Ireland's selection decisions and Leinster's out-half problem | The Left Wing

Luke Fitzgerald, Cian Tracey and Will Slattery look ahead to Ireland's Test series against South Africa on the latest episode of The Left Wing.
Despite the club season ending on a sour note for the Irish provinces, Luke thinks that Andy Farrell can build his players up to take on the Springboks.
The lads discuss some of the selection dilemmas facing Farrell such as at full back, scrum-half and the back five of the scrum.
They then finish up by looking at the Leinster log-jam at out-half featuring Ciaran Frawley, Ross Byrne, Harry Byrne and Sam Prendergast.

[@OranBurns-r7c]

Still trying to figure out how Leinster went from lacking battle hardness to suddenly being leggy and running on empty.

[@Camcolito]

The only reason Leinster has an outhalf "headache" is because Cullen inexplicably keeps insisting on picking Byrne.

[@DM-rp9ik]

The Leinster 10 situation is an absolute mess no doubt about it if Prendergast spends another season behind Byrne it would be baffling.

[@ds6914]

He'll be Prender-aghast if this continues

[@ciaranbrk]

If frawley spends another second being back up it will be a joke.

[@Natedawg38]

No ones feeling Ireland has any of this and I think that's for the best. Until we have squad depth instead of a glorified A team, we'll be perpetual underdogs no matter how highly ranked. South africa has enough for three great sides. That's just insane.

[@jonnywalker5361]

Fitzgerald dead right on two things: 1. - Cooney is the second best scrum half option in Ireland. Unbelievable accuracy off the tee as well. Nuts that he’s being ignored. 2. Carbery was always a brilliant 15. He was ruined by being shoved into the 10 jersey and was screwed moving to Munster.

[@deirdreryan5674]

Frawley isn’t good enough

[@riancleary2574]

No talk about our shortage at LH? Healy still being called on is mad. GREAT servant but we need to move on

[@ds6914]

4:40 "we had a good chat with my cat" ???

[@kiaoragin]

Frawley is not a great 15. Too slow and he was shown up by the Bulls winger for the winning try. I like JOB at 15 but there is no decent cover for him should he go down. I don't think Farrell will put POM on the bench even though I agree with Luke Fitzgerald.that he should do that. Cormac Foley looks like a very promising scrum half.

[@ciankeith3999]

I'm not confident at all. A combined XV would be ⅔ Boks, at least. I feel like we're gonna get punished in Versfeld and narrowly beaten in Durban. I'd give Ireland a 10% chance of winning both games and a 35% chance of picking up one win. They simply have more pace, power, and dickhead energy for us to match them.

[@ciankeith3999]

My Combined XV: 1 - Nche 2 - Sheehan 3- Malherbe 4 - Etzebeth 5 - Beirne 6 - Du Toit 7 - Kolisi 8 - Doris 9 - De Klerk (no JGP) 10 - Pollard 11 - Arendse 12 - Henshaw 13 - Ringrose 14 - Kolbe 15 - Le Roux 10 Boers, 5 Irish. It's looking grim.

[@jadenphilander8799]

@@ciankeith3999 Henshaw and Ringrose?🤣🤣🤣. You have De Allende-Am and De Allende-Kriel...Both pairings have two world cups. Sheehan over 2x world cup wiknner Malcolm Marx? GTF out of here man. Sheehan couldnt even compete with the bulls hooker. Beirne over Mostert?🤣 Beirne wouldnt replace Mostert or Lood as well. I will give you Doris but Kwagga can easily replace that system player. All Irelands olayers are system players with no individual brilliance..maybe only Aki has that.

[@lawLess-fs1qx]

the Boks gonna hammer us. Leinster and Ireland without Keenan are abysmal.

[@jadenphilander8799]

Relax. Springboks have 5 injuries. Hugo Keenan is also an overrated system player. Willemse, Le Roux and even Fassi would probably out play him if he were in the series.

[@lizzyhanahoe4197]

@@jadenphilander8799 doubtful.

[@jadenphilander8799]

@@lizzyhanahoe4197 Hugo Keenan wouldnt even make the All Blacks or Springboks bench or broader squad...he is a system player at best.

[@Camcolito]

@@jadenphilander8799 Oh he's a "system player", not a real player. That makes absolute sense, thanks for the rugby wisdom.

[@lizzyhanahoe4197]

@@jadenphilander8799 oh dear, well let’s say it’s a matter of opinion, and your opinion really doesn’t matter. Take care 😊💚

[@patrickcoote8441]

Paddy Patterson was electric last year up until his injury and I’ll put money he will take the top spot at Munster by the end of next season

[@eoinh3816]

Peter O Reilly of Times in England really went in on Cullen and said he should move upstairs. Apparently the quality of training session under him and Mcbrdye at pre season was awful. Explains why the second string looked so poor this year compared to Lancaster second string

[@neilmontgomery3470]

That's interesting I heard something similar myself.

[@FR-je9bw]

Sean O'Brien and a handful of other coaches would have been there too. No point moving Leo upstairs because of his performance in a temporary once-off role which he stepped in to.

[@eoinh3816]

@@FR-je9bw Leo Cullen has had the tag of Head Coach of Leinster for 10 years. He’s been picking the team for 10 years, but according to you it’s acceptable that he cannot run a high quality training session.

[@FR-je9bw]

@eoinh3816 Correct. Was never his strength which is why he recruited such top level coaches to do that.

[@neilmontgomery3470]

@@FR-je9bw Not sure about Sean O Brian as a coach. Fantastic player but absolutely no experience as coach and didn't he get his wang out in a bar a few years ago?

[@Gorilladome4664]

Ya, Mani Libbok left 11points of missed kicks on the board....good luck with that this time around.

[@bubblesDF]

luke is the most honest pundit I don’t know why the other pundits bother they only want to say nice thing and not upset anyone

[@crusa5]

Huge mistake letting Hugo Keenan go to the Olympics!!! Keenan put himself before Leinster and Ireland. This seems very selfish to me

[@murraysmith595]

Jordie Barrett can play 10 😂😂

[@brianmurray6287]

The Boks are building an army not a squad so its no harm for Ireland to try out new players in key positions.

[@ColmOCallaghan-i6b]

I'm afraid how many leinster players we rely on especially after being hammered bt the Bulls. Would like to see some new players.

[@dairet1945]

Leinster lost by four points to the Bulls away and trashed them at home. The Bulls themselves shat the bed in the final. You play enough big games you will run out of steam at some point. Happens to every team.

[@ColmOCallaghan-i6b]

@dairet1945 leinster first team don't play enough games together and when it comes to the crunch games they are not battle hardened and end up on the wrong side of the result. It's happened for the last 3 years straight. I blame the coaches and selection policy.

[@dairet1945]

@@ColmOCallaghan-i6b They are a victim of their own success. The better an Irish side is the more centrally contracted players they will have. Centrally contracted players are mandated to play less games by the IRFU.

[@martijnvermolen8894]

Really cannot understand why Haley is not mentioned re the FB position, outstanding last season and despite coming back from injury the most proven FB behind Keenan. Loughman another strange omission unless Farrell only wants props who can play on both sides. Hodnett should have gotten in too. No prizes for guessing which province I support!

[@T800Trak]

Great discussion lads ,Munster fan. Luke Fitzgearld is so good great insights and always totally fair and open in all his comments Well done all .

[@deirdreryan5674]

This has been rubbish. Harry Byrrne should be out-he’s crap. Give Prendergast a chance.

[@riancleary2574]

South Africa kept closing the gap at the RWC and it wasn't called. Refs need to watch South Africa at line out. Pressure is grand but keep the distance

[@TheBuildKingR]

😂 same for Ireland collapsing the scrum because they can't handle the pressure, or coming in from the sides at the mall, or keeping players in at rucks...

[@BarryHawk]

Having PoM as captain is a problem, cos he's not the best option at 6 or 7. Cian's point is correct though, how can he not start if he's captain?

[@FR-je9bw]

Major barrier to progress. Maybe he can be Spiritual Leader, Sledger in Chief, and Head of Lapel Grabbing from the bench?

[@johnnyk6460]

Or leader of the department of "looking angry during the national anthems".😅😅😅

[@FR-je9bw]

@johnnyk6460 How does he put up with the Missus on Instagram? No wonder he is playing on well past his sell by date.

[@eoinh3816]

I don’t think they’ll start VDF. His strengths really don’t lie against the Boks as a starter. Think they’ll start Ryan and Joe in row and Beirne POM and Doris in Br

[@ConorOLeary-rl4bs]

Unfortunately our best 7 Leavy had to retire

[@ConorOLeary-rl4bs]

A bit out there but why not have Beirne play 7? He does what a 7 does traditionally and has a fair old bit of size on him

[@barryryan14]

Berine has never started at 6 for Ireland. He's played there 2 for Munster in over 120 apps. He's not a 6. It's madness.

[@ChaunceyGardner100]

how was the champions cup campaigns disastrous? Munster bombed out with just one win, fair enough, but Leinster were a drop goal away from winning the trophy after beating La Rochelle and the premiership champions on the way.

[@MB-xq9hu]

Here for the Irish accent... As an American, I respect and admire what the Scottish and Irish have done with the English language! Oh and yay Rugby!! I recommend Helmets and Shoulder pads, it's safer... Just a recommendation from a friend. you are welcome! 😁

[@nmn9166]

Hey 👋, Rugby I would say is a safer sport . Rugby has very specific tackle technique . Helmets and pads dint help concussions. I.n Fact I’d say it worse since it’s hir hard free for all . Rugby teaches you controlled aggression, discipline , teamwork respect of official and opponent and far less ego involved . I would recommend all young boys play rugby . Great values for life. I played 13-18.

[@patrickyoung3503]

I have to agree with you . , long time past the point of no return . I would recommend at least the helmet but why stop there bring forward the day both shoulder lads & helmets are part & parcel of the rugby game .

[@MB-xq9hu]

@@nmn9166 The art of tackling in Football is being lost because hitting is allowed and honestly for the defender hurts less that trying to wrap your arms around someone. And I agree with you the helmet could become a weapon easily. Love both sports, I played Highschool Football wasn't any good, but was honored being called the captain my senior year, and I believe it is a great sport as well for life lessons, most contact sports teach you to get back up after getting knocked down hard as life often does. Thank you for the reply!