Michael Halpenny

[Michael Halpenny @MichaelHalpenny]

@jjsalmo @thepaulwilliams F. Smith has been my lions starter since the 6 nations. First noticed him when playing against Munster last year. Munster scored towards the end and it was all set up for them to overwhelm Northampton. He didn't give them a sniff. Just knows how to play the game.

[Michael Halpenny @MichaelHalpenny]

@FromLe2 I think and hope that Farrell has a little too much integrity to do that.

[Michael Halpenny @MichaelHalpenny]

@CClwyd @Jeroz @SquidgeRugby Take another look at M. His game management has developed way beyond what I thought he could ever get to. I still wouldn't start him but I'd have him on bench as a gamebreaker.

[Michael Halpenny @MichaelHalpenny]

@Overthehillprop There's an argument that Farrell won't want Russell's occasional flakiness but IMO he's too good to leave behind. Sam P only goes if he chooses 4 outhalves or there's an injury.

[Michael Halpenny @MichaelHalpenny]

@Overthehillprop Goes without saying that picking for anything other than playing reasons for the lions would devalue the shirt and I think and hope that Farrell has too much integrity for that. Fin Smith has long been my number 1 and Marcus goes as a gamebreaking bench option.

[Michael Halpenny @MichaelHalpenny]

@AdamWarwick86 @CharlieFelix Well, they could afford it but they choose to spend their money elsewhere (very possibly in a better way for them).

[Michael Halpenny @MichaelHalpenny]

@AdamWarwick86 @CharlieFelix Of course but that's a product of the system. The system could be changed so that a greater proportion of their salary is paid for by England (and club playing commitments controlled).

[Michael Halpenny @MichaelHalpenny]

@ajsrugby There's absolutely nothing stopping England from changing their system to prioritise the development of home grown talent.

[Michael Halpenny @MichaelHalpenny]

@GetOnTap https://t.co/gCXDsjEvsc

[Michael Halpenny @MichaelHalpenny]

@TonyWalks2 @nrfc_saints Charlie Morgan has a somewhat disingenuous piece in the telegraph about it. Does a better job than most at elucidating environmental differences but based on what he said here I don't think that even he believes some of the numbers published.

[Michael Halpenny @MichaelHalpenny]

@QuinsFOTS @CharlieFelix I don't believe that there's any rule preventing England from changing it's model to further promote the development of home grown players.

[Michael Halpenny @MichaelHalpenny]

@GavanCasey He's a top quality player and sounds like he's a decent human being too. Still some rugby to be played but he's my choice to start at 10 for the lions right now.

[Michael Halpenny @MichaelHalpenny]

@andrewhdonohoe @CaolanSRugby @URCPodcast @rpetty80 The joys of social media that mutual incomprehensible ends up in personal insults.

If we ever meet in person I'll happily buy you a pint and give you all the time you need to persuade me that I'm wrong.

For now though, you're correct, we're done.

[Michael Halpenny @MichaelHalpenny]

@andrewhdonohoe @CaolanSRugby @URCPodcast @rpetty80 If you don't want to call the gap years a failure that's fine but that's what I was referring to in my original post and I absolutely stand by it.

[Michael Halpenny @MichaelHalpenny]

@andrewhdonohoe @CaolanSRugby @URCPodcast @rpetty80 Of taking advantage of the opportunities that had been neglected. Since that person was appointed and made several structural changes the output from the academy has improved.

[Michael Halpenny @MichaelHalpenny]

@andrewhdonohoe @CaolanSRugby @URCPodcast @rpetty80 I believed the issues that you pointed out were mentioning two players who played for Munster but weren't kept on. That actually supports my point.