'We’re not surprised are we?' - Farrell hoping for one more push from Ireland with award talk on hold

Johnny Sexton and Josh van der Flier are up for the top player award while Andy Farrell could take the global coach gong. 

RECOGNITION: Andy Farrell talks to the press ahead of the Wallabies game this weekend. Picture: INPHO/Tom Maher

Johnny Sexton and Josh van der Flier’s nominations for World Rugby’s Player of the Year Award did not come as a surprise to Andy Farrell after a year of consistently high performance levels but Ireland’s head coach would love to see them squeeze every last remaining drop of effort for tomorrow’s final game of 2022.

The Ireland head coach welcomed both players back into his starting line-up for the visit of Australia to a sold-out Aviva Stadium as he named his strongest possible side for the last staging post before the 2023 Six Nations and a World Cup just 10 months down the track.