Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Being frank, I see Ryan Baird as a show pony, he’s grand if the ball bounces just right for him to go on a gallop, but I’d rather Prendergast anytime, just a better back row forward, much tougher and better at the graft required, much closer to O’Mahony’s Style.
And I did preface my post by saying it is out there compared to usual selections.

Coombes is a way better player than ruddock.

Farrell is an intensely system based selector. More so than any other international coach imo. Coombes would have been given more rope by almost any other major country and their coaching team.

It worries me a little the new dissonance between leinster and ireland style wise. Ireland was built on that synergy imo.

Interesting squad, I'd have left Healy at home, maybe POM too but then not sure who steps up to the leadership plate in that environment. Murray could have been left at home too but he's had a good season and still has plenty to offer and once JGP was out there was no way he was being left out. I've always liked Blade so happy to see him in, not his best season but he's a good 3rd 9 to have and won't let us down if he does end up on the pitch.

Prendergast, not sure what he's done to get on a squad like this so soon but it'll be a good experience for him. He could get eaten alive defensively if he makes it on the field but I don't think that's why he's there.

No idea what Coombes and Hodnett have to do to get a look in, baffles me completely. Glad for Izzy, exciting prospect. Loughman is unlucky from a Munster point of view but don't think the others taken instead are miles ahead, tight enough call that I'm not too pushed about.

Larmour, love him going forward in terms of x-factor but I don't see him improving his positioning or aerial ability at 27 at this stage. Willie Le Roux had a field day down his wing. Hope Nash starts as he's just a better player.

Big tour for Casey, he was poor the last day but that was the exception rather than the norm. Good chance to lay serious claim to the back 9 jersey.

The only surprise for me , is that with JGP not going , Cooney not given a go as backup, assume its his age, given Johnny no longer involved.

Clearly he isn't, given Ruddock put in motm performances for Ireland, and actually made squads

I believe it. I'm one.

Everyone is suited to one system or another. Depending on how long Nienebar stays at Leinster, you will start to see guys get marginalized because of that. Lowe defensively, VdF generally are two guys i'll be watching next year especially.

Prendergast and Timoney are better system fits. Coombes skillset is something Farrell seems to want in the second row rather than back row. However, that skillset is something very valued outside ireland by other coaches. Or even at leinster, Nienebar would start coombes imo and shift doris to seven.

My take is I don't think Coombes was dropped for Munster, there was an evolution in our approach as we got more of our squad fit again and decided to try him (and others) from the bench to close out matches strongly. He was starting for the vast majority of the last few seasons. If Munster made a final versus Leinster or Bulls he'd start. Or if they got to play Glasgow all over again he'd start and so would Snyman (all imo). I wasn't too fond of the approach to be honest and posted as much but it did work on occasion against the weaker sides. I think it was a useful exercise by the coaching staff and I'm not going to complain about innovation but if we were at the business end of the season again next year I'd be hoping Coombes starts every day of the week. Maybe Gleeson/Edogbo/Quinn/Aherne can give us that oomph from the bench that JOD doesn't next season if we can keep a few fit.

JOD is well down the pecking order at international level and I'm not sure if you're serious there about him over Coombes possibly in green, he's still a good player at URC and Heineken level but those injuries robbed us a bit of his true potential. He's got the Mick O'Driscoll/Billy Holland role in the Munster squad now, he'll lead us in those dirty away nights in Wales and Scotland when our best players aren't available and his versatility means he's a great bench option.

I think your comment about his game not translating well could be closest to the truth, maybe not the international level bit of it, I think he'd do well internationally (and he has had good performances in green lest we forget, people seem to focus on his last game where he was just back from injury and had an off day as if that's his level and that's that). Just to how Farrell wants his 8 to play. I just think you get Doris to 6 and JvdF at 7 to do the carrying and leave Coombes blitzing attacking and defensive rucks like he's been doing all season maybe there's a fit there. Get him carrying the dirty yards tieing up tackles, offloading, and carrying close to the tryline. I don't think he'd partner well with Baird at 6, Prendergast maybe. Anyway, it's all moot, I don't think he can have done much more to be honest, if it was a player from another team posting those kind of stats I'd wager their fans would be saying the same.

It's a competitive position and Timoney and Prendergast are fine players too who I admire so good luck to them.

Looking at any of the Irish Squads (and remember we're only talking about a squad here) since Farrell took over I really don't get the "Coombes is on the bench for Munster" stuff, it's a lazy comeback to say the least

I think you'll find we prefer Frisch bitching nowadays.

I don't get why you're getting so worked up by fans calling for an inform player to be internationally recognised. I disagree with Ulster fans saying to call up Balacoune and Cooney, but I don't go "God, why are they still banging on about Cooney and Balacoune? Ian Dowling and Tomàs O'Leary were far superior players anyways".

Because there is squad number limitations, other players are just better in the eyes of the multiple title winning coach.

It's not difficult to figure out.

Potentially he just thinks that his game wouldn't translate well to international level

It probably isn’t anything more complicated than this tbh.

Farrell and POC have seen plenty of him, they know what he’s about and what he can do, they know what they’re looking for, and he’s further away than ever (it would seem).

While you're correct that luck and timing can play a part in things, it also can't be the only explanation.

Like, you said "Doris coming along after Heaslip" - Doris made his debut three years after Heaslip played his last match, and for his first cap he was picked ahead of Peter O'Mahony in a 6N game. He's proof of the exact opposite of your point, that Farrell will throw a guy in, not because he has to but because the guy is good enough.

Likewise Sheehan, two years had elapsed between Best's last game and his debut, Herring and Kelleher were battling it out for the starting jersey - two very good hookers - but Sheehan absolutely blew past both of them. He didn't need an injury or a retirement to claim his spot.

Joe McCarthy started this year's 6N, relegating James Ryan to the bench and a double Lions tourist couldn't even make the 23.

Ditto Crowley, JGP, Baird - and now apparently Sam Prendergast and Frawley have overtaken Ross Byrne, not because Byrne is injured or playing like a drain, but because Farrell sees more in them, like he saw more in Crowley than he did first in Carbery and then in Byrne.

For Coombes this has just never happened. 

It has happened plenty. Every single player will get a 'break' at some point - the difference is that some players will seize the opportunity, others will not. Coombes - like Deegan, Treadwell, Cooney, Baloucoune, Harry Byrne, Hume, Loughman, Burns, Connors, and any number of others - has had opportunities, he just has not seized them.