FARR DOWN THE LINE
Andy: I knew I’d regret it in future if I turned down the Irish job
ANDY FARRELL reveals it would have been a “100 per cent regret” if he didn’t take on the Ireland head coach job after Joe Schmidt.
The 43-year-old, who joined Schmidt’s management team as defence coach in early 2016, will take over in the hot-seat after the World Cup.
“Everything had to be on hold until Joe made his decisions,” said Farrell.
Asked when he opted to go for it, Farrell smiled: “When Joe had made his decision. Look, I was more than happy to keep going, keep learning off Joe.
“I’ve always been very cautious in the sense that I’ve got a good job – and you’ve got to be sure that you’re ready for these things.
“I was coming to a stage where jobs were being offered in the head coach role and I’d said no to quite a few.
“I didn’t want to look back in the future and have regrets. I would have 100 per cent regretted not taking this one.”
Farrell clarified: “I’m not desperate to be the main man. But with this group and the flow of the continuity et cetera, it’s great timing for me.
“Fortunately enough as well, I get a bit of time to keep on learning in the meantime.”
As head coach, the buck will stop with Farrell, with his every decision dissected.
“I’m not afraid of that,” he insisted. “I’m excited.
“Everyone’s aware of what you’re getting into. We’re not going into it blind.” And asked if he will be a good delegator, Farrell replied: “We’ll see. I believe I am.
“You need a bit of humility as well, let people have their legs. I’ve got good people who can manage with that as well.”
Farrell believes he’s learned crucial lessons from 2015, when his time as Stuart Lancaster’s England assistant ended in World Cup failure.
“Where the squad was at, it was very young. Stuart mentioned last week, their playing age now, as far as internationals, is reaping the rewards and I wouldn’t disagree with that.”
His son Owen (inset) is leading England’s charge towards the Six Nations title but Farrell said Ireland felt like home now.
“Yeah, 100 per cent,” he said. “We love it here for so many reasons.
“Just being over here as a family is special.
“The people are so welcoming and warm.
“It does lead me to the thought process of ‘why did my ancestors leave?’.”