Blade and Farrell ‘would do Ireland proud’ if selected, reckons Friend

Connacht coach Andy Friend said that his scrum-half Caolin Blade and centre Tom Farrell are fired-up and ready to answer Ireland’s call if Joe Schmidt includes them in his Six Nations squad today.

Farrell, who was drafted into Irish training camps in November and at Christmas, has played his way into contention with a string of impressive displays since being brought back to Ireland from second-tier rugby in England.