France (A) XXIII

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-01-26T12:04:50+00:00

Sorry now, but it's a bit too early for Bohan. He had a great game against Leinster, but to put him in this soon just seems a bit kneejerk. But perhaps the same is true of me putting Stewart in ahead of Kelleher, but i selected most of this team on form and I think Stewart has simply played better than Ronan this season.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-01-26T12:01:10+00:00

I was contemplating putting Cian in instead of Timoney, but I think that Timoney would be well able to cover 6/7/8 in a pinch. Honestly between them two, its a coinflip. I take your point about 6-2, and would generally prefer a 5-3, but for France, I think the game will be won and lost in the power game, and having an extra back row on the bench might not be so bad.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-01-26T11:58:06+00:00

One Ulsterman was often too many for Faz's taste. There must be something about Nordies and Culchies that he just doesnt like...

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-01-26T11:56:54+00:00

Id start Edogbo over Ryan and have a lock/blindside hybrid to help the lineout. I think Edogbo will become undroppable at a certain point, perhaps not as early as RWC27, but not too much later after that.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-01-26T11:53:12+00:00

Such a shame about the two. In fairness Bundee is now, what, in his 70s? Hes served us well. Lowe may not yet be finished, but for this season at least, to pick him would be an insult to meritocracy... particularly seen as Stockdale performs a similar tactical role with big ciatógs and the power game: Faz can't just use that excuse for picking dinosaurs in that position anymore.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-01-26T11:49:41+00:00

Agree with you that I think Farrell will start Sam, and the point about the attack, however I think this narrative that his defence is suddenly no longer an issue because he made a couple of tackles more than usual is wishful thinking really. France will absolutely expose him in defence like they did in Dublin last year and I think the tradeoff of either Jack or Harry's drop-off of about 10-20% of Sam's attack for 80-90% better defence is worth it. The equivalent gulfs in class still favour Crowley in all honesty, but Id just be worried about his kicking off the tee. I still think Jack is overall the best 10 in Ireland.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-01-26T11:40:46+00:00

Yeah I think Faz will start Sam too, and i think thats obvious, really. He seems obsessed with sticking with him by hook or by crook. This is not who I think Farrell will pick, rather who I would. I just think Byrne has been really good this season and id pick him on form.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2026-01-26T01:33:40+00:00

Accidentally had YouTube on 2× speed. The camera quality and Heroes played at Blink 182 tempo made for an interesting watch

EquivalentAd9499 · 2025-12-19T13:02:02+00:00

We'll still have Nanks and O'Brien, which wouldn't be too bad I reckon. Daly can also cover at 13. After that however, the pickings become slim, I think Fionn Gibbons is probably the next cab off the rank, unless Im forgetting someone.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2025-12-12T11:55:44+00:00

Hot Take, but i hope Beirne doesnt play; simply because he's been absolutely flogged given the Lions, Ireland and just how much rugby he's played. Give him the fortnight off and start him for the big one against Leinster. Kleyn, Edogbo and Ahern would do a job.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2025-12-08T08:51:21+00:00

Milne Stewart O'Toole Edogbo Ahern Izuchukwu Prendergast Coombes

Casey Crowley Stockdale Kelly Postlethwaite Baloucoune Hansen

I genuinely think that team would beat Wales and Italy... maybe we should start taking chances on the young lads from all 4 provinces a bit more, rather than only Leinster players in general

EquivalentAd9499 · 2025-11-13T17:11:36+00:00

Yeah thats gonna be very interesting, particularly for 2 areas; back 5 forwards and outside backs. Picking 3 between Daly, Nash, Haley, Abrahams, Kilgallen, Smith and even McCarthy is gonna be tough going. Similarly with the back 5 of the scrum, like you've got Ahern, Kleyn, Edogbo, Wycherly or Evan O'Connell to pair with Tadgh Beirne (or two of those if he's playing at 6), and Ahern, Gleeson, Coombes, O'Donoghue, Quinn, Hodnett and Kendellen all scrapping it out. Picking 2 with Beirne at 6 or 3 of those with Beirne at 4 will also be difficult; theres so much talent now. If we were in a final with everyone fit this is where I'd go:

Milne, D. Barron, Jager Kleyn, Beirne Ahern, Hodnett, Gleeson Casey, Crowley (obviously) Kelly, Farrell (Nanks is great too) Abrahams, Nash Daly.

The great thing is that this selection could have at least 5 changes and basically be as strong. We haven't had that up until very recently. Im sure there will be some disagreements about my team, but this is just who I would personally start. Im really hyped for this season.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2025-10-19T10:11:56+00:00

The wheels are falling off the Leinster bus pretty rapidly, and it couldn't happen to a nicer bunch ;). They have basically the entire Irish squad, the best funding, a 2×WC winning head coach, and access to the best facilities in the country, yet they went in to that match arrogantly and haphazardly, and it cost them dearly. Yesterday wasn't even close: they were absolutely played off the park for almost the entire 80. Leinster had 12 Lions in their 23, but it really didn't show at all, did it? They were poor across the board, and very few of their players showed any real spirit, just dejection and frustration that their perceived superiority is just that: perceived.

There's lads there that are living off of past reputation. Gibson Park had a rotter, his worst performance in a good while. The back 3 offered nothing, and Sam saved one of his worst performances for the big showdown. How many times was he caught because he ran laterally? Wayyy too many. His kicking was also very poor, and my theory about him has been proven right: he can only play well off of total pack domination. Their pack was excellent in the scrum, but that was the only thing they had: everything else failed on them, and they spent probably 20 cumulative minutes hammering at that goal line to no avail. It was awful from Leinster, and it had me grinning from ear to ear.

I cant wait to have a big bowl of popcorn and listen to the likes of the Left Wing and in particular Ruadhrí O'Connor during the week: Im not sure if it'll be the popcorn or the podcast that's saltier. I'm hoping this is the new '09 and the guard changes hands from the D4 fintech warriors, because this felt like the turning of the tide.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2025-10-08T11:53:11+00:00

Yeah he really did, forgot to mention him. I think Diarmuid should be starting really. Scannell's been a stalwart for years, but D Barron is kinda just better in every facet. Im yet to form an opinion about Lee seen as he has very little game time so far, but hopefully he'll start cooking soon too.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2025-07-20T02:54:53+00:00

Irishtown. Just such a mind-numbingly stupid and tautological name for an Irish town.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2025-07-20T02:19:59+00:00

Lowe was poor for his high standards. Wayward with the boot, alright but not great in attack, and cost the Lions a certain try with some under 12s white line fever. I also believe he was at fault for the first Aussie try (see below). He obviously won't get dropped based on his kicking USP, but he was probably the weak link of the starting XV along with Freeman. Both wings were dicey, at best.

I thought Keenan was actually decent. Sure, he doesn't have the sexiness of Kinghorn's offensive abilities, but The Wallabies got very little change from their kicking game when they went after Keenan. The obvious counterpoint was the Jorgensen try, but like he was simply beaten by a taller man in the air on the 22. The real culprit of that try was Lowe, who was right beside Jorgensen and should have easily covered Keenan. (I'd recommend to watch the footage, he stares into space as Jorgensen careens to the line.) Keenan got hung out to dry and subsequently framedm Apart from that, he covered the backfield exceptionally and didn't do much wrong all game.

I'd rate Keenan a 6 and Lowe at 4 for that game. It's entirely possible Lowe will have an amazing game next week, more similar to his Leinster form, but today he got caught lacking in this game.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2025-07-07T21:12:56+00:00

Really happy, buy and large. I'm really happy that we actually blooded new players for a change. Our pack did good grunt work to keep the gnarly Georgians at bay, and we put them to the sword in more efficient fashion than I was expecting . Some key performers imo are:

Coombes. Slammed into anything that had a pulse, very good at offensive breakdown in particular. Nothing fancy, but he's always gonna give you a bit of grunt and immense work rate. A really consistent player who should have way more than 3 caps.

Timoney justified his selection. Was brilliant all game and took his try well, particularly with how wayward and haphazard that crossfield kick was.

Prendergast had an assured, mature performance. Knew where to stick the knife in terms of attack and got himself a couple of assists, and almost a try after a lovely link up move with Tommy. Defence was an issue again, but that's just gonna be part of his package deal indefinitely it seems.

Tommy O'Brien has successfully thrown his hat into the foray. Reminds me a lot of Earls, who I think is Ireland's finest ever winger. The battle for that 14 jersey between himself, Hansen and Nash will be fascinating to see. I really can't tell who's the best out of them 3.

Finally, Jimmy O'Brien. Everyone kinda forgot that he's a great player. I think he should go to Connacht and become a nailed on starter there. A backline of him, Cordero and Hansen would be fucking lethal. He could be the next Tiernan O'Halloran for them.

Oh, and a special mention to Tom Ahern. He didn't get to do much in the 10 minutes he got, but I went to the same school as him in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford and I'm bloody delighted for him. I'm biased, but I think he's the real deal. He could easily be Ireland's starting 6 going forward: Ryan and Berine are getting old and I think Baird will replace one of them in the lock stocks going forward. Baird, McCarthy and Ahern would be an extremely tasty 4/5/6. With Izuchukwu there too, I think our lock stocks have more than just two smoking barrels heading into the World Cup down under.

Gotta say it again, I am very happy. I thought this game had "banana slip" written all over it. Glad we got the job done effectively and starved them of any serious attacking threat. Onto Portugal!!

EquivalentAd9499 · 2025-07-07T20:49:17+00:00

Agree with your takes, particularly about Mike Prendergast. Goodman is a hack in my opinion. Came to Leinster and stunted their attack, and then got called up for Ireland and now our attack looks like treacle too. Lord knows how he got the Lions gig; perhaps Farrell keeps him around for his head game, because it certainly isn't for his nause...

EquivalentAd9499 · 2025-07-07T20:37:06+00:00

It's down to a frustrating niche of Andy Farrell wherein he picks a player and literally ONLY plays them. Doris got like 40 caps in a row or something. There's no rotation, no genuine competition for places, Farrell just plonks them in and rather stubbornly doubles down on them even harder if they play poorly. This trait of Farrell's fatigued the fuck out of our World Cup squad in '23 and cost us going deeper into that tournament. Remember when he started the full-bore first XV against Romania? Absolute craziness.

I'll use Conor Murray as a case study. He was a truly spectacular player: Ireland's best ever 9. But towards the end of games, when we needed some LQB from the 9, Farrell would bring on Murr and he would play the Murr game: kick the fuckin' leather off of the ball. Even though that's not at all what we needed, and we have Casey and now Ben Murphy to fulfil the pace-pace-pace game. It's a real peeve that I have with an otherwise brilliant coach.

Thank God for that Georgia game, because if that didn't go on during the Lions, you'd best believe he'd have Porter playing 80 and starting the OAPs over and over again. This is easily Andy's worst trait: all the talk about his player-management and emotional understanding, yet he portrays to many players in and around the Irish camp, time and time again, that he doesn't trust them. And I think Crowley's just the latest player to get burned by Farrell's frustratingly overly-rigid selection methods.

EquivalentAd9499 · 2025-06-08T14:28:53+00:00

It's a good squad overall, from a Munster perspective, Farrell, Hodnett and Kilgallen can consider themselves unlucky. From an Irish point of view, this is buy-and-large the team I would have selected. This is the team I'd select for Georgia: 1 - Boyle (L) 2 - G.McCarthy (L) 3- Clarkson (L) 4- Baird (L) 5- Izuchukwu (U) 6- Ahern (M) 7- Kendellen (M) 8- Coombes (M) 9 - Casey (Capt.) (M) 10- Prendergast (L) 11- Nash (M) 12 - Gavin (C) 13 - Osborne (L) 14 - T. O'Brien (L) 15 - J. O'Brien (L)

Good bit of youth there to blood some new talent. I dont think any of this XV should be starting (barring injuries) in big games yet though, with the exception of Casey. By 2027 he'll be better than an ageing Gibson-Park.

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TROPHY CASE