England a stiffer test for Andy Farrell's Ireland reboot

PATH FORWARD: Ireland head coach Andy Farrell talks to his squad. Farrell wants to build on the performance against Wales and is looking for a proper realisation of what it takes to be a fully prepared international side. Picture: Billy Stickland

Andy Farrell has made victory over Wales his ground zero for Ireland’s return to world rugby’s elite but the head coach knows there will be another level of education needed for his squad as a tough outing at Twickenham awaits this Saturday.

Ireland’s Six Nations finished on a bum note in Paris on October 31, their second-half surrender to France and 35-27 defeat consigning them to a third-place finish on the championship table in Farrell’s first campaign since succeeding Joe Schmidt 12 months earlier. Above Italy, Wales and Scotland, but lagging behind the French and champions England after humbling defeats on the road, Farrell drew a line in the sand at the outset of this Autumn Nations Cup and got his reward with a convincing 32-9 victory over a struggling Welsh outfit behind closed doors at Aviva Stadium on Friday night.