Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

We’ve been hearing that about Sexton for years now. I hope it isn’t the case for the RWC because neither Byrne nor Crowley are leading us to anything special.

That's all you ever get from Akrasia. The guy is incapable of any objectivity. It's just Munster good, Leinster bad.

Also, I think Akrasia, and the rest of the disciples of Three Red Kings, need reminding that the H Cup final and URC final weren't the only two games of rugby that happened last season.

Are world rugby spending anything on advertising?

Not sure I’ve seen or heard a single ad or promotion for the RWC on tv or radio at all

It’s next week and there’s hardly any buzz built up about it, you’d see much more for the 6N

I'm the same. Its almost a case of: If he stands he starts.

Most of us were skeptical that he could last to his WC. It was the gamble and we are about to find out if it wins big.

He has to start v Romania and SA and every KO game.

Farrells next gamble is Sexton, Byrne or Crowley v Tonga. I feel he has to back Crowley and hopefully he will prove his worth.

I said "I can't see sexton staying fit"

A half fit Johnny is still one of the best if not the best fly half in the world at the mo and come the end of this WC, his chapter in Irish Rugby will close. No matter what happens over the next 8 weeks he’ll hang up his boots as Irelands greatest ever player and be talked about as one of the all time great 10’s, up there in the same conversation as Johnny Wilkinson, Dan Carter, Andy Goode etc… so let’s sit back and enjoy it because we may never see the likes of him again.

Contrasting end to the season is an interesting way to look at Crowley starting at 10 when Munster were embarrassed out of their priority competition against a poor Sharks side while Byrne led Leinster to the final of that competition

Have you ever seen FIFA run any advertisements for a football World Cup?

Can you point to any evidence to support the 'debate' that Munster's priority was the URC?

Can't remember one Champions Cup match where they didn't put out their strongest side, definitely none where they rested starters so they would be fresh for the URC.

Being far, far more likely to win the URC doesn't make it the priority.

Had Frawley converted that missed kick then Munster would have lost that game and it would have been another SF exit to Leinster, only this time a second string Leinster. The narrative then would have been very different. The narrative then would have been Munster, with Crowley at 10, failing in the knock outs of both competitions against sides they probably should have beaten. Frawley missing that had nothing to do with Crowley. So I think you’re putting more on Crowleys shoulders here than is warranted tbh.

And I don’t want this to sound like I’m running the guy down. That’s not what I’m trying to do. But the hype machine is in serious overdrive here, just like other 10s from a certain other province, and it could use a bit of calming down.