Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Over reliance on private schools is an issue and problem.

It's not the lack of other sources they're there but don't yet across the board have enough resources to develop players on a regular basis to peo level.

We do need to attract more players from other codes but we still are not doing enough to get potential pros/top level players enough high level training at an early enough age for them to progress to the elite game. The guys in your top schools as a whole are getting the video reviews, cosched gym sessions, 3 pitch sessions etc that pros do but it's nowhere near as prevalent outside the top schools. We can find a lot more tadhg furlongs, Jack o donoghues, Tom aherns etc by getting more coaching and work into the clubs and regional squads so more players outside the schools see that level of training. Getting players from other codes would of course be great but work on those playing the sport first.

I'd argue a bigger issue has been the substandard level of coaching at the other 3 Provinces for the guts of a decade. Munster are finally playing good, attractive rugby. Can hardly blame a Leinster lad being encouraged to move, turning it down after seeing the dross on the pitch. Hopefully Murphy can get Ulster humming again, criminal waste of talent there under MacFarland.

Have we (Ulster) had a project player since Payne?

The private school are not a problem

It is the lack of identification of talent from other area

Why would you call the best section a problem?
The problem is all the provinces need to identify and convert young players into rugby by other means than the private schools…..

That’s does not mean the private school are a problem, all the other routes are the problem and the private schools are functioning as they should

How do you just 'take' guys from other sports that aren't playing rugby as well?

The vast majority of irish internationals played rugby since young, and then played at private schools with amazing facilities and access to good coaching and lots of practice time. In fact, a big chunk did that through only two schools. And even more importantly, that's essentially free to the provinces and the irfu. Someone else is paying for that.

Expanding that pool is a good goal but its also a much more expensive longer term goal.

Edit: i don't agree on the project player thing. That's generally dead.

Read his post again, he said the over reliance on Private Schools is a problem, that's not anything like you're claiming he said.

I don't think anyone ever thought Ludik would play for Ireland. He was very solid for us though.

But it's a worthless stat to post. It's irrelevant if not based on anything

It was a question, again do you understand what a question is.

Actually leave it, just going to ruin thread

I said my point.

Its a great long term goal if the irfu (and provinces) put adequate resources (money) into it. It takes a lot to replace the rugby environment of the best private schools, and can't be something just wished into existence.

It won't replace the impact of project players in short term or even medium term.

I'm glad you stopped digging.

As you say, it's best to leave it.

That might make a bit more sense 😂

No, i think its easy to say that we should expand other pathways but that is much more expensive and much more difficult than people let on. Which is the reason most of our players come from private schools.

Just as an example, let's say you identify 15-20 of the best club players, the logistics of providing them the same level of competition, facilities, practice and coaching is really tough compared to basically doing nothing when it comes to private schools. Like, how do you even get them on a field together for the same amount of time around their normal schedule?

The IRFU and the provinces are trying but its a long term and hard thing to achieve. That's what those centres of excellence provinces are building are for presumably. They can provide the facilities for the best local players to be trained together, and workout together.

This is a long term project though. The idea that this can somehow happen quickly is nuts, and also this applies to guys who already play rugby. Expanding that to guys who don't or people from areas who don't is an even more expensive longer term project.

The GAA comparison isn't valid mainly because Rugby wouldn't have a problem if their base was like the GAA base. My local area has clubs with fantastic facilities and it was almost entirely done locally in terms of money and effort. Any rugby club in ireland is free to do likewise.