World cup 2027. Were do Ireland go?

Still some great younger players around who might improve to regular internationals. A lot can happen in 4 yes

Larmour, Balacoune, Lowry, Hume, Daly, Nash, Frisch, Frawley, O'Brien (Tommy), Prendergast (Sam & the brother), Stewart, Connors, Penny, Deeny, Osbourne, Izuchukwu, Doak, Ahern, Hodnett, Murray (Niall), Edogbo...and more that I've forgotten

One area that I think were lacking is pace. Keenan is probably the only starter with out and out gas. JOB looked very quick when he came on as well. There was a noticable difference in the speed of the NZ backs yesterday. It's not everything by any meana, Hansen and Lowe have been outstanding, but I hope that guys like Baloucoune are given more opportunities. Someone like Jordan is such a weapon for a team, the ability to burn a defense from anywhere given a sniff of a gap.

Where do we start is the question. Is Farrell the man to lead us? I dont think so.

None of our fly half options look good enough now and dont look like they will develop enough. Do we go to the southern hemisphere and try to nick one?

I camt see us getting near to winning a world cup in 27. This was our chance and we blew it. Again.

It's always going to be hard for us to have the depth that France England and even SA may have due to population and player numbers but I actually thought several players did well when they came on. JOB for one.

It's funny how people do complete 180s we beat SA in a game we could have lost. Again it was very small margins if they had kicked better for example. Now we lost a close game which we could have won but for small margins and now we need to change our entire approch. There's 4 teams very little between them two were always going to go out. Sadly it was us.

Didn't Barron outpace him in the semi final or have I him mixed up.

How many O'Brien's played in the backs that day, he certainly outpaced one of them

I'd add James Culhane to that list. He won Player of the Tournament in Ireland's u20 Grand Slam win. Missed most of the last season through illness/injury, but is already capped by Leinster.

Loads of talented players from the last 3 or 4 U20 sides going back to 2020 that are close to making a breakthrough. Last years U20s side was the best of the lot but those guys are only starting their provincial journeys now. Let's see how they go.

The next 4 year cycle starts next weekend with the URC!

I think Leinster need to be told to release at least one of Ross Byrne, Harry Byrne or Frawley. Prendergast is a massive talent. But when the immediacy of winning games is the priority his opportunities may be curtailed in the short term. Dont want to be here in 4 years time with him only having gotten 20-30 games. Hopefully Crowley kicks on, but we need depth.

Ever since seeing him in the under 20's I've wanted Prendergast in Connacht, far more likely to get real game time in the west and with his brother already in the squad it should be an easy move for him.

Definitely see Harry Byrne as still having potential. They all wont get gametime at Leinster however. I would suggest Frawley to Ulster and let Ross Byrne move abroad as he will be 32 at the next world cup and is pretty much at his ceiling.

We have got to accept a bit of short term pain. There are a queue of potential 10's coming through. Byrne is a good sub elite 10. If we want to give the opportunity for younger 10's to potentially develop to elite we need to make the room. It would be different if there was a dearth of quality 10's at Leinster.

Needs to be moved on at the end of the season.

i think we lost alot of shape in attack when MH went off too, if he had stayed fit it could have been different but ifs and buts could drive you insane

and tbh its not really great to be relying on your right wing to be driving the creativity of your backline

does lowe start dropping out of the squad now too? he'll be 35 at the next rwc and he was never the fastest anyway so a replacement probably needs to be found