It will be as tough as the World Cup

FARRELL’S UP FOR HARDEST CHALLENGE

BY MICHAEL SCULLY

ANDY FARRELL equates Ireland’s tour of New Zealand with a World Cup campaign in terms of difficulty.

Ahead of next week’s departure, the head coach feels it will take best-ever displays for Ireland to make history by winning on Kiwi soil for the first time.

“We know that it needs to be better than it has ever been before,” said the 47-year-old. “There are 70 of us going on the biggest tour that Ireland has ever done.

“It will need the energy of all 70 to make this happen the way that we want it to.

“If two or three don’t believe then we’re not writing the history that we want to write.

“In that regard, it’s brilliant. We’re just finding out more about ourselves.

“When it comes to the World Cup (next year), I reckon we need around 40 players good enough to play knockout rugby.

“I’m talking about the quarter-final, semi-final and final.”

Farrell has named five uncapped players among his 40 picks - Leinster trio Ciaran Frawley, Joe Mccarthy and Jimmy O’brien, Connacht’s Cian Prendergast and Munster’s Jeremy Loughman.

Leinster’s Ronan Kelleher, Munster pair Andrew Conway and Chris Farrell plus Ulster’s Robert Baloucoune miss out through injury.

Despite picking up the Munster player of the year award yesterday, in-form back row Jack O’donoghue is among those disappointed not to make the cut.

Farrell added: “There’s no harder place to go in world rugby than New Zealand.

“The five games, does it get any harder? Is the World Cup harder than that? I don’t know.

“We’ll see that on the road but unless we meet that challenge head on then it’s going to be a tough old tour.”