The Daily Star Ireland
Andy Farrell believes his Ireland team is not hindered by the pressure of being favorites, despite another underwhelming performance to conclude their Autumn Nations Series campaign.
Ireland secured a 22-19 victory over Australia on Saturday, thanks to Gus McCarthy’s late try, but they had to overcome a 13-5 deficit in the first half. Farrell admitted the team made “enough errors to lose two matches” during the game.
In previous matches, such as their World Cup encounters with New Zealand and their November game, Ireland was also the favorite but failed to meet expectations. They were similarly favored by 12 points in their Six Nations clash with England, which ended in a 23-22 loss, ending their Grand Slam hopes. Despite being 14-point favorites in the game against Australia, Ireland struggled.
The team had more possession (58%) and territory (69%) but committed 28 handling errors, lost 20 turnovers, missed 18 tackles, and threw two intercepts.
When asked if the pressure of being favorites was affecting his team, Farrell was quick to respond no, explaining that he purposely adds pressure to see how they handle it. He believes that putting the team in high-pressure situations helps them improve, even though it doesn’t always lead to success.
Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, reflecting on the team’s performance, expressed frustration with the mistakes they made, which were uncharacteristic of the team. He emphasized the importance of returning to good habits in training and with their provinces.
Ireland’s only first-half try came from Josh van der Flier, while the team struggled with their lineout. Captain Caelan Doris could not pinpoint the exact cause of the team’s first-half issues but acknowledged the need to improve, especially in areas within their control.
Farrell offered his assessment of the autumn series, noting that while Ireland didn’t win all four games, they had shown progress. He was pleased with the team’s ability to find a way to win against Australia. He also highlighted the successful integration of new debutants and staff members, expressing optimism for the future.
Defence coach Simon Easterby, who will take over from Farrell when he departs to coach the Lions, reflected on the team’s success and the role of the coaching staff. He emphasized that the team’s improvement is a collective effort, not solely the result of one person’s influence. Easterby pointed out that the team must raise their standards ahead of their upcoming Six Nations matches, particularly the opening game against England.
Farrell also mentioned that Ireland is open to adding additional coaching staff in his absence, with former captain Johnny Sexton having worked as a consultant during this window. Felix Jones, the former Springboks assistant coach currently serving notice with England, is also a potential candidate. Farrell assured that while the team may bring in additional staff, the overall structure and collaboration within the coaching staff remain strong.
Ireland’s next Six Nations game will be against England at home on 1 February, followed by away matches against Scotland and Wales. They will then host France in Dublin on 8 March, with the campaign concluding against Italy in Rome a week later.
