Six Nations 2019

[GeoffreyBoycott]

@Halfpipe

The audit trail doesn’t lie Geoff, the first mention of Leavy was that he was vital to Irelands successful kicking game and so his absence this spring was a major factor in the non-performance. This fails to recognise that Leavy had almost no input in summer or autumn, when the very same kicking game was hugely successful. It looks to me like any excuse at all is being cobbled together to justify the poor recent performances.
I could see why a simple minded lad may think I was contradicting myself when highlighting the absence of Payne, but his absence was always going to be most keenly felt when Ireland needed on field leadership and intelligence to chase a lead, something they have rarely had to do in them 18 games.

And here is the audit trail. The first mention I made of Dan Leavy in the aftermath of the match on Saturday. The outstanding form that Dan Leavy displayed during the Grand Slam winning campaign of 2018 would be a big improvement on the pedestrian back row play we’ve seen from Ireland this year.

@GeoffreyBoycott

Yes O’Brien finished. Need an upgrade on Stander at 8 as well. He’s too one tracked. Leavy will come back into back row so that will improve things. Murray and Sexton need to recover form or else be dropped. Henshaw back in for Bundee. Best likely to still start due to lack of any alternative. Kearney is still a solid if now unspectacular option at full back if fit.

Very odd views you are expressing on Jared Payne, a player who amassed 19 of his 20 caps in a two year window from his first cap against South Africa in November 2014 to November 2016. Presumably you’re going to provide details to substantiate your point as to all these matches in that two year window where Jared Payne’s on field leadership and intelligence helped Ireland to chase down a lead.