'You don't feel that sword is hanging over your head now'
Andy Farrell has said Ireland naming their World Cup squad six days ahead of plan has handed Joe Schmidt’s men a boost for the Japan tournament.
Brian O’Driscoll claimed it “beggars belief” that Ireland omitted reliable lock Devin Toner from their final 31-man World Cup squad, with Jean Kleyn selected instead.
Assistant coach Farrell insisted Ireland had been able to shake off the criticism and bond closer together, with the Pool A opener against Scotland fast approaching on September 22.
Johnny Sexton, Robbie Henshaw and Keith Earls will make their first starts of the pre-season in Ireland’s final World Cup warm-up – Saturday’s clash with Wales in Dublin.
“Well, we’re in a bubble in our camp, but naming the group, it’s brought us closer together. Why? Because the team’s been picked and the wait is over,” said Farrell. “So the cohesion throughout the group is one of a much higher standard.
(Continue reading below…)
“People are getting first starts and trying to get different combinations going. Yes we’re down to 31 but we’re still in a lot of competition. These guys get the chance to put their best foot forward for the World Cup now.
“They [Sexton, Henshaw and Earls] are all raring to go, they have been held back for at least a week or two, and can’t wait to get going this weekend. We’re after a performance we’re proud of, with it being Rory Best and Joe Schmidt’s last games at the Aviva. But we’ve also got to take the right mental attitude moving forward into Japan.”
A dozen changes for Ireland for their rematch with Wales
https://t.co/rDWVlBlqR1— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 5, 2019
Captain Best, the 37-year-old who is retiring after the World Cup, will win his 120th cap in Dublin before leading Ireland to Japan. The Ulster stalwart admitted relief at having his place nailed down for the finals.
“You don’t feel that sword’s hanging over your head now,” said Best, admitting Ireland had plenty of soul searching to do after their record 57-15 loss against England at Twickenham a fortnight ago.
“We’re certainly ready to play this Saturday and that’s the first thing for us, to get a performance this Saturday. It’s the last game of the calendar year, the last game before we go. We’re looking forward to putting in a performance, a few not bad players in for their first game of the season.
Coming soon to RugbyPass…
?? We travelled behind the scenes with the Tonga National team as they prepare for their 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign. pic.twitter.com/y9L89wTqtZ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 5, 2019
“We know that we’re never as good as people say we are and the flip side is we’re never as bad as people say we are. Certainly a week ago on Monday past there, we were more disappointed than anyone.
“I can tell you the biggest disappointment was within the team room at Carton House. We just made sure we got a few things addressed that weren’t going the way we wanted them to, and to give ourselves a few things we can hang our hat on. And we’ll see now whether we can take ownership of that at the World Cup.”
– Press Association
WATCH: The RugbyPass stadium guide to Yokohama where Ireland will open their World Cup campaign versus Scotland
Comments on RugbyPass
This cracked media record of aligning success or failure on head coaches is remarkable. Using the crusaders past history as an example, a more sensible observation and analysis could be that the recent head coaches had inherited a extremely successful combination of players linked to their traditional historical support of the Canterbury people. That period ended this year when the new coach was introduced to virtually a new team. And in a year where other franchises have grown much stronger than their respective past, it was always an anticipated reality that the coach and his new crusader team were up against it. Therefore, I humbly believe that unlike some commentators present, I laud coach Penny and the team for their efforts to date and I am sure given another term and with Canterbury behind them they will be riding high once more. Strange all this coming from me who lives in Taupo and a one eyed chiefs supporter. Can't wait for all future chiefs and crusader games!
6 Go to commentsGrt bench player..keep him there..
3 Go to commentsA Springbok 2-0 win: haha told you we were champions now shut up An Irish 2-0 win: the referee was under orders from world rugby to cheat us but luckily we don’t care because this is part of Rassie’s grand world Cup plan.
109 Go to commentsI hope they didn’t pay Jones fee?
2 Go to commentsTo be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
6 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
2 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
6 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
6 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
109 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
109 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
109 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
109 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
109 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
109 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
109 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
3 Go to comments