Andy Farrell: 'We'll need all 33 rock solid to win a World Cup'

The first game of the season can be a cocktail of rust and brain fog but Andy Farrell made the point yesterday that the squad has been together for six weeks rather than just the five pitch sessions they get before a Six Nations.

3 August 2023; Ireland head coach Andy Farrell during an Ireland rugby media conference at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Grand Slam champions, series winners in New Zealand for the first time and a three-for-three autumn series in the bag. It’s no wonder Ireland are the top-ranked team in rugby but Andy Farrell isn’t leaning in to any sweet talk as the World Cup gets very real.

A decent, likeable type who is renowned for running a happy camp, the Ireland head coach came over yesterday as equal parts good cop and impatient cop as he skewered any notions of an easy first day at the office when they face Italy in Dublin tomorrow.