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Donal Lenihan: Ireland are on their way...with the right man in charge

Andy Farrell is a coach you’d not only love to play for but would do everything to seek his respect and approval.

Fri, 01 Sep, 2023 - 07:00

A rugby player, coach and manager during a glittering career with Munster, Ireland and the Lions and now a definitive voice in Irish rugby analysis and commentary.

It took the recent red card controversy surrounding his son, Owen, for the general public to get an insight into the steely character that has made Andy Farrell such an influential figure at the head of Irish rugby’s fortunes heading into this World Cup.

The Irish squad and management took off from Dublin Airport on Thursday for their Tours base in the Loire Valley, Farrell quietly going about his business as the photographers got their take-off shots. It’s rare for a coach to attract such positive affirmation across the board from a widely diverse group of players. It doesn’t matter whether you’re one of the elite at the higher end of the cap threshold or a young lad seeking to make his way on the international stage.

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