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Andy Farrell leaning on one thing Ireland 'have got pretty decent at'
World Cup years haven’t been kind to Ireland boss Andy Farrell as a Test level assistant. England blew a Guinness Six Nations title in 2015 and then went on to implode at the finals, getting eliminated at the pool stage in their own backyard. Four years later in Japan, Ireland were filleted in the quarter-finals by the All Blacks after a Six Nations that exposed cracks that couldn’t be fixed in time.
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No longer a defence coach (that brief is Simon Easterby’s), Farrell is now master of all he surveys in Ireland having originally moved across the Irish Sea in 2016 to work under Joe Schmidt and ahead of a championship campaign that opens away to Wales on February 4, he is optimistic that the currently ranked world No1 side can deliver like never before in a World Cup calendar year.
Why? Because he believes that the mentality of the class of 2023 is more steeled than previously when high-pressure campaigns came apart at the seams. “It’s not just about what I learned,” he said, harking back to 2019 when the warning bells sounded as soon as the opening day defeat to England in Dublin in the Six Nations, a year that culminated in an embarrassing RWC schooling by New Zealand.
“Obviously we learned a lot. It is well documented things that went on back then and the reasons why with the report etc, it’s all there and it’s out there for everyone to look at. But it’s just about us and our own standards and what it is that we are trying to achieve. That is all that matters – getting the right competition, the right people in the room is crucial to that.
“But how we go about our daily business and how we keep growing not just our game on the field but how we keep growing our togetherness off the field will make us even stronger for the World Cup because what I think we have got pretty decent at is having an no-excuse mentality to whatever may be thrown our way during this Six Nations or at the World Cup. We’re pretty good at being resilient now and being able to see it for what it is and move on, that is on and off the field.”
Ireland couldn’t handle the pressure in 2019 and failed to react quick enough to other wounding setbacks such as the Twickenham humiliation in a warm-up versus England that was followed a month later by a damaging pool loss at the finals to Japan. Now the pressure is building again, with the No1 ranked Ireland touted as Six Nations title favourites and expected to achieve like never before at the World Cup (Ireland have never made it to semi-finals).
“It’s about how we go out there and perform, how we are fighting together to improve,” added Farrell. “Internally that is the main thing for is, being honest of where we are at and what we need to get better at and it’s very evident to us how our performances have gone over the last year of where we need to improve and get better at so hopefully that looks after itself.
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“Whether it does or it doesn’t the pressure is more internally than anything. At the same time, if the pressure from the outside starts to seep in a little bit it’s good for us to be able to deal with that. We want to get better for what’s down the track for obvious reasons and dealing with a different type of pressure is going to be priceless for us going forward.
“We are a fit side, that is for everyone to see. There is a realisation of the game we want to play and how we want to play it, high tempo, high speed type scenario so we have got a fit side and selection shows you that. That is the type of game that we want to keep pushing forward.”
A curve ball is the anticipated renewal of England, the team skippered by Farrell’s son Owen which now has Steve Borthwick in charge following the recent dismissal of Eddie Jones. Will there be a bounce? “Immediately, 100 per cent,” reckoned the Ireland boss. “Steve is a very bright bloke and some of the things that he has already done will make a difference.
“He is obviously listening to people and is very connected. He knows exactly what is going on the squad, just like Eddie did when he took over from Stuart (Lancaster). I expect there to be an immediate bounce.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Super rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
8 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
8 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
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