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Farrell's first XV isn't the revolution some Ireland fans hoped for
New Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has named his first-ever team and it is full of familiar faces for next Saturday’s meeting with Scotland in the Six Nations.
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Following a dismal World Cup campaign, the elevation of Farrell from assistant to head coach had been seen as the beginning of a new era in Irish rugby with former captain Rory Best and former head coach Joe Schmidt moving on.
But this team selection to take on the Scots is perhaps not the overhaul that some of the Irish public were hoping for as 13 of the 15 that started the World Cup pool win over Scotland in Yokohama are starting again, the retired Rory Best and the benched Peter O’Mahony the two alterations.
Only two uncapped players come into the match day squad, the highly-rated 21-year-old loose forward Caelan Doris, who starts at No8, as well as his Leinster teammate Ronan Kelleher, who is on the bench.
While there are some names to miss out on selection completely that were tipped to play, such as Jack O’Donoghue and Will Addison (even Stuart McCloskey), there are many players that are worthy of starting.
A few conservative out of form selections there. Murray, Stander & Aki lucky to be included.
— Michael Knowles (@nodknowles) January 28, 2020
New era, new coaches same old selection nonsense.
— Gav (@GavStew99) January 28, 2020
The front five more or less is set in stone, as is captain Jonathan Sexton’s place and his in-form Leinster team-mates Josh van der Flier, Garry Ringrose and Jordan Larmour.
While some think Farrell may have gone for fairly conservative options elsewhere with his selection, the priority will be winning at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday instead of looking ahead to the 2023 World Cup.
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Basically the starting XV from the first rwc match v Scotland, without Best (retired) and O'Mahony. How dull. ? https://t.co/Oe9IBFJMi8
— Dearbhla Stapleton (@dervstapleton) January 28, 2020
Different coach, same selection nonsense
— Graeme Browne (@graeme247) January 28, 2020
And with that team naming all hopes of a New Era of Irish rugby under Andy Farrell just went up in flames. A token dropping of Munster Captain Peter O'Mahony to appease the masses is pathetic. Murray over Cooney, rushing Sexton back to be captain, Its a complete mess & Schmidtish
— Philip O'Reilly (@philthrill69) January 28, 2020
Although some players in the squad may not necessarily be in the form of their lives, many of them ruled over the rugby world in 2018, so a huge revolution was not necessarily needed this Six Nations despite it being what some hoped for.
The squad needs a change of direction and leadership more than making sweeping changes, and that is what Farrell has provided.
'His unchallenged message is that his squad is dynamic, powerful and aggressive with a lot of skill and speed, a nice soundbite if rah-rah soundbites are your thing twelve-and-a-half weeks on from World Cup crucifixion by the All Blacks,' writes @heagneyl
https://t.co/Uay1ksl7gW— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 16, 2020
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In what is the beginning of a new era in Ireland, Schmidt’s former defence coach has understandably chosen not to rock the boat too much.
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Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments