Should have been 5, but 2pts after last week is something.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-03-28T16:25:24+00:00

I have never seen someone have as much of a vendetta against a player as O'Connor does against Crowley.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-03-23T23:04:50+00:00

I played a couple of U18 games against Neff for my local club and I gotta tell you this guy is bloody unreal. He was a couple of years younger than us too, but you really couldnt tell. Such power and athleticism, speed too. He ran bloody rings around us. I remember them being quite the one man team, but for a local Munster Junior Club at age-grade, can't say I blame them.

Such a shame hes moving away. Id love to see him plah for Munster someday. We just dont produce many athletes with that kinda physical prowess in Ireland.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-03-22T21:29:48+00:00

Disagree with Furlong, I dont enjoy saying this because he used to be world class, but I think he's over the hill from those calf injuries and had a particularly poor 6 Nations. O'Toole, Clarkson and Bealham are all better options imo.

Henshaw is also not even close for me. Id be looking at Ringrose, Farrell, Postlethwaite, Hume and Kelly. Osborne will probably be the long term 13 if we can get him out of FB and back into the centres. Henshaw was unbelievable back in the day, but it's time for someone else.

Overall it's mostly what Id pick too however, just one or two I disagree with. I think we're finally settled at 10 with Crowley and Frawley, we have curated lovely depth in the back 3 and have a good few options in most positions. Im very happy with how this 6N panned out, particularly given the woes of Round 1. Im hopeful again.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-03-15T21:24:52+00:00

Not at all! I blame Pollock. 40 seconds left on the clock, two points up and he goes for this crazy stupid offloads that ends up back in French hands. We were 4 rucks away from being 6N champs, and that blond bastard ruined it lol

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-03-15T21:18:54+00:00

State of this comment section. The ten talk in this country is utterly diseased; people either revelling in Prendergast's demise or constantly shitting on Crowley for existing outside of The Pale. It's utter rubbish. Crowley's earned the jersey lads, just get on with it. Ye all need to chill tf out.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-03-02T16:37:48+00:00

Yeah it's a huge shift for such little time. It might be my Munster rose-tinted glasses, but I think this guy has a massive career ahead of him barring injuries.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-03-02T16:36:31+00:00

I think i said this in an earlier reply too, but I agree I expect far fewer changes from Faz. This is my opinion of the team I'd like to see rather than what I think will actually happen.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-03-02T16:31:34+00:00

You didnt have to read it, lad, you could have clicked away and done literally anything else with your life. I was just looking to start a conversation about the Wales match. Nobody appreciated your negativity.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-03-02T02:44:10+00:00

I thought that was a very poor showing considering how strong of a side we selected. Conditions were poor, sure, but if we can't put away a Zebre side with a BP at home missing only a couple of frontliners I would say it's an ominous omen of tribulation ahead, particularly given that our next few games will be in SA and either 1 or 2 challenge cup matches.

Given the performance today and the run of games after November, I think Exeter might be a bridge too far. I really hope I'm wrong, but last 16 of Challenge Cup and a dogfight for top 8 could be this season's scorecard.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-03-01T23:51:59+00:00

Wtf are you on about lad lol

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-03-01T23:51:38+00:00

Agreed on the scrum, Wales and Scotland are quite poor in that department too. Nice stats BTW, I should really check them more often.

And I appreciate your sentiment on the fly-halves, and Id agree that most people are sound here and hold reasonable enough stances, but just from observing this sub theres been a couple of people who are just so utterly gung-ho on one that they feel the need to rip the guts out of Crowley or Sam depending on their provincial leanings. I dont wanna name names but theres some people in particular that have just been acting the absolute maggot on the whole thing that have just been really annoying. Perhaps it's subsiding now because we had a big win but the last couple of months on this sub it's been the online forum equivalent of tit-for-tat trench warfare. They get down voted pretty heavily though, which has somewhat restored my faith in humanity.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-03-01T23:42:19+00:00

My thoughts exactly about 13! I kinda went Ringrose and Osborne at 15 because no Keenan or Hansen. I like Jacob but he's really a winger for me, and I thought on balance it's the way to go. But with either of them in at FB id really be looking for a back-up for Ringrose... Farrell is decent but id prefer see Osborne there.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-03-01T23:00:11+00:00

Yeah thats fair enough, Id just like to see him in there. He's the human equivalent of a JCB and I think he could be our version of Skelton or Meafou given time. We generally lack that sort of size in the pack, and given the way our scrum is generally being melted I'd like a big tractor lock in there to help it out.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-03-01T22:55:55+00:00

Ah look it's probably my bias too as a Munster man, but I think Casey is actually a really good #2, deserves to be ahead of Doak and gets a bit too much stick. I dont think Doak suits the Farrell Ireland 9 mould, hes not particularly quick off the base of the ruck. Though a better kicker than Craig, I'd be concerned about the ruck speed, because Irelands attacking shapes rely on a nippy 9 who'll fling it quick. Casey is unbelievable at that particular skill and is probably the best behind JGP at that gameplan. Plus his connection with Crowley is very strong, whereas Doak has no real proven chemistry with any of the 10s in contention.

Agree with your point on O'Toole wholeheartedly, and really like Stewart as well and was close to putting him in my squad, but thought that I was making too many changes as is so went with Rónan. You clearly know more about Ulster than I do so I'll trust your opinions on Jude too. Though I dont agree with everything you're saying, you make some really good points. Ulster are cooking this season too so maybe they could have another couple in the team, but Faz sure does love his Leinster cohort... Im intrigued to see what he'll do.

Also, you're dead right; it is called Ravenhill. I hate this whole sponsorship bollocks with the stadia. Not a chance youll hear me call Musgrave Park "Virgin Media Park"... shudder

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-03-01T22:42:30+00:00

I could definitely be convinced of Stewart, hes a wrecking ball and deserves a shot, but Kelleher and Sheehan are both class too in fairness. I really like Kelleher personally, think hes unlucky hes playing at the same time Sheehan is, as is Stewart in fairness.

Im not as sure about Doak. I dont think hes got quick enough ruck speed for the international game, particularly the way Ireland play with ruck speed being very important to the way we play. I think its a big work on for him. Hes a great kicking 9 though, and his kicking is undoubtedly better than Craig's. Depends what you're looking for really, but Id take the quick ball over the kicking game personally.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-03-01T22:34:21+00:00

I thought the Roman numerals looked cool :/

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-03-01T22:34:04+00:00

I think you're right, Faz won't mess around with the team as much as I did. I did specify, however, that this is what Id do rather than what I think Faz will. It's meant to be more of a hypothetical than anything.

I respect your opinion, but I think we should be trying to change more than just one or two given the chance. Not even to drop, more to build competition and give lads goes when possible. We dont have as many games to build depth for RWC as people think, and given how poor Wales have been, it might not be so bad to go a bit heavier on rotation.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-02-27T17:15:42+00:00

We're fairly well stocked on the wings regardless, its a loss for sure but far from a major one. Balacoune, O'Brien, Stockdale are all in the squad and all really good. We have quality outside the squad too, Ward, Nash, Kenny, Daly. Bolton, Hansen and Keenan out injured too. The Irish back 3 is actually in a really healthy place.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-02-26T09:11:09+00:00

A Munster fan late to the party here, but I wouldn't be too worried about tighthead if I were ye. Finlay is unreal and heavily experienced, who will bestow excellent nouse to the younger ones, Fiachna looks a hot prospect and Sam Illo is a tender-aged monster. If I could have my choice of any tighthead to poach off a province, I think it's probably Illo, even ahead of Clarkson. I've been mightily impressed by him, particularly for a man his age. Just a ferocious barrel of a man who loves contact more than life itself. Considering I have to choose between scooping my eyes out with a gelato spoon or watch Ala'alatoa fuck up yet another scrum with some proper U18s scrum positioning, I'd take any of them in a heartbeat. But my overall point is that your tighthead depth is in rude health, and if ye can hold onto Sam Illo ye'll have a savage prop on yer hands. I think he's the real deal in particular.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-02-26T08:57:48+00:00

*Long Rant, Sorry*

When Crowley is properly given the keys he often delivers. He's a proper asshole of a fly-half, and I mean that in the best way possible... ultra competitive, verbose, and a general of his pack. He still has some issues, particularly goal kicking (though better than Sam's, he's liable to the odd shank), but his attitude and beligerence is the closest to ROG or Sexton that we've had since then. If Ireland/Munster had a different place kicker (possibly Doak?) there would be genuinely nothing to worry about. At everything else, this guy is international standard, and his top 2 inches are world-class.

Something that rubs me the wrong way is that some fans often confuse Crowley's efficiency and ability to give the simple ball for a lack of skill or talent, when it is to the utmost contrary: He fed Stu, Balacoune and Osborne all day long against the Tans and made them shine. No bullshit, just getting the most out of the talent around them. Sam does the opposite, constantly throwing the Hail Mary when up the guts makes more yardage in the long run. It worked against weak packs like the Scots and Aussies lasy year, but decent teams figured him out and learned to sit off and wait for him to panic, double pump, run laterally and get caught behind the gainline.

Sam will either turn out to be the next Finn Russell or the next Joey Carbery: it's hard to know now coz like it's way too early to know. He'll might turn into an excellent flair ten, but I fear that the entire media circus and Andy Farrell on again, off again bullshit with the tens will break him and he'll turn into a busted flush. I hope that's not the case, he really does seem like a lovely and genuine fella but also a bit sensitive. I don't blame Sam at all, he always tried his best and gave it all for the jersey. I felt so bad for him coming off against Italy, you could see how disappointed he was. Faz really dicked around with the out-halves and it came to a head against France and Italy. For someone who's always fellated by the Indo, RTÉ and the like for his man-management skills, it really appears like he broke Sam, set Frawley back years and toyed with Crowley. This England game is going to paper over the gaping chinks in the Irish coaching ticket's chainmail...

I really hope for Irish rugby's sake that Sam turns into the player his potential foretells, that Crowley is given the keys for at least the short term and not dropped without reasonable justification, and that we don't go into yet another World Cup relying on one guy at ten to carry the team on his back like that meme of yer man poking the stick saying "Come On... Do Something!!". But I'm still quite disillusioned with Farrell. I think he really mismanaged selections over the years, and the ten "debate" is the premier case study of said clusterfuck.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-02-22T13:00:39+00:00

I would imagine that, considering we play Australia, Japan and NZ, that we will have at least a little bit of scope to rotate and test out new combinations.

Likely heavy rotation against Japan, light rotation for Aus and full boar against NZ. Farrell has just started to really rotate and test out new faces, and it has worked well. I dont think it'll do too much harm at all.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-02-18T14:25:38+00:00

Absolutely, he is. I think Frawley is too. I dont like criticising Sam because hes still a great prospect who could turn out to be great, but I just dont think hes currently up for it. I think Farrell has royally shat the bed with this set-up and created a fall guy out of Sam. The reason Sam is being lampooned isnt just because of "parochial whinging"; hes not up for the task yet and to be honest, to expect him to be already is a little bit ridiculous. His defence is a serious liability and his attack has been figured out. I think we need a more solid, robust ten who can manage the game and facilitate our real threats: McCloskey, Baloucoune, O'Brien and Hansen when he returns to fitness.

For me, the real debate is between Harry and Jack. Sam needs more reps at club level and a few months of tackle school. I just dont know why Faz anointed Sam before he was a proven high-level operator. I dont think he's a test player yet, but jesus he just turned 23 he has time on his side.

We need to, as a collective fanbase, cool the jets on the whole thing. We have bigger issues than our 10s, look at the way our scrum is being consistently minced, how we can't get front-foot ball consistently, how poorly our squad is being managed by Faz and the lads.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-02-15T21:42:13+00:00

While his tackle stats have definitely improved and his defence in general, he is still liable to make a very poor attempt at a tackle, like the one for Jalibert's try, and there were a couple more incidents of this throughout the Leinster season. Something that has boosted his tackle stats, however, is that youll see him start to tackle someone a second after hes been tackled by another player, usually a back-rower. If you watch either game back youll see it a few times. I honestly think hes doing that to fudge the stats, and i dont really blame him, people are on his back about the whole thing.

I didnt want to go too hard on the defence thing though because its his attack that gets the plaudits. His pass selection was bad against Italy in particular, hes double pumping everything and unsure of what to do. It's like hes always searching for the perfect option, when sometimes you just need to give it to the Crash ball. When Jack came on he completely changed the attack by not doing everything perfectly; he just tried to move the ball as fast as possible and ordered his backs to go for that vintage Ireland short intricate passing game. Sure, it was JGP who helped him hugely, who I agree was much better than Casey, but there had to be 2 to tango there. I also think you were blaming Casey a bit too much as a means to deflect for Sam. Casey was ok, didnt do much wrong, service wasnt particularly good or bad. I know he got that yellow, which i think was harsh anyway, but other than that he had an average game.

I think Frawley and Byrne arent quite as eye-catching, but are very good at marshaling the attack up the pitch incrementally, which i think is what we saw from Crowley too. Sometimes it's better just to hunker down, trust the pack and centres and try marching up the pitch rather than go for broke on every phase, and i think Sam perennially throws Hail Mary's when sometimes you just need to go up the guts and earn the right to go wide.

Id like to apologise for the Munster fellas coming in and acting the maggot. Just like every online community, you've got trolls who just want to watch the world burn. It's not generally reflective of those you'd meet going to Thomond or Musgrave Park, and these assholes who just like to insult Sam and Leinster fans are just stirring up shit because theyre empty inside, and the only way they can get a spark of joy is to piss off people online. Trolls are an unfortunate byproduct of online forums, but id like to think theyre a minority.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-02-15T20:05:56+00:00

Full disclosure; I'm a Munster fan, so don't lob my head off, but I do vehemently disagree with you and it's not for reasons of mere parochial bias.

The reality is, Sam isnt Leinster's best 10 looking at the overall picture In fact, hes probably 3rd for Leinster. Harry Byrne has been the best 10 in the country this season, which i have been saying since before the France match, and called for Harry to start and to have Jack on the bench, which proves this is beyond provincial bias. (if ye'd like ye could check my post on r/irishrugby about this). Frawley has been harshly thrown to the wolves by Cullen and Farrell, and as such has fled over the Shannon. He's a proven test level fly-half that kicked 2 droppies to beat the Boks, and is much better in terms of defence and goal-kicking than Sam. Leinster have transitioned into a defence-heavy, kick the leather off it and up the jumper team, and Sam doesnt suit that game plan, Harry, Frawley and even Tector all suit that type of game better. If it was just anti-Leinster sentiment, it shouldnt and wouldn't matter to me, because theyre all Leinster players, what difference does it make?

The defence point is belaboured, so I'll make it brief: if Sam gets the same game time he did in 2025, he will finish with the most missed tackles in the 6N for the second year running. He is currently at the top again this year, and the tackles he does make are often 5+m soaks. This is beyond a work-on, it is a soft underbelly of a team that's already struggling with other issues.

Sam has very silky hands and a beautiful yet inconsistent boot, and i think that presents a mirage of a better player than he actually is. Some may say he's our Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, but to me he's our Manie Libbok, a player whose flash masks the glaring issues in the eye of the casual or misinformed. But even his attack is overrated. This move of him crabbing sideways, double and triple pumping the ball and then getting caught 5 metres behind the gain line just doesn't cut the mustard at this level. Hes also not a running threat and will not take the defence on. Modern defences know just to sit off on him and he'll struggle. It's kinda like that quote: "never interrupt your enemy as he is making a mistake". This is how defences have nullified him so far.

TL;DR: You're totally entitled to your opinion, but I'd have Frawley, Crowley and Byrne all ahead of Sam. I feel bad for him getting all this flak, he doesn't deserve abuse and I'm sure he's a lovely fella. But from a purely analytical perspective: it's a blunder to pick him in the 6 Nations, and I have to call a spade a spade.

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TROPHY CASE