Comments on: Why Andy Farrell is a shrewd appointment by Ireland

By: robbo

robbo — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 23:32:57 +0000

Are you ok?

By: robbo

robbo — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 23:31:43 +0000

Imagine 10: Cipriani, 12: Slade, 13: Nowell.

How good would that be? Genuine talent.

I find some of the debate about England’s back line baffling. 12T… Barritt…?!

By: Leon

Leon — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 14:47:42 +0000

While Farrell was obviously a decent defence coach for Sarries and England (to a lesser degree) who had good defence under his stewardship. I don’t think either team has had any attack/defence balance.

If you compare the style of play of Saracens today to 4 years ago under Farrell it is completely different. The Sarries of today are looking much more like a complete team than the bludgeon them to death Sarries of old.

The wolf pack is no longer just a defensive tool but is now actively used to form an attacking platform.

By: Benjit

Benjit — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 12:00:01 +0000

As an interim measure Farrell at 12 (if we are going down the 2nd playmaker route) makes sense. If memory serves it was Daly who played at 13 alongside Farrell at 12 in the almost successful u20 side that got to the final. Cips in place of the iffy Ford atm, until George can find some form.

By: Prophet Enoch

Prophet Enoch — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 11:07:36 +0000

Well I suppose son of Farewell has a future as the new No10 for Ireland now then.

Or will Daddy Farewell be telling the Irish side how to unpick Farewell junior as an international player whereas Daddy told his previous employers that they had to pick his boy for the team.

England and the RWC 2015……. the gift that just keeps giving.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 08:38:40 +0000

Personally think it’s a great choice from Ireland. He did always have the job title of defence coach at England didn’t he? That being said, I can imagine Schmidt being as weak as SL and letting Farrell take over. Runs a defence very well, and fits in well the the Ireland kick and chase game plan.

On the England 10 shirt. I would give it to Cips in the 6 nations, and I’d have Farrell at 12. If Slade was fit then I’d play him at 12 and Farrell shifts to 10. With Daly outside those two, and many great back three options England will have a seriously dangerous back line.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 08:34:01 +0000

Unfortunately, test match defences are far far better than those in the Premiership. It’s just not possible to compare the two.

I’m not sure what Barritt brings to the table as a player in attack? As Benjit points out, he is neither a distributer or a strong ball carrier.

Also – other than that daft was weekend of the 2015 6 nations, over SL’s tenure, did we concede bundles more tries without Barritt than with him? It definitely never seemed that way.

By: Staggy

Staggy — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 08:27:42 +0000

Actually 12T is at last coming back into some form at the moment. He has now also got over the rather disastrous handling of him by England. I think that on this seasons form he is back in the mix. Hopefully EJ is judging on current form not past reputation. Did SL some good when he came in but then he forgot that in his bid for experienced players.

By: teecee

teecee — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 19:50:24 +0000

Having watched the clip you have to say that 12t does hlmself absolutely no favours here. We need England players to do what the AB’s do so well: read the play and make the right decision,not just once but 99.9 times out of one hundred.

Although he is a hugely talented player billy gets caught In about six minds far too often. EJ won’t suffer fools or ditherers. Much as I hate to say it, I think the pairing for the Scotland game will be Barritt and Daly. Daly on merit and Barritt because even a coach as good as Jones can’t pick a player that doesn’t exist!

By: AlexD

AlexD — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 17:32:22 +0000

I’d go with the more attackng fly-half every time. Start Cips and Farrell makes useful back up from the bench (and the comments about not using him as a utility centre are spot on)
The logic goes that if Cips misses a kick at goal he should at least assist with the scoring of five more by creating a try. SL’s reign suffered from conservatism and inconsistency of player selection. No Wade, little of Cipriani and then at the wrong stage of a game or for too little e.g. Should have been Uruguay as a starter to be replaced by Ford not vice versa, no Slade in the 6N last year, no fetcher to compete with Robshaw because he was irreplaceable -yeah right – and no game time for Itoje.

By: Andy

Andy — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 17:06:52 +0000

I don´t disagree with you Benjit. Barritt is a whole hearted and competent player at top club level but lacks the vision, pace and subtlety to be a good international. I wouldn´t pick him. However, with Slade and Tuilagi unfit and nobody apart from Daly really stating a case in the centre I think that there is an outside possibility that EJ will settle for solidity rather than creativity with one of his centres, particularly if he decides to give Cipriani and Goode a run out. I have a feeling that Barritt is rated higher by coaches than by spectators and wouldn´t be surprised to see him get another chance to prove that he is still not quite up to it.

By: harlequin

harlequin — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 16:47:32 +0000

If the Irish want to take a chance with Farrell that’s their affair.I am not convinced his personality and dourness will suit them and he is too much of a league man to coach union.
Have to admit son has improved his game but as others say this is behind a dominant pack plus his petulance demonstrates a lack of coolness under pressure