Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Go on...elaborate. What might be behind it.

😁 Thought you had a theory.

I would be surprised if they call up someone and they are involved this weekend

Presume they've ruled out someone they were waiting on news for, Ryan I'd imagine.

It’s unlikely given the update this morning but if Lowe, Hanson, Henshaw and Earls were all out they’d have to call someone up and start them. Otherwise you’d be moving Aki to 13 Ringrose to the wing and have Byrne and Crowley both on the bench.

awkward

Farrell said that he wanted to give the players a day off on Thursday, but it being the world cup they are required to do media at team announcements. So brought it forward a day. Also he said it does not matter as everyone knows more or less what the team is going to be.

Not going near the match thread because I'm sure it will just make me angry, but anyway...not much to say really...I'm absolutely gutted, but I'm sure the players feel whatever we do x 100.

The finer details can be looked at later but that Ireland squad stood up and did us proud. It wasn't to be, and yes getting knocked out again the QF is devastating, but that doesn't change the fact that this is a fantastic Irish team that have set the standard over the last 18 months.

Anyway batten down the hatches, as Venjur said in his match thread there will be plenty who will take glee from this.

In the meantime congrats to Yeah Right and the other Kiwis on this board. I genuinely hope you go the whole way now.

You're right, it's not the same. We weren't good enough before. We went to this as the genuine #1.

17 wins in a row, 28 wins out of 30.

This is by far our worst QF defeat.

I think this hurts more than any QF I've watched since '91. For the reasons you say. There was no hope in 2019, in 2015 we were beaten after 20 minutes, Wales we just never got into it and all other QFs we've been comfortably second best.

I think tonight was a game of big moments and more big moments went against us than for us. Jordan's try, the missed penalty, the ball held up over the line, the drop ball off the goal line drop out, those were the moments that stand out to me, there may be others.

Not sure who man of the match was but Savea and Cane were both terrific. Savea really turned up, he's their best player, Doris is ours (IMO) and Savea got the better of Caelen tonight (not singling out Doris in any way shape or form).

But this hurts tonight, I think more wine is required...

Relax

It has been 18 months since a team did such a number on us at the breakdown. That was France and funnily enough it was at the Stade De France too. Fair play to New Zealand. They were brilliant.

I am concerned by our lineout now though. It's been an issue for a while. Against South Africa it was understandable as they've the best defensive lineout in the game. But New Zealand's wasn't one I would have been as concerned about pre-match. They pilfered three or four and ruined our attacking platform.

Yep, the breakdown was ominous from the start. I think we maybe started commiting more numbers in the second half which meant better ball but the price you pay is fewer options.

Jonny has had an incredible career. He didn't deserve that tonight, bit you can't control it.

The thing about finishing up your career in a World Cup is that it can come to an end very suddenly. The biggest headline tonight isn't that Jonny's career is over, its that Ireland are out of the WC, it doesn't seem fair bit the same happened to Rory Best in 2019, Pauline in 2015 and Woodie all the way back in 2003. Same with Dan Biggar and Wales today.