Andy Farrell: Ireland showed insufficient ‘fight’ and ‘intent’ in heavy defeat to France.
PARIS — Ireland’s head coach Andy Farrell expressed concerns regarding his players’ determination after their match against France on Thursday.
Farrell is known for being tight-lipped, yet his thoughts were evident following their 36-14 loss in Paris, where France dominated at Stade de France.
In reality, the scoreline may have been somewhat lenient towards Ireland, considering France had significantly relaxed when the visitors scored consecutive tries in the second half.
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The 22-0 halftime deficit marked Ireland’s largest in the Six Nations after 40 minutes in two decades, accurately reflecting the French superiority.
“France were playing a different game to us in the first half,” Farrell stated. “We need to demonstrate fight and intent, and we lacked some of that in the first half.”
“There’s a tremendous amount of work to do before the Italy match. We must be truthful about this.”
Such remarks are typically unwelcome for players. Phrases like “fight and intent” resonate strongly when delivered by a coach like Farrell, who is deliberate with his words.
However, Farrell requires his players to elevate their performance.
The No.10 position continues to present challenges. Sam Pendergast displayed some promising moments, but his errors, likely attributed to a lack of experience, proved costly.
His attempt to volley from inside his own half that failed to find touch resulted in the first try, and he was also dispossessed, leading to a scrum from which France scored their second.
“You cannot compete at this level without the right intention. That is absolutely essential,” Farrell emphasized.
“It is the foremost item on the list to ensure that it is executed every single time we take the field.”
Transition was always anticipated for Ireland, but if Thursday’s performance is any indication, it may be more challenging than anticipated. Farrell issued a caution ahead of Italy’s visit to Dublin next week; a match that has been routine in recent years.
“We need to regroup, don’t we? Otherwise, the disappointment amounts to absolutely nothing,” Farrell remarked.
“We must be honest with one another and state the facts, return to work next week, and ensure that this experience means something.
“We need to utilize it, not just on an individual basis but collectively, to ensure that we present a better version of ourselves throughout the remainder of this competition, starting with Italy next week.”
