The Official Irish Rugby Thread

Great to see the coaches finally picking the team on merit and not having to fill quotas from the sh*t franchises to keep the alickadoos happy.
If they'd done this years ago, Arland might have won a WC knockout game by now.

Hopefully we get to hear Molly Malone in the stands again too.
 
The team from the game against NZ in November.

Four non-Leinster players in the starting XI.

Fast forward to now. Does Crowley start? No

Hansen deservedly has his place.

Aki will start on reputation.

Is Bealham a starter?

We are getting very very close to an all Leinster starting XI in the big games.

Forwards

1 Andrew Porter
2 Ronan Kelleher
3 Finlay Bealham
4 Joe McCarthy
5 James Ryan
6 Tadhg Beirne
7 Josh van der Flier
8 Caelan Doris (Captain)
Backs

9 Jamison Gibson-Park
10 Jack Crowley
11 James Lowe
12 Bundee Aki
13 Garry Ringrose
14 Mack Hansen
15 Hugo Keenan
 
I've developed a theory as to why I think Crowley will be first choice #10 in the Six Nations.

There's so much scrutiny on how Leinster are dominating the Irish team, that surely we have to try and play players from other provinces when it makes sense.

For the majority of positions Leinster players start because they are the best in that position, but when it comes to #10 there is a non-Leinster player who is every bit as good if not better than Prendegast.

I think that even if Prendegast was a better player, Crowley will start for optics. "Look at us, the IRFU, picking a Munster players over a Leinster player. Aren't we great".

Also Prendegast looks like a gust of wind would knock him over.

For that reason I think Jack will start 4/5 games.
 
I've developed a theory as to why I think Crowley will be first choice #10 in the Six Nations.

There's so much scrutiny on how Leinster are dominating the Irish team, that surely we have to try and play players from other provinces when it makes sense.

For the majority of positions Leinster players start because they are the best in that position, but when it comes to #10 there is a non-Leinster player who is every bit as good if not better than Prendegast.

I think that even if Prendegast was a better player, Crowley will start for optics. "Look at us, the IRFU, picking a Munster players over a Leinster player. Aren't we great".

Also Prendegast looks like a gust of wind would knock him over.

For that reason I think Jack will start 4/5 games.
I'm of the belief that Prendergast playing in the AIs was more about him burning off Frawley and the two Byrnes, rather than challenging Crowley. And that's what seems to have happened, especially as it was announced shortly after that Harry Byrne was going on loan to Bristol.

Prendergast has big issues with his defence and Leinster continually hide him. Crowley is an all round better player and I believe will start the big games for the foreseeable future, with Prendergast on the bench
 
I'm assuming Joey carbery is now completely out of the picture?
Yeah, he's getting good game time with Bordeaux but he's not their first choice 10, that's Jalibert.

Farrell shat on him from a height. If I was him, I'd tell Farrell to go fuck himself if he came back to ask him to play for Ireland again. He's settled in well in France, has plenty international caps and can now build a good retirement fund to make it worth it.

 
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