IRELAND TRUST IN SEXTON’S ‘HUNGER’
decision, that’s somebody not grabbing hold of the position and saying, “This is mine and you can’t do anything about it, because you have to pick me because my f orm i s good enough”.
‘Therefore it becomes a nobrainer for a coach so that’s what we’re hoping to see, certainly over the weekend and certainly over the next six or seven weeks before the selection for the Six Nations is put into account as well.
‘We want people across the board, not just in that position, to say, “This is my position and you have to pick me”. And you do that through what? Form and your intent in how you play in the green jersey.’
Farrell has made five changes to the side which laboured to a 23- 10 victory against Georgia last Sunday, with Cian Healy, Caelan Doris, Johnny Sexton, Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki returning to the starting line-up.
Sexton has been restored as captain after James Ryan took over the role in recent weeks. The Ireland No10 — who is out of contact next July — reiterated his desire to push on until the 2023 World Cup earlier this week.
And Ireland’s returning skipper got the full backing from his boss yesterday.
‘It’s always going to be about performance — it has to be,’ said Farell
‘The hunger and the drive in Johnny is never going to be any different. He’ll always strive to be the best that he can so I’m sure his performances are going to be top drawer.
‘Obviously the older you get and the more that you play, it’s
“He’ll always strive to be the best he can be”
always going to be about fitness and making sure that you stay healthy.
‘At this moment i n time Johnny feels really healthy so we’re pleased with where he’s at and the drive and, yeah, we’ll keep assessing where we’re at.’
Farrell revealed that the Irish management have drafted i n high- performance coach Gary Keegan to work with the squad.
Former Armagh star Enda McNulty had been involved with Joe Schmidt’s set-up as Ireland’s mental skills coach, but the All-Ireland winner left the camp in the wake of last year’s World Cup in Japan.
Now Keegan, who rejuvenated Irish boxing as well as working with the Dublin footballers, the Tipperary hurlers and Leinster, has been brought in to help Ireland find an edge again.
‘Gary Keegan has been with us for some weeks now and he has been doing a tremendous job so that process has started,’ Farrell explained.
‘Mick Kearney was obviously in, in previous years as the manager but he is there as a mentor for many of the players as well.
‘A lot of our players, it isn’t just the stress of a match week, it is life outside of rugby as well and that can be a whole buildup in a different manager and Mick helps massively with that.
‘With Gary and Mick we are well on our way to starting something there that will be a big help in the future. Gary’s mental skills as far as how that translates to performance is second to none and his whole connection piece in bringing the whole squad and the management into a place together is a big part of his remit.’
Herring said that Keegan’s impact has already been felt among the playing group.
‘It’s something you probably hear a lot — trying to find an edge mentally and j ust to change things up,’ said the Ulster hooker.
‘I guess it’s good to get another person’s insight into how we’re doing in camp and some of the things he has picked up, what we can improve and what we’re doing well.
‘Individually, we’re connecting with him and he’s just looking at what your routine is and where you can make more improvements.’
Ireland have not lost a Test match to Scotland in Dublin since 2010, but Gregor Townsend’s squad will arrive in the capital buoyed by their performance at Aviva Stadium in February, when they suffered a narrow 19-12 defeat.
After a disappointing Autumn Nations Cup campaign, Ireland will be keen to finish on a high ahead of next year’s championship.
And Farrell admitted that after casting the selection net wide in recent months, he will rely on a smaller, more competitive group next year.
‘Yeah, of course, continuity has to be part of the reason why you have a good Six Nations.
‘Obviously injuries will always come into that over a long old Six Nations period but yeah, I suppose when you first take the job everyone is commenting on the same old same old as far as selection is concerned.
‘We wanted to find out about players, that’s been well documented, why I keep on repeating it, but also with the injuries that we’ve had there’s a needs must as well that goes into that from time to time. But I see the Six Nations being a more settled one and I suppose that’s the whole point of this period.’