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.

The reason it was brought up yesterday was to give an example of Irish passion against England, the ability to raise a performance to such a pitch and tempo that the opposition simply cannot live with them.

It was also an opportunity for Farrell to point out what he believes are one or two simple facts about this new England side.

They will not be pushed around. They will not veer wildly from the gameplan. They will not – as victory in Cardiff in Round One of this Six Nations demonstrated – be bullied.

In short, there will be no repeat of Croke Park, or of Ireland’s 24-8 victory in 2011. This is a more mature England side, one that can cope in any rugby bearpit you care to fling them into.

“Looking back to that game at Croke Park, they just hit the ground running and played how we knew they were going to play,” said Farrell.

“That is what Munster have done for years. But we are a lot more experienced and composed in knowing how to deal with those situations now.

“We had plenty of caps then, and in 2011 we were experienced enough in that situation too, but this side are very good at rolling with the punches and knowing how to counter-act that.

“There are lessons that we’ve learned as a group in the last three years, through the ups and downs along the way, against the best, being in cauldrons like Cardiff a couple of years ago and going to Dublin, or Murrayfield. They are all experiences which have galvanised us into a side who are more composed and relaxed in pressure situations.

“The guys watch the games and they have seen teams make errors throughout the competition. They see people losing their heads and doing things that are not right for that moment in time. If things are going wrong, how do you steady the ship? How do you get forwards into the game, how do you get on the front foot? These are the keys to riding the wave and getting back on top. Those kinds of cycles come every five minutes and we are able to adjust to those now. What we were very good at against Wales was reading the game and feeling the momentum swings. We were good at keeping our composure and we will have to do the same in the cauldron on Sunday.”

So composed are England at present that Farrell was actually asked yesterday if he feared his side may lack for aggression, considering that two of their principal enforcers – Owen Farrell and Mike Brown – are now out of the side. The look which accompanied Farrell’s answer was instructive.

“I wouldn’t say so at all,” said England’s backs coach. “We feel we have enough enforcers in the side to make our stamp on the game. We are fine as far as aggression is concerned, don’t worry about that.”

While England’s aggression may be spot-on, they do have weaknesses elsewhere. Ireland’s back three of Simon Zebo, Tommy Bowe and Rob Kearney have 138 caps between them; Alex Goode, Jack Nowell and Anthony Watson have just 25.

“Ireland certainly utilise that part of the game a lot and are very dangerous,” admitted Farrell. “They know how to manipulate people but it’s something we have been working on. Alex is an experienced player who has been around the block and been in big situations before. Jack’s performances for Exeter have been exceptional. He has been very dangerous in all areas of his game. The time is right for him.”