Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

ookaay..

jy weet fokol

I dont think losing Nash was what cost us in that game, it was going with a 6-2 split that cost us as once we lost all our back subs it meant we had to put a SH on the wing and overall it was a disaster. All that game proved was why the 6-2 split should NEVER be used again.

I've still yet to see how losing Johnny cost us the game in 2022, Carbery got all his kicks and did his job well, our attack still functioned very well even without Sexton…that just feels like a convenient excuse where people say "look Sexton was out and Ireland lost, therefore Sexton must be the reason why" and its just not supported by any evidence.

They may do but ultimately they'll have gotten some decent rest periods in-between and while it'll likely have a role to play I dont see it making that big a difference in the end, it might make a difference in the winning or losing of a 1 score game but it wont be difference between this being a 5 point game and a 15-20 point game unless Ireland just have a shocker.

But this is why I think you arent being objective, you point to the milage but another way of looking at is are the SA players battled hardened going into this series and and the flip side the Irish players wont be rusty and will be able to go into this series all gun's blazing. If you were objective you also point to this side of the coin which is arguably a more likely scenario judging by how SA and Ireland have started their seasons over the last few seasons but for some reason you've chosen to use the side that totally favours SA.

We lost by what 2pts vs England? Hardly getting smashed. SA aren't like NZ, they're not a team that can blow you away from counter attacks. I don't think we're going to capitulate if things don't go our way.

It's a shame it's only a 2 test series. We've shown in the tours to Australia and NZ the ability to come back from a 1st test loss and win out.

'Lacks analysis or objectivity'!! Brilliant.

and 'recent evidence' has been turned on its head.

few facts below.

The Springbok will have a stronger side compared to what Ireland played against in the WC. Added to the fact that Ireland will now have a significantly weaker side.

In SA now. Home. Its a factor. Altitude. It's real. No matter what Cullen or Farrell said/say. It's a significant factor. Underestimated by most.

Ireland and Leinsters work rate at getting into attacking shape is what had sets them apart.

Ireland's attack stuttered v Eng, v Scot & has regressed significantly at Leinster.

Bulls kicked the ball (surprise!) expertly and Leinster were out of puff.

That's the forte of Pollard (a former Bull) and le Roux (Bulls).

Keenan and Park are integral to Ireland. & Incredibly fit.

Tony Brown. One of the best. It'll still be kick heavy.

And Jerry Flannery read Jones.

I could go on but that's enough for today. Enjoy the games.

Pollard for one. A place kicker.

So as far as I can see, you've pointed to every single factor that benefits SA and pointed to every factor doesnt benefit Ireland and made you're conclusion based on that…very objective indeed!

I dont really see much reason in even getting into a discussion about this as you clearly arent capable of being impartial.

I suspect you'll keep the factors that don't favour SA as damage control if you end up having egg on your face.

I think if Ireland had Hansen/JOB fit they would go with a 5-3 spilt during the 6 nations. In this tour you have Hansen and Keenan out so again the options in the backs reduced. In the case of just getting the best players in the 23 you might have the 6-2 spilt again

I'd expect Ireland to lose this tour and I also expect Ireland to decline somewhat over the next year at least.

Its not really about our talent but more that we relied on synergy imo between ireland and leinster's systems that doesn't exist any more and will get wider. That should start being apparent.

In fact, i think one of the mistakes of the world cup was that we didn't as purely play that style post the NZ tour.

We have JOB, Osborne and Frawley who can all play across the entire back line. Depending on who gets slotted for 15, 2 out of that 3 could be on the bench, along with a SH.

I was pondering what the squad might look like for a summer tour next year while a lot of the players would be away with the Lions. I'd like to see them play Argentina. That would be a challenge in line with where Ireland now are.

lh: Tom O'Toole, Jeremy Loughman, Jack Boyle

h: Ronan Kelleher, Rob Herring, Tom Stewart

th: Finlay Bealham, Oliver Jager, Scott Wilson

sr: James Ryan, Iain Henderson, Thomas Ahern

bs: Cormac Izuchukwu, Ryan Baird

os: Will Connors, John Hodnett

no. 8: Jack Conan, Nick Timoney

sh: Craig Casey, Caolan Blade, Nathan Doak

oh: Ciarán Frawley, Sam Prendergast, Harry Byrne

lw: Jacob Stockdale, Shane Daly

ic: Stuart McCloskey, Jamie Osborne

oc: Robbie Henshaw, Stewart Moore

rw: Calvin Nash, Jordan Larmour

fb: Jimmy O'Brien

Maybe Healy, O'Mahony and Murray would still be selected. They are playing next season, but it would probably be hanging on too long.

The backrow could look quite different. Maybe Timoney is considered at openside. And McCann, Culhane or Gleeson could come into the mix.

Scrumhalf is interesting. I'd like to see Patterson, Devine and Gunne taken on the EI tour. Could any of them then kick on into consideration for Ireland?

Herring would be 35. If he had been phased out by then I'd say Lee Barron might be next up.

It amounts to wanting an extra backrower basically, perhaps in part due to POM not being capable of maintaining his game for a full 80. McCarthy and Baird/ Conan is sufficient cover across the back row imo. VdF and Doris are well capable of playing well for an entire match, as are Beirne and Ryan typically. For me, I think there would be more value in bringing on a fresh centre and outside back to exploit tired bodies towards the end of game.