'We not going to get into that, we're miles off it'
What a difference 24 hours and a different location about one kilometre away can make. On Friday night, Andy Farrell was gloomily sat in the shadows of a poorly lit RDS media room explaining away the thrashing his inexperienced Ireland A team had been on the receiving end of from a pent-up All Blacks XV.
One night later, his demeanour couldn’t have been more different when perched on the stage of the bright and shining Aviva Stadium auditorium less than an hour after the jam-packed D4 stadium had played host to a belter of an Autumn Nations Series win over the Springboks.
We’ve been in this giddy territory before ten months out from a World Cup in France. It was 2006, in the wake of a Dublin hammering that was delivered to Jake White’s visitors, that Eddie O’Sullivan, the then-Ireland coach, was questioned in the aftermath about how his on-song team were surely capable of winning the following year’s World Cup.
We all know what happened to that fluffy hype, Ireland playing like drains the following September and failing to negotiate their pool while the Springboks regrouped to go on and win the whole shooting match and gloriously lift the golden trophy.
Here we are then, back in the same sort of situation with everyone talking excitedly about the RWC prospects of Ireland and South Africa again lurking in the trenches, ready to pounce once more. September 24 next year is the big, big Stade de France date between the two teams but there was no chit-chat from Farrell on what is now the hottest of hot topics regarding his Ireland, the world’s current No1 ranked side.
“We’re not going to get into that, we’re miles off it,” he deflected amid the fuzzy glow of a thoroughly satisfying 19-16 win over the Springboks. “There are so many things, different permutations that can happen along the way. I have no doubt that South Africa are going to get better leading into the World Cup, they are pretty good at that, getting their timing right.
“It’s a good start to our season, that’s about it. It’s nice to play them. It’s certainly nice to play them after five years to see how we’re handling the different types of pressure that they throw at us and that is great, but it’s the start to our season and we move onto next week (to Fiji).”
Seated to the right-hand side of Farrell on the top-table podium, Ireland skipper Johnny Sexton was similarly minded. “It’s a good start to the year, that’s it really. We have got to keep building, keep our performances improving. We won a Triple Crown last year but we want to do something in the Six Nations.
“The World Cup is a good bit away and we need to stay present and try and keep winning. You don’t get many chances in an Ireland jersey, you want to win when you are in one. We need to keep building and hopefully get some bodies back over the next couple of weeks with two more massive games (Australia are also on Ireland’s November dance card).”
If vaulting ahead to what might transpire ten months down the line was a conversion that Farrell wouldn’t entertain, there were plenty of details that he was much more willing to embrace. One such matter was the heavy injury toll that resulted in three Ireland players being lost to injury by the interval, but coach Farrell put a generally positive spin on the early prognosis.
“Stu (McCloskey) is a funny one. He fell awkwardly on the floor and his arm twisted in a way that they thought was something serious, but it doesn’t look as serious at this moment of time. There is a bit of feeling that is coming back into his arm and hand. We will see how that progresses, we don’t quite know.
“Tadhg (Furlong) just jarred his ankle. It didn’t seem to be too serious and Conor (Murray) felt his groin when he made that break (following a first-half lineout).”
Sum it all up then, Andy, what did you learn from a performance that was enough to deservedly down the reigning world champions? “A lot. That we have got resilience, that we have got guts, character. We wanted the Test, we wanted the different type of Test match. That was a proper, old-fashioned slinging match to see where we are at in that regard. Wow, I thought the character of the side was immense for all sorts of reasons.
“You start with coming into camp and a lot of them being undone as far as minutes are concerned. Never mind it being our first game of the season, it’s some of the lads’ first game of the season and some of them have not played for three, four weeks etc. But they come into camp every single time and they get to work and they certainly fill me with confidence every single time they come.
“You would think that Hugo (Keenan) and Jamison (Gibson-Park) had been playing for the last five, six weeks – that is because of the culture, the attitude, and the want to get better in the side is infectious day in, day out. I thought we showed fantastic spirit. Having said that, South Africa are a hell of a side and it was a hell of a Test match and it could have gone either way.
“The character that we showed was fitting for the twelve days that we have had together and with the injuries that we had, one or two before the match and the Ireland A game yesterday. It was a different week, something that we adapted to and I’m unbelievably proud of them, of how they have applied themselves.
“In the first half, we gave them a few opportunities to kick to the corner with our discipline but the confidence that we got certainly as a forward pack with our maul defence stood to us for the game. Our set-piece was unbelievable and on the back of that coming out of the set-piece, our defence was immense.
“The backs complemented the forwards on the back of that as well. It was a proper Test match either way. If the result had been different for us I would have said I still felt the same way.”
Comments on RugbyPass
True Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
21 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
10 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
78 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
21 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
10 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
2 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
16 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
21 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
21 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
21 Go to comments