“We have a championship to win, next week.”
Andy Farrell spoke very well, in the aftermath of his side’s 23-22 defeat to England, and defended his decision t only place two backs on the bench.
Ireland looked set to record a come from behind victory, after trailing 20-15 in the second half, but a late Marcus Smith dashed their Grand Slam dreams. Ireland were not helped by losing two players to concussion – Calvin Nash (three minutes into the game) and his replacement, Ciáran Frawley, after 54 minutes.
The decision to stack the bench with forwards saw Jamison Gibson-Park forced out to the right wing for the final 35 minutes while Conor Murray came on to cover scrumhalf. Following the game, Andy Farrell defended the selection call:
“When it all goes swimmingly well for you, people think it’s fantastic. But two concussions. A concussion to the guy that comes on [for the other concussed player], in fact. The two tries came in those instances, when we were at sixes and sevens. That’s life. That’s rugby.”
One moment (63 minutes in) that summed up the chaos that England created, and how costly that bench split proved – Gibson-Park ran over to the breakdown to play scrumhalf while Murray was already there. Gibson-Park, losing track of his new position, should have been providing width and stretching the home defence.
“We’ve been very good at winning,” Farrell added, “so we have to make sure we are very good at losing as well, make sure we dust ourselves down… as we have a championship to win next week.
Ireland next have Scotland at Aviva Stadium on Saturday week. They are four points clear of England so could even afford to lose, with a bonus point, and still retain their title.
Andy Farrell will have his men primed to finish on a high and win well, though.
HOUSE OF RUGBY, WITH LINDSAY PEAT & PAT MCCARRY
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