In the aftermath of another premature exit from the Rugby World Cup, Ireland was supposed to be rebuilding under Andy Farrell after the departures of coach Joe Schmidt and captain Rory Best. Farrell was thrown into a tough situation to oversee an aging team that had reached one of the high points of the game by attaining the top spot in the world rankings.
Although Schmidt and his team failed in the World Cup, suffering a quarter-final exit at the hands of New Zealand, his achievements in his tenure were always going to put the new man in the role under pressure.
Farrell has come out firing with his team after a famous win over the All Blacks on home soil. Ireland will now be targeting the Six Nations where they are backed in the rugby odds from Betfair at 3/1 to win the competition for the first time since 2018 when they won the Grand Slam under Schmidt.
The result over New Zealand should give the Irish all the confidence in the world to take into the tournament, even though France and England are the two leading contenders for the crown. Both teams are arguably just as formidable as the All Blacks and will be difficult to overcome, particularly the Red Rose at Twickenham. However, if Ireland plays with the energy and tenacity they had in their win over New Zealand, then Farrell and his team will be well on track to a Six Nations success.
There were fears that Jonny Sexton may have been on the decline as injuries loomed large, notably in the 2019 World Cup. At the age of 36, the Ireland skipper has found a new lease of life and has taken to his new role as captain, inspiring his team to reach new heights. Sexton may have been tempted to retire after Ireland’s failure in 2019, but by remaining available to Farrell, it has allowed his coach’s vital breathing role to bring in fresh blood elsewhere in the ranks.
Losing Best and Sexton at the same time would have left a huge leadership void, with only Peter O’Mahony left as an experienced voice in the side. Sexton and Conor Murray have been steadfast in the backfield, which has eased the burden on Farrell and the coaching staff. As a result, Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Caelan Doris, and Gavin Coombes have been allowed to work their way into the team as consistent members of the forward line.
Ireland has also quietly restocked their backs with players such as Jordan Lamour, Hugo Keenan, and Jacob Stockdale, easing the transition out from Rob Kearney and Keith Earls. It could have taken four years to accomplish, but Farrell and his staff have allowed Ireland to remain competitive at the top of world rugby while turning over key components of their team.
The transition has been a complete success and may not even halt there as Joey Carbery displayed his talent in the win over the All Blacks with key kicks towards the end of the contest. Sexton may be looking over his shoulder, but for now the Irish have an impressive platform to build over the next two years, beginning at the Six Nations in 2022.
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