SUCCESSION OUR SECRET
Farrell hails those who filled boots of legends as talent production line pays big dividends
THE big question going into this Six Nations was how Ireland would cope without Johnny Sexton.
The answer was delivered as Peter O’mahony and Tadhg Furlong lifted the trophy with Freed From Desire blasting around the Aviva Stadium on Saturday night.
“It’s frightening,” said Ryan Baird an hour later after being asked how much more potential was still untapped in this Ireland team.
“So much more, you wouldn’t believe how much more.”
When French newspaper Midi Olympique tipped Les Bleus to beat Ireland in the championship opener, they predicted that Andy Farrell’s side would struggle without ‘the master, the beacon’ Sexton.
It was the first time in 14 years Ireland were minus their driving force in the Six Nations.
Farrell trusted another veteran and talisman in Peter O’mahony to fill the leadership void. Others also stepped up including Tadhg Furlong while Caelan Doris led the team against Italy.
“When class players drop out it’s always going to take time to build back up,” said Farrell on Saturday night. “If you can do that winning, or learning from experiences like at Twickenham, that’s all well and good.
“The reality is that there’s plenty more in us. There has to be for what’s coming.”
O’mahony is considering his Test future and Baird is the next man up in the No.6 jersey if the 34-year-old decides to step away.
Farrell stressed before the championship this wasn’t the start of a new cycle. He insisted that Ireland were simply adding layers to the years of experience already banked.
In that way he was able to incorporate Jack Crowley, Joe Mccarthy and Calvin Nash. The trio started all five games as Ireland won four out of five without the retired Sexton and Keith Earls – plus injured trio Mack Hansen, Rob Herring and Jimmy O’brien.
Senior stars Hugo Keenan, Iain Henderson and James Ryan missed chunks of the campaign through injury – while Garry Ringrose’s only involvement came off bench against Scotland.
Keenan (below with Farrell) cried off just 25 minutes before kick-off on Saturday, Jordan Larmour stepping into the breach.
His last start at Test level was in 2021.
Farrell continued: “This is Johnny’s team as much as it is mine or Pete’s. He’s helped to grow that. That will continue. Do you know what continues to impress me? You look at Jordan coming in, he hasn’t played much rugby at all.
“In the warm-up we knew Hugo had a little bit of something. But it wasn’t right and we don’t need Hugo to put his hand up when he’s only going to be 70 or 80% because we trust the next
the guy in.” Save for Twickenham in round four, the mix of old and new worked well. Crowley had massive shoes to fill and, like Mccarthy, had difficult moments but came through.
“Jack’s a realist and I’ve been hard on him,” said Farrell. “But we’ve kept his feet on the ground. Joe Mccarthy as well, and people like that, because there has to be a realisation that that’s not it – that we’re chasing something better than that. As long as we continue to do that we’ll continue to grow.”
Farrell also paid tribute to the O’mahony-led leadership group. “They’re unbelievable,” he said. “They take control of the week and take ownership.
“It’s phenomenal and it’s so powerful. That group is so hungry – and it is growing all the time.”