Farrell rules out repeat of Croker hammering

Andy Farrell remembers Croke Park all too well, writes Julian Bennetts.

“I knew that was coming up,” he said with a rueful grin when that match from 2007 was mentioned at England’s training camp yesterday. “It was a very special occasion for Ireland that year.”

Indeed it was, England — with Farrell in midfield — being thrashed 43-13 on their first visit to the home of GAA.