Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

seem rusty because there is no consistency in who is throwing or jumping at the moment, lineouts work best when its a stable pack who play regularly

I say the way they talk about him, you'd be surprised his not in the starting team.

Just pook at jow the poster described Earls: He has the stopping power to hold up Kolbe, and the audacity to drive a try over the line.

The audacity to drive over the line? Purely meaningless fairytale language. Earls is good, great for his age, but let's not get carried away, that's the media's job but we don't nave to buy it.

Ireland v Tonga Lineup guess

JOB; Hansen or Earls, Ringrose or Henshaw, McCloskey, Lowe; Crowley, Murray; Porter, Kelleher, Bealham; Henderson (capt.), McCarthy; Baird, vdF, Doris

Reps:

Herring or Sheehan, Kilcoyne, Furlong, Ryan, Conan or POM, Casey, Sexton or Byrne, Henshaw or Aki.

Charles Piutau; Kyren Taumoefolau or Solomone Kata, Malakai Fekitoa, Pita Ahki, Fine Inisi; William Havili, Tane Takulua (capt.); Fe’ao Fotu’aika or Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, Samiuela Moli, Ben Tameifuna; Samiuela Lousi, Steve Mafi or Coleman; Solomone Funaki, Sione Havili, Vaea Fifita

Reps:

Siua Maile, Tau Koloamatangi, David Lolohea, Coleman or Steve Mafi, Tanginoa Halaifonua or Sione Vailanu, Augustine Pulu or Manu Paea, Otumaka Mausia, Solomone Kata or Kyren Taumoefolau.

Yeah fair enough. I've wondered if they could bring an injured player to help with coaching too but if the contract is the issue then it makes sense why nobody does it. South Africa are big innovators (to put it diplomatically) with coaches running water and their traffic lights.

It's well known that your second paragraph is the precise reason John Hayes was left at home in 2011.

Bookies have us 36 points better than Tonga atm. Would be nice to beat them 2 weeks in a row. (we were -65 against Romania)

How is not playing for a month good preparation?

Overall it will come down to what Ireland want's, if they want to make another statement they could put 40 on them but if they want to win with ease but also keep an eye on SA they might win by less.

Ireland coaches saying they are going to pick their best side to face Tonga. Assume that means our best side minus a few that might be injured or fatigued.

I've been debating this lately and have been over and back with the Pros and Cons whether we should go with a weakened side for Tonga. When I look at that Tongan side now I don't think it's feasible to put out a weakened team for Tonga at all. They look very strong down the spine of their team.

I would be selecting a similar team to the one that faced Romania, possibly 5 changes max to the starting 15 and another few changes to the bench to spread around some game time and freshen it up a bit and reintroduce the injured players.

23 v Romania

(1-15) Porter (Off 51), Herring (Off 51), Furlong (Off 51), McCarthy, Ryan (Off 56), Beirne, O'Mahony, Doris (Off 56), Gibson-Park (Off 60), Sexton (Off 66), Lowe, Aki, Ringrose, Earls (Off 60), Keenan.

(16-23) Kelleher (On 51), Loughman (On 51), O'Toole (On 51), Henderson (On 56), Van der Flier (On 56), Murray (On 60), Crowley (On 66), Hansen (On 60).

My guess at a possible 23 v Tonga; introducing Henderson, Baird and Van der Flier to the starting pack and McCloskey and Hansen to the backline, and Sheehan, Kilcoyne, Bealham, Conan and Henshaw to the bench.

(1-15) Porter, Herring, Furlong, Henderson, Ryan, Baird, Van der Flier, Doris, Gibson-Park, Sexton, Lowe, McCloskey, Ringrose, Hansen, Keenan.

(16-23) Sheehan, Kilcoyne, Bealham, Beirne, Conan, Murray, Crowley, Henshaw.

My thinking here is that the front row only played 51 minutes against Romania so could do with another hit out before facing the formidable South African front row. Beirne and McCarthy played the full 80 so Henderson and Ryan are a solid cohesive pairing and should be fresher than the other two. Our back row could use a fresh injection as Beirne and O'Mahony exerted themselves for the full 80, and Baird should be champing at the bit for this one, Van der Flier only got 24 minutes against Romania and could use another run out before the South African test, and Doris went off early against Romania and should be fresh to start.

I would start most of the same backline except for resting Aki (he was on fire the last day!) for McCloskey and starting Hansen instead of Earls. Perhaps if O'Brien is available he might start instead of Lowe, but only if he's raring to go.

Mouthwatering fixture, can't wait!

Conan not training with the squad today. Looks like he's out of contention. Henshaw is touch and go me thinks don't think they push a hamstring issue. AKI, hansen, Porter, McCarthy doing visiting duties this week which makes me believe they might not be involved.

I expect that 20 point margin will be closer to the mark.

I don't think Sexton, JGP, Keenan, Beirne, Ryan or Aki should or need to be starting. They all looked to be in fine fettle and their backups really should now start this game.

If Conan is indeed not available then perhaps O'Mahony to bench instead I suppose.

If Henshaw isn't fully right then I wouldn't chance it, O'Brien instead for the 23 jersey, so I'd guess:

(1-15) Porter, Herring, Furlong, Henderson, Ryan, Baird, Van der Flier, Doris, Gibson-Park, Sexton, Lowe, McCloskey, Ringrose, Hansen, Keenan.

(16-23) Sheehan, Kilcoyne, Bealham, Beirne, O'Mahony, Murray, Crowley, O'Brien.

The fit players that may not get a run out would be Casey and Byrne. For Conan and Henshaw they'd have an extra week for South Africa and an extra 3 weeks for Scotland, and we know they are quality players that can start if needed so I'd say the coaches will keep them in the squad unless they are ruled definitely not fit to play in the next 4 weeks or so.