance and to be having those shockers with more or less you're best team only 50 days or so out from the tournament would be hugely concerning, you cant exactly come out and say they were experimenting or anything looking at that team. NZL I still would have just behind Ireland & France as they have had a tendency of drifting in and out of games like v Australia (in Melbourne), England, Scotland, SA (both times), Argentina (home) and even to an extent that game against SA in Auckland. You see in those games for the most part why they will be a huge threat at the RWC but then you also see why they still have a bit of work to do.

Sounds like a good programme - the trip to Portugal after the Italy game is a great idea and Tours is a nice spot to be based in during the tournament.

Mad that it's only ten days to the first warm-up game. It will be interesting to see if everyone gets a run, or whether some guys fall at the first hurdle. You'd have to think that guys like Blade, Osborne and Nash need to be involved next weekend or they're done.

I see that Conway is training with Munster so looks like he wasn't called up by Ireland.

Munsters squad update from this week confirmed that Conway (and Diarmuid Barron) were with the Irish squad last week.

Training pictures confirm Barron but hadn't spotted Conway in any

Just after watching the first half of the AB v Boks game from a few days ago.

Must say I'm a lot more worried about our chances in the RWC now. I'd definitely be hoping to face France if New Zealand keep improving.