Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

I posted this in the Champions Cup thread in response to a comment by mistake, better posted here:

My prediction for our 37 man squad (using the same composition as last year's squad is as follows):

Props (6): Tadgh Furlong, Finlay Bealham, Tom O'Toole, Andrew Porter, Jeremy Loughman, Cian Healy

Hookers (3): Dan Sheehan, Ronan Kelleher, Tom Stewart

Locks (4): James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy, Iain Henderson

Back Row (7): Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Peter O'Mahony, Jack Conan, Ryan Baird, Tom Ahern, Cian Prendergast

Scrum Halves (3): Jamison Gibson Park, Craig Casey, Caolin Blade

Out Halves (3): Jack Crowley, Ciaran Frawley, Ross Byrne

Centres (4): Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey

Back Three (7): Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, Calvin Nash, Jacob Stockdale, Jordan Larmour, Shane Daly, Shayne Bolton

On the groupings, I don't see a viable alternative to Cian Healy, especially as there are concerns still around Loughman. It won't surprise me if Healy benched in Marseille.

I've picked the back row I think he'll select - it's useful as Ahern and Baird can also cover lock. I wouldn't personally select effectively four blindsides, and would give a spot to one of Timoney or Hodnett.

Not 100% sure obviously he'll move on from Murray - but his form has been poor. Nathan Doak isn't playing enough and isn't playing well enough to justify inclusion yet (unless as a development player), so Blade is probably next up if they move on from Murray.

Equally - there aren't a whole host of 10 options. No idea what way he'll go there.

I've taken a bolter in the back three in Bolton - but I really struggled to fill out 7 back three places and think he has a kind of abrasive style that Farrell will like. He's been playing very well and is still very young. Makes absolute sense to me to bring him and get a better look at him. He deserves the spot ahead of Baloucoune right now IMO.

EDIT: Updated for the news that Herring is likely out.

Milne hasn't played this season - so I can't see how you can him one niggle in a warm up away from benching against the French (even allowing for the fact Porter invariably plays 70 odd mins).

I can't see POM not making the squad - the impact of his leadership and lineout nous was evident for Munster at the weekend.

I'd be hugely surprised to see Nathan Doak or Sam Prendergast in the squad, unless as development players. Same thought on Tommy O'Brien (prob too old to be a development player) but don't think he's done enough to warrant this.

Yeah, Healy is in the same position he's been in for years now. Everyone thinks he's past it, but he is still the second best loosehead at Leinster and Ireland, and until someone shows they're better than him, he'll continue to be.

Boyle got some good minutes for Leinster this year (291 mins, 4 starts, 3 sub appearances) and did well in those mins, but he isn't ready for European or international rugby yet IMO at 21 years of age in the front row.

There just aren't other options - especially with Kilcoyne injured. Josh Wycherley isn't good enough, Denis Buckley has never been considered, Peter Dooley isn't good enough and Andrew Warwick isn't good enough.

If Michael Milne hadn't been injured all season it's reasonable to assume he'd have racked up some good minutes again and might be in there, but I can't see it yet.

On the Ulster issue - I'd share your criticism of the development of some players. If you go back to the 2022 6N and the tour to NZ, you had all of Timoney, Lowry, Hume & Baloucoune well in the mix for Ireland. To flash forward to the following season and see all four miss the RWC really shows something went wrong last season up there, and none of those players progressed.

I think Timoney and Hume look to have rediscovered some form this season, and clearly Stewart and O'Toole have emerged, but there is a lingering fear IMO the current Ulster coaching ticket aren't getting the most out of the talent at their disposal.