Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

"Definitely" should have been ahead of Frawley? Get out of it. Flannery, fine.

There are other ways of exposing their defence too. Our wide game combined with some of our delayed passing close to the line can both do damage to the line speed and narrowness of the SA defence. Obviously kicking can too. Hopefully we look to mix it up a bit.

Yeah I’d prefer avoid France in quarter also for those reasons BUT we can’t throw the SA game, I reckon it’s unlikely we lose to Scotland but it’s not impossible. Don’t even make quarters then.

They won’t roll the dice like Leinster did against Munster this year in URC…they will put out our best team available for the two big games against SA and Scotland.

fair play for sticking your neck out!

What most people probably can’t get over is the amount of risk Russell takes.

Its highly entertaining but an unnecessary penchant.

There is a the one or two on here who will try and close down any conversation that differs from “Everything is Awesome”. And what they know is right! It is entertaining the lengths at which they will go to, albeit distasteful in the way they go about it, and also unnecessary.

What I find most frustrating about Sexton is that he doesn’t show enough creativity when Ireland have penalty advantage. It’s usually a hit and Hope kick to the wing after multiple phases of lads trying to crash over the line.

Anyway keep giving a different opinion life on here would be a total bore if we all agreed with the one or two.

I would pick Sexton ahead of Russell everyday of the week. But will we still see the same Sexton after a 6 month injury layoff?

38 years old. If he’s still standing after 50mins of the Springbok game it will be a minor miracle.

Jalibert takes risks

Carreras takes risks

Mo'unga takes risks

Sexton takes too few risks

Russell takes too many risks

Agreed, but is it not also the case that Jalibert, Carreras & Mo'unga all face greater competition for their starting place at international level than JS has had to encounter ?. If anything this aspect should mean he should take more risks, with fewer consequentila threat to his selection, than those 10's whose selection is less guaranteed.

He's not "risk averse" but more "risk proof"

Excellent analysis.

Agreed. But if Sexton exemplifies this approach & RB is his lesser talented clone, where does this place Crowley ?. He offers a different approach (& here I'm going to substitute 'risk' and introduce 'variation' from the bench.) JS's talent is the ability to bring the trained for option into the dynamic on field action. Can Crowley achieve this & add his athletic versatility ?. I'd love to see him get even better.

Interesting that Farrell opted to bring 4 specialist centres, I wonder how he’ll use them?

For me,

v Romania- Mccloskey,Henshaw

v Tonga- Aki Ringrose

V S Africa- Mccloskey Ringrose

V Scotland- Aki Henshaw

If the goal is have everyone play 2 pool games then yeah, why not. But I don't see that as the goal.

You could use those options but who's on the bench in that scenario ?.

4 specialist centre yes, but it's really three 12's and one 13. Henshaw's is a better 12 than 13 imo.

Sexton is the archetypal pivot outhalf - The best proponent of it..ever!

Byrne is more of a pocket outhalf who doesn't make decisions on the hoof as well as Sexton or provide a real gain line threat.

Crowley can play a bit of both but has a greater line break threat. What has impressed me most about him recently is that he can play off script and make good decisions under pressure.

Crowley will keep defenses guessing and I think the better option/player to bring on from the bench.