Andy tipped to be massive hit as coach by his namesake Chris

MUNSTER and Ireland centre Chris Farrell predicts that Ireland will continue to hit new heights under the leadership of Andy Farrell.

The Ulster-born former Grenoble back missed Ireland’s summer tour and the recent November internationals due to a cruciate ligament injury sustained on Six Nations duty, but after making his comeback against Zebre last weekend, he is excited about the future.

The announcement that Joe Schmidt will retire from coaching after next year’s World Cup came as no surprise, and the Munster man says Farrell is the perfect man to replace him.

“No matter who comes in to help Andy Farrell, it’s a player driven culture, and everything that he has done makes me think that’s going to continue,” said Chris Farrell.

“(It excited me) massively. He’s been unbelievable under Joe and it’ll be no different whenever he takes over and whoever else comes in to help him.

“He’s a massively inspiring character. You go into camp and the work that he has done prior to going in there is phenomenal.

“And the work he continues to do while you are in the camp is inspiring. He really has so much charisma you really want to play for him. He was a legend when he was playing Rugby League and he has continued that in his coaching.

“Maybe from the outside there is an intimidation factor, I suppose. Physically he’s a mountain of a man himself. He came in for two or three weeks here last season but it was the same: he had a lot of guys really looking up to him.”