FARRELL HAILS SQUAD EXPERIENCE

CONNACHT centre Tom Farrell says his time in the Ireland camp has made him a better player. Farrell, 25, admits he was disappointed not to earn his first Ireland cap during the Six Nations, but he still has ambitions of cementing his place in Joe Schmidt’s squad before the World Cup. The former Leinster underage player has been the star of Connacht’s midfield this season and his six tries from 12 starts have been key in the Westerners’ hunt for the play-offs. He is also Connacht’s top ballcarrying back in the Pro14 with 135 carries and the league’s leading offloader (26). He is hopeful of adding to his success in the remaining four league games after his learning experience with Ireland. ‘It was brilliant. It was probably an eye opener as to the standard that’s required. I went up there and I knew it was going to be a step up but I probably didn’t realise the size of the step up, the speed of things and the intensity of it all,’ said Farrell (left), who joined Connacht from Bedford Blues two years ago. ‘It’s definitely improved me. The speed of my reaction time, my decision-making under pressure. Coming back to Connacht, it’s not a massive step down, but I feel that I have that bit more time on the ball now. ‘There is a lot of rugby to be played before the summer, and hopefully (I get a chance), it’s an aim in the back of my head. Not getting picked in the Six Nations was obviously a bit disappointing but you have to trust Joe’s decisions. He knows combinations, personnel who have a lot of caps between them and are tried and tested, and you have to respect that decision.’ Farrell was not in Cardiff for Ireland’s loss to Wales. He returned to Connacht on the day the Ireland squad flew out of Dublin. He was straight back to training with Connacht on the Friday. And while the loss to England was hard to stomach for all of the squad, Farrell thinks they coped well with the setbacks. ‘I didn’t know what it was like previously because I am quite new to the whole thing. I wouldn’t have said the wheels fell off the wagon or anything at all like that. The first loss was put to bed and we moved on. ‘In the Six Nations you don’t get time to rest on past performances because it’s all next game focused. The lads were in good spirits.’ Connacht host Benetton Rugby at The Sportsground tomorrow. A win could see them pull clear of Cardiff Blues who face a trick Welsh derby with Scarlets. Farrell feels it’s all to play for. ‘Hopefully we can keep pushing on in the next few weeks and finish the season on a high,’ he said.