Despite their disappointment about their performance and their game’s conclusion, Head coach of the Irish squad, Andy Farrell, maintained an optimistic outlook even after Ireland’s initial loss in twelve Six Nations match-ups. Acknowledging the impressive performance by England, he highlighted that they were well-deserved winners by a close 23-22 in a gripping Twickenham showdown.
Farrell emphasised the resilience of his team, which managed to revive its chances of a successive Grand Slam twice over the course of the game. In the early part of the second half, Ireland seemed set to chase another Slam at the Aviva Stadium next Saturday. Leveraging a second try by James Lowe, they led the game 22-20, eight minutes remaining. However, their hopes were dashed when Marcus Smith’s drop goal signalled the end of the match.
“I’ll be succinct – England were deserving winners,” conceded the Irish head coach. “We made a commendable comeback, sometimes against the run of play. I believed we found a way to take the lead in both halves. But again, to be succinct, England earned it through their diplayed pressure and creativity. So, congratulations to them.”
The unexpected Scottish defeat in Italy leaves Ireland in a favourable position to secure their Six Nations title again. However, Farrell insisted that every game counts. “We aim to claim victory in all our games,” said Farrell, “Today was evidently a match we wished to win, but that’s life. Shake it off.”
Acknowledging the reality of losing is just as important as celebrating victories for the team, remarked Farrell, also suggesting they congratulate England and share a friendly drink with their rivals.
“They played remarkably well,” Farrell said, repeating his main point. “We need to regather our poise tomorrow and prepare with positive attitudes since we’re contending for a championship next weekend.
Farrell had initially set the pre-tournament objective of defending their title until the last weekend, a goal which had been successfully achieved. He further noted that from the onset, their ambition had been to remain contenders for the championship until the final day. Recognising the practicality of his team, he expressed confidence in their ability to glean valuable insights rapidly. “There won’t be any difficulty in getting the team back on course for the upcoming week,” he affirmed.
He acknowledged the inherent challenge of securing Six Nations titles, attributing this to the usual ups and downs of results – a phenomenon evident in the current tournament too. However, he believes this unpredictability forms part of the tournament’s appeal. Farrell also commended the quality of the match from a neutral perspective, conceding that despite their team being on the losing end, he anticipates no issues in preparing for the following week’s crucial games for Irish rugby.
He had predicted that England would exhibit a strong performance and hence wasn’t taken aback by their superior gameplay. He acknowledged their qualities as players and the mental fortitude that comes from experiencing a loss. Expressing his hope that a similar mindset would be adopted by his team in preparation for the next game, Farrell added, “We always groom ourselves for the best possible performance out of every game.”
Despite their defeat, Farrell and English opponent Steve Borthwick seemed to have had an intense exchange upon exiting the pitch, a situation he later dismissed lightheartedly. “Just exchanging pleasantries with Steve, nothing more,” he joked.
Peter O’Mahony mirrored Farrell’s sentiments regarding England’s performance. Despite having been issued a yellow card himself and the match’s 10-8 penalty count favouring Ireland, he stated, “We discussed our discipline. Clearly, they capitalised on this.”
“I perceived their performance as efficient and adept at sabotaging our breakdown. Achieving regularity in our phase play proved challenging. Our offbeat performance seemed to show promise, but it didn’t surface frequently in the phases of the game.
As previously stated, the game carried substantial weight and was loaded with tension. Their skill set as a team was evident, highlighted by their defensive tactics, strategic attack, and disruption of our game plan. They demonstrated this to a great length throughout the match.”