Andy Farrell ‘a forceful character, who usually gets what he wants’

When news broke of Andy Farrell’s appointment as Ireland’s new defence coach, there were two initial reactions.

The first was shock that this proud Englishman (though his brother Phil once played rugby league for Ireland) would either be offered or take on such a role, or that it had been done so quietly.

The second was that this could prove to be one of Joe Schmidt’s most inspired decisions.