Good start but jury is still out on Farrell plan
IT’S a bit like that line from Monty Python’s Life Of Brian: ‘Apart from the sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, fresh-water system and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?’
Two games, two wins, Ireland up at the top of the Six Nations table with their rugby supporters once again fully behind a team playing with more focus, verve and variation than we have seen for ages – so Andy Farrell’s the right man to banish the memories of the last World Cup and take us towards the next one, right?
Hmmm...not so sure ... or, as uncertain contestants used to say on Teresa Lowe’s Where In The World:
‘Pass, Asia 14.’
Prior to the Six Nations, we questioned Farrell’s suitability for this role – based on his rugby league roots, lack of experience in a lead role, close links to recent failures and hitherto defensive mindset.
Well, credit where it is due, Farrell has made a powerful start and there is a buzz around the national team again which, when you consider the angst and despair that followed the squad home from Japan, is no minor achievement.
However, just as the Irish have a tendency to dive too far into the abyss in the wake of disappointment, there is always the danger of losing the run of ourselves after success and this prevailing optimism needs to be tempered.
For a start, there is no escaping the fact Farrell and Ireland have profited hugely from playing backto-back matches in Dublin and from not having to face England or France yet.
Scotland were typically brittle when they arrived and contrived to hand the game to an uncertain Ireland through their own nervous errors.
Ireland raised their game significantly for the visit of Wales a week later but were still aided considerably by the Welsh never looking like they truly believed they could win – their lacklustre body language in stark contrast to the energy exuded by Farrell’s men.
However, Ireland still had to go and claim those games and, in doing so, have regenerated 2018-style self-belief and momentum that sets them up perfectly for the second half of the championship.
That problem is, two games in, we are still not exactly sure where exactly Farrell is bringing this team.
We know what the French are at – Fabien Galthie has a four-year project towards a home World Cup and has selected his youthful squad accordingly – England are desperately seeking to recapture the wonder of their World Cup semi-final destruction of New Zealand; Wales are tweaking the Gatland plan under Wayne Pivac; Scotland are trying to keep their heads above water and Italy are just doing whatever they can to get their first win in five years.
Ireland? Hard to tell.
It appears Farrell’s focus is narrowed on the old ‘one game at a time’ prerogative.
That explains the decision to appoint 34-year-old Johnny Sexton as captain and persevere with the old guard that flopped last year, with an emphasis on experience and reputation over youth and form.
And, while it has been satisfying to witness stalwarts like Sexton, Conor Murray, Peter O’Mahony, CJ Stander and even Iain Henderson reassert themselves – if the ultimate goal is breaking what will then be a 36-yearold World Cup hoodoo at France 2023 (as it has to be), the Galthie, fresh-first philosophy would appear the better way to go.
Farrell’s short-term approach can be justified by results but what happens if Ireland take a few beatings?
Facing England and France away is a rough end to the Six Nations and then there is a summer tour to take on a Wallabies outfit certain to be revitalised by the acquisition of the quietly impressive Dave Rennie as head coach.
A policy of gradual evolution – younger players being steadily introduced as the experienced core move on – is entirely justifiable, as long as there are wins to back it up.
But if Ireland struggle between now and the end of the summer, the pressure will be on Farrell to take a broom to his squad, having lost six months’ development time along the way.
It all adds up to a massive test of his budding credentials in Twickenham this day week.
Beat England, or even push them close, and the show stays on the road, with a guaranteed win over Italy pre-empting a proper run at the French in Paris.
However, lose comprehensively, as Ireland have done on their last two meetings with Eddie Jones’ men, and there will immediately be calls for drastic change, with everything up in the air again.
England will come hard, trusting in the bully-boy tactics that served them so well against Ireland twice in 2019, and while overt Irish aggression is essential, taking the direct route to overcoming the English will lead Farrell and his men into a white-jerseyed cul-de-sac.
Instead, whether through clever use of the boot or varied running moves, Ireland need to keep the English turning and guessing and, on that basis, there were positive signs last weekend against Wales.
What is most encouraging is how quickly Farrell has brought his personality into play. Whether you agree or disagree with his approach, there is no doubting the authority behind it and he has projected a sense of surety and positivity that is compelling.
But, thus far, he has had victories for vindication – the air of certainty will quickly dissipate if Ireland falter.
So far, so good but Twickenham is enormously significant in the evolution of Farrell and his team, and in judging if Ireland do indeed have the right man at the helm.
That’s a lot of pressure three games into his reign but, after nine World Cup failures, there is no other way to view it.
‘THE POLICY OF SLOW EVOLUTION NEEDS A WIN OVER ENGLAND TO JUSTIFY IT’