Andy Farrell happy to let in-form flyers show their mettle

Ireland start without Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton, in a Test XV against England for the first time since the summer of 2011

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell at training ahead of the Nations Cup clash with England. Picture: INPHO/Billy Stickland

Form matters to Andy Farrell, and so does a little curiosity. Which is why he will send a fresh-faced team into the extremely challenging environment of a Test match against England on Saturday.

Ireland’s head coach showed yesterday in revealing his team for this Autumn Nations Cup clash at Twickenham that he was not afraid to continue his experimentation against a side unafraid — as Georgia will attest having had their tier-two status ruthlessly exposed last Saturday — to exploit any and every weakness identified in their opponents.