Balancing act for Andy Farrell as he fights on two fronts

BALANCING ACT: Ireland head coach Andy Farrell is leading two squads for matches less than 24 hours apart. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Andy Farrell has embarked on a training week like no other as he coaches two teams for top-level matches less than 24 hours apart. For a man who has pretty much seen and done it all in professional sport even this challenge breaks new ground for Ireland’s head coach but that is all part of his mission to put both players and management under the ultimate pressure.

It is why a three-Test series against the All Blacks in New Zealand during the summer was not enough of an examination and became a five games in three weeks tour with extra matches against the Maori All Blacks added to the itinerary. And it explains why a clash between world number-one-ranked Ireland and world champions South Africa this Saturday evening is now preceded by an Ireland A match with an All Blacks XV at the RDS (Friday 7:45pm), under 22 hours before a 5:30pm kick-off at Aviva Stadium.