Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

I was surprised that Stockdale got the nod alright. Balacoune has a lot more potential for me, think he suffers due to the role Ulster have him playing. Thought he did fine vs SA myself.

I think it’ll be Coombes, Prendergast and McCarthy fighting it out for a spot. With McCarthy ultimately winning out in the end.

Prendergast is a better rugby player than Coombes, apart from 5m out (where Coombes is world class) and potentially discipline.

I'm not sure I'm reading you post right.

I like the team you suggested, but if Henderson is fit, he'll play. Ne t week off. England are our only challenge pre world cup.

I like Coombes. Excellent player, but may enjoy the holiday in France.

Aki is not second choice 13. Where on earth did you get that from? Henshaw is. They can interchange during the phases, put not second choice 13.

Be nice if they thought to take the tag off the jersey

You read it wrong alright.

Henshaw is second choice 13. My point was even though I presume Henshaw is first choice 12 they may spread the starts around so Aki may start against England.

I’d disagree that Henderson starts ahead of Beirne two matches in a row. Particularly when he will have gotten a start already this weekend and Beirne only off the bench. Unless something happens in the match that Beirne comes on early. It will be interesting which two locks start against South Africa.

Stockers is back

Stockdale was awful for that try!

Stockade saw a lot of ball and went looking for it to his credit, but he made a lot of mistakes, bundled into touch having run 15 metres towards the sideline, a couple of turnovers, that tackle. etc. I don't see him being capped again.

I think Earls hitting 100 will be a big plus for the team morale, so much of rugby team performance edge is psychological.

I don’t know if there were any sweeping conclusions to take from that game. I thought Crowley and Casey looked good as a pairing. I was very intrigued by crowley as a second playmaker at 15 but he is too raw there defensively.

Thought Henderson, Baird, Doris, McCloskey all shone.

edit: on the next game, i really think coombes is probably starting. Seems to be they wanted to try Doris at 7. Then, they’ll change it up and go something like Prendergast, Coombes, JdF with a more experienced front five in front.

Earls is a good reflection of how far Ireland have come. Even at his peak, he's just not good enough for what Ireland have become.

He wouldn't have gotten remotely close to 100 caps for almost any other top tier nation.

both sentences are garbage

Earls will travel. Farrell is a fan of what he brings to the group and, simply, we don't have enough alternative options to leave him out. He's fortunate that's the case though as his play in 2023 has not been good enough to be in the Irish squad. If Conway was fit and had game time this year, I'd imagine Earls would be in trouble.

But there's very few who would begrudge him the 100 for the career he has had.

One of the Sunday papers is reporting Sexton will play a training game against Portugal team this week.