1. Do you believe Ireland’s disappointing display against New Zealand was down to the All Blacks’ performance, Ireland being undercooked, or something more worrying?
Ruaidhrí O’Connor: We’ve become used to Ireland starting windows like a train and they’ve rarely been undercooked under Farrell, so it’s reasonable to wonder if the team are in need of new ideas and fresh faces to arrest a run of three defeats in five. Their lack of belief was worrying.
Cian Tracey: Every team is entitled to an off day, so we are inclined to put Friday’s no-show down as a blip. However, Ireland have failed to hit their own high standards on several occasions this year, which is a concern. Their response for the remainder of the month will be telling.
Will Slattery: Ireland’s bench selection was worrying for what it says about the team’s depth. A hooker who hadn’t played all year. A loosehead who is a ‘break glass in case of emergency’ replacement. A second-row and a back-row who have barely featured this season due to injury and weren’t in form. Without a bench press, this Ireland team will struggle.
Sinéad Kissane: It’s impossible to judge a team’s performance without taking the opposition into account but so many of Ireland’s mistakes – like handling errors and penalty concessions – were largely of their own making. Ireland were undercooked, yes, but there was a shade of the 2019 Six Nations game against England about Friday night, when Ireland looked stuck before that snowballed. We’ll know more on Friday about this team’s state.
Michael Sadlier: The overriding hope would be that it isn’t something of great concern going forward and that a reasonable reading of the situation is that the performance was more of a case of Ireland not being able to find their mojo first up against a more battle-hardened, rather than vintage, All Blacks.
2. What is the key area of the performance Farrell should focus on as he turns his attention to Argentina?
ROC: The lineout is in need of major surgery. Teams know the set-piece is Ireland’s preferred platform, so they are giving them the front and putting major pressure on when Ireland risk going to the middle or the back. As a result, the maul and the set-piece attack is suffering.
CT: Take your pick. The litany of sloppy handling errors rendered much of Ireland’s attack redundant. Andrew Goodman has work to do in that regard. As does Paul O’Connell, who is under pressure to fix Ireland’s ongoing lineout and maul problems. The make-up of the bench also requires major attention.
WS: The lineout didn’t fire once again, an issue that has been going on for far too long. Outside of that, Ireland’s handling was brutal but that should be a straightforward fix.
SK: While this should be a window to evolve the team and style of play, getting the basics right against an Argentina side on the rise is an absolute must. Like set-piece, like their discipline, like having the right game-plan to match the conditions/opposition, like attitude. The stats against the All Blacks were damning.
MS: Ireland were off in so many areas that Farrell will be busy, but the assumption would be that the breakdown and set-pieces will be closely worked on as well as bringing greater attacking coherence against the Pumas and having a bench with impact.
3. What positives can Ireland take from their performance on Friday night?
ROC: There is so much within their control that they can fix. Their error count and their discipline issues are easily amended, and they were only 10 points off the All Blacks when playing so poorly. Some of their defensive work was excellent.
CT: Their defence was good for the most part, although the amount of last-ditch cover tackles that Jamison Gibson-Park and Hugo Keenan had to make meant it was uncomfortable viewing at times. The scrum, without the injured Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong, was largely solid, which was encouraging.
WS: None, other than the fact that they were so far off their usual standard in so many areas that they have massive scope to improve.
SK: Jamison Gibson-Park did the work of a few players against the All Blacks and the scramble was effective at times. Another ‘positive’ is that Ireland weren’t beaten by more than 10 points . . .
MS: There were some, but these mostly were to be found from individual performances rather than the collective. Jamison Gibson-Park was excellent on his return with his covering tackles as was another back in the side, Hugo Keenan. Josh van der Flier and Andrew Porter also stood out with their defensive workrates.
4. Has Jack Crowley done enough to keep the No 10 jersey?
ROC: Ciarán Frawley had a chance to put pressure on and he missed it. No career is all ups and no downs and Crowley is going through a rough patch right now, but perhaps an arm around the shoulder and some trust is exactly what he needs.
CT: Yes, but out of form with Munster this season, he knows he is feeling the heat for his starting place, having been hooked just shy of the hour mark when Ireland were 13-12 up. Ciarán Frawley made a mess of his golden opportunity to further close the gap, as he endured a nightmare cameo.
WS: Ciarán Frawley had a big chance to put pressure on Jack Crowley in the final quarter against New Zealand – instead he delivered his worst outing in green. The Munster 10 should get another chance with the first XV after a torrid start to the season.
SK: If Ciarán Frawley had performed better than he did against the All Blacks, then Crowley’s place would have been up for grabs. But Crowley deserves another start, and he needs his confidence built up this week. He must assert control of this game while also being given a proper platform to do that by the pack.
MS: It was no surprise that Farrell called him ashore with more than 20 minutes left to go in the match but then Ciarán Frawley didn’t exactly set things alight on his arrival either – and on that basis, Crowley probably gets the nod for another start – though he will have to be better.
5. Pick your matchday 23 for Friday’s match against Argentina
ROC: H Keenan; C Nash, G Ringrose, J Osborne, J Lowe; J Crowley, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, R Kelleher, T Furlong; J Ryan, J McCarthy; R Baird, J van der Flier, C Doris (capt). Reps: G McCarthy, J Boyle, F Bealham, C Izuchukwu, N Timoney, C Casey, S Prendergast, R Henshaw.
CT: H Keenan; M Hansen, G Ringrose, J Osborne, J Lowe; J Crowley, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, R Kelleher, F Bealham; J McCarthy, T Beirne; R Baird, J van der Flier, C Doris (capt). Reps: R Herring, J Boyle, T Clarkson, J Ryan, C Izuchukwu, C Casey, C Frawley, R Henshaw.
WS: H Keenan; M Hansen, G Ringrose, J Osborne, J Lowe; J Crowley, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, R Kelleher, T Furlong; J Ryan, J McCarthy; C Izuchukwu, J van der Flier, C Doris (capt). Reps: G McCarthy, C Healy, F Bealham, T Beirne, R Baird, C Casey, C Frawley, B Aki.
SK: H Keenan; M Hansen, G Ringrose, B Aki, J Lowe; J Crowley, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, R Kelleher, F Bealham; J McCarthy, J Ryan; T Beirne, J van der Flier, C Doris (capt). Reps: R Herring, C Healy, T Clarkson, R Baird, P O’Mahony, C Casey, C Frawley, J Osborne. (assuming Tadhg Furlong and Tom O’Toole are not fit to play)
MS: H Keenan; M Hansen, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, J Lowe; J Crowley, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, R Kelleher, T Furlong (if fit); J Ryan, J McCarthy; T Beirne, J Van der Flier, C Doris (capt). Reps: C Healy, R Herring, F Bealham, C Izuchukwu, R Baird, C Casey, C Frawley, B Aki.
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