National Forum

Non-Gaa Forum

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


I said on here before a total revamp was needed after the last World Cup and Farrell should have walked as well. Spent 2 years picking the same players who are now well past their peak. Mind boggling.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8743 - 08/02/2026 14:34:05    2655502

Link

Replying To TheFlaker:  "I said on here before a total revamp was needed after the last World Cup and Farrell should have walked as well. Spent 2 years picking the same players who are now well past their peak. Mind boggling."
I missed the discussion myself, but according to the experts today, this is not the issue.

According to those same experts, the issue is instead related to coaching changes in Leinster going from Schmidt to Lancaster to Nienaber. The change in Leinster's attack and defense under Nienaber has been significant apparently, and not without teething problems so far. This has fed into the Irish squad, and not in a positive way to date.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4548 - 08/02/2026 22:55:03    2655572

Link

Replying To TheFlaker:  "I said on here before a total revamp was needed after the last World Cup and Farrell should have walked as well. Spent 2 years picking the same players who are now well past their peak. Mind boggling."
Hes not doing that now

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18317 - 08/02/2026 23:25:53    2655577

Link

Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "I missed the discussion myself, but according to the experts today, this is not the issue.

According to those same experts, the issue is instead related to coaching changes in Leinster going from Schmidt to Lancaster to Nienaber. The change in Leinster's attack and defense under Nienaber has been significant apparently, and not without teething problems so far. This has fed into the Irish squad, and not in a positive way to date."
That is an issue but that doesn't dictate or lack of pace and freshness. We are in a position just over a year out to now being forced to start players.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8743 - 09/02/2026 09:15:22    2655587

Link

Replying To Viking66:  "Hes not doing that now"
If Furlong, Aki etc were available he would start them.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8743 - 09/02/2026 09:16:13    2655589

Link

Replying To TheFlaker:  "I said on here before a total revamp was needed after the last World Cup and Farrell should have walked as well. Spent 2 years picking the same players who are now well past their peak. Mind boggling."
When you look at A game Friday night hard to justify

The ward bros jj Kenny getting hype but missing one on one tackles galore against a lad Murley who looked out of his depth for England at Aviva last yr.

I'd move on vdf stockdale and obrien is not intl class

For all criticism of Lowe hes miles ahead of wings playing in France

Hanson also stock going up injured

jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1932 - 09/02/2026 09:20:43    2655590

Link

Replying To jm25:  "When you look at A game Friday night hard to justify

The ward bros jj Kenny getting hype but missing one on one tackles galore against a lad Murley who looked out of his depth for England at Aviva last yr.

I'd move on vdf stockdale and obrien is not intl class

For all criticism of Lowe hes miles ahead of wings playing in France

Hanson also stock going up injured"
Hansen is a big loss. We have no pace. Last WC should have been the end of 8 or 9 players plus the coach. Farrell there under Joe as well. And whatever message he had would have been geared towards last WC quarter final. Words from the same coach have less impact over time when you fall on the big stage.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8743 - 09/02/2026 09:53:29    2655598

Link

Replying To TheFlaker:  "Hansen is a big loss. We have no pace. Last WC should have been the end of 8 or 9 players plus the coach. Farrell there under Joe as well. And whatever message he had would have been geared towards last WC quarter final. Words from the same coach have less impact over time when you fall on the big stage."
Things will have to be shook up soon, from what I can see & all going to plan at RWC27, we'd meet Argentina in the quarters. Surely a good draw for Ireland and a great chance to proceed if matters are addressed ASAP. I can't see Farrell going anywhere so we're stuck with him. I don't have any real issue with Farrell but it would be madness to dispense with him now. Not many would want to take on a team mid world cup cycle anyhow. The next coach has to be O'Gara. He's done more than enough to warrant it.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1774 - 09/02/2026 11:27:41    2655625

Link

Replying To TheFlaker:  "Hansen is a big loss. We have no pace. Last WC should have been the end of 8 or 9 players plus the coach. Farrell there under Joe as well. And whatever message he had would have been geared towards last WC quarter final. Words from the same coach have less impact over time when you fall on the big stage."
I don't know it needed fresh if up but not exactly anyone banging down door to replace them

O'Brien has pace but limited

We seem to have issue when players move on from u20

Gleeson Quinn were some of best u20 players a few years ago but barely breaking into poor Munster side

Compared to say a Cunningham south same age already regular at Quinn's and has about 15 caps for England

Couldn't believe timony is 30 and just coming into side.

Beirne Gibson park still well best in position so need to be pushed out Casey doak not doing enough

jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1932 - 09/02/2026 11:40:27    2655628

Link

Replying To Square_B:  "Things will have to be shook up soon, from what I can see & all going to plan at RWC27, we'd meet Argentina in the quarters. Surely a good draw for Ireland and a great chance to proceed if matters are addressed ASAP. I can't see Farrell going anywhere so we're stuck with him. I don't have any real issue with Farrell but it would be madness to dispense with him now. Not many would want to take on a team mid world cup cycle anyhow. The next coach has to be O'Gara. He's done more than enough to warrant it."
Not saying get rid of him now. But this was on the cards. Same players, same messaging for years and years now.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8743 - 09/02/2026 12:23:10    2655644

Link

Replying To TheFlaker:  "Not saying get rid of him now. But this was on the cards. Same players, same messaging for years and years now."
Rassie will go to 2031 with a lot of players still around since 2015 World Cup.

Different when winning

I don't think Farrell should have left but O'Connell should have got the bullet as did awful job with lineout.

Easier be critical of Johnny Foreigner nienaber than an Irish legend the media go so soft on POC

jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1932 - 09/02/2026 13:03:19    2655654

Link

Replying To TheFlaker:  "Not saying get rid of him now. But this was on the cards. Same players, same messaging for years and years now."
As a poster pointed out above & which I'd agree with, the U20's don't seem to be making the cut despite some good teams in the last 5 years. It's a tough one to balance out but perhaps more players should have been tried out I don't know.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1774 - 09/02/2026 14:15:21    2655664

Link

Replying To Square_B:  "As a poster pointed out above & which I'd agree with, the U20's don't seem to be making the cut despite some good teams in the last 5 years. It's a tough one to balance out but perhaps more players should have been tried out I don't know."
I know balance is hard but post WC you could pick the 15. Even last year. Nobody feels under pressure.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8743 - 09/02/2026 15:29:39    2655686

Link