- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,196,236
- Reaction score
- 59
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has called on the uncapped players in his squad to "rip" into Saturday's Nations Championship game against Japan.
Farrell has included Connacht back row Sean Jansen from the start and Billy Bohan, Sam Illo and Bryn Ward on the bench while resting several players before next week's meeting with the All Blacks in Auckland.
"I'm really excited about this one for all sorts of reasons," said Farrell.
"Obviously, it's always a special occasion when you give one person a debut, never mind four.
"[I'm] really looking forward to how they apply themselves to attacking the game, first and foremost, because that's the role they're able to add to the team and the performance behind all that.
"But making sure that the rest of the team are there to support them and for it to be a special day for them. So, huge congratulations to the four of them. It's business time now, they need to rip in."
British and Irish Lions forward Tadhg Beirne will captain Ireland from the start for the first time, while hooker Ronan Kelleher earns his 50th cap.
"The milestones in Tadhg Beirne captaining his country for the first time, he typifies everything we'd want within a captain of Ireland.
"How he goes about his job, how he understands what we're after as a team, driving standards, he typifies that so he thoroughly deserves that.
"For Ronan to get his 50th cap. It's something we've worked hard to celebrate together over the past few years and we'll do that as a group tonight with the four debutants as well.
"It's a huge honour to get to 50 caps in the Test arena, it shows the level of consistency at the top level you're able to produce."
Farrell added he is looking forward to facing Japan, who he believes are "bang in form" after a 27-10 win over Italy last week.
"I mentioned the Maori [All Blacks] game last week, how they played against them and the confidence they took from that into the Italian game and we all know how difficult Italy are to play against.
"I thought Japan dominated the game from start to finish so the confidence they'll bring to Newcastle is going to be a test that we're after."
Continue reading...
Farrell has included Connacht back row Sean Jansen from the start and Billy Bohan, Sam Illo and Bryn Ward on the bench while resting several players before next week's meeting with the All Blacks in Auckland.
"I'm really excited about this one for all sorts of reasons," said Farrell.
"Obviously, it's always a special occasion when you give one person a debut, never mind four.
"[I'm] really looking forward to how they apply themselves to attacking the game, first and foremost, because that's the role they're able to add to the team and the performance behind all that.
"But making sure that the rest of the team are there to support them and for it to be a special day for them. So, huge congratulations to the four of them. It's business time now, they need to rip in."
British and Irish Lions forward Tadhg Beirne will captain Ireland from the start for the first time, while hooker Ronan Kelleher earns his 50th cap.
"The milestones in Tadhg Beirne captaining his country for the first time, he typifies everything we'd want within a captain of Ireland.
"How he goes about his job, how he understands what we're after as a team, driving standards, he typifies that so he thoroughly deserves that.
"For Ronan to get his 50th cap. It's something we've worked hard to celebrate together over the past few years and we'll do that as a group tonight with the four debutants as well.
"It's a huge honour to get to 50 caps in the Test arena, it shows the level of consistency at the top level you're able to produce."
Farrell added he is looking forward to facing Japan, who he believes are "bang in form" after a 27-10 win over Italy last week.
"I mentioned the Maori [All Blacks] game last week, how they played against them and the confidence they took from that into the Italian game and we all know how difficult Italy are to play against.
"I thought Japan dominated the game from start to finish so the confidence they'll bring to Newcastle is going to be a test that we're after."
You must be registered for see images
Continue reading...
