Andy Farrell closes World Cup chapter, insists new green wave will bounce back

'These guys kept believing in themselves and rightly so because of the rugby that they're able to play under pressure. I'm immensely proud of absolutely everyone that's connected with Irish rugby'

STILL PROUD: Ireland Head Coach Andy Farrell

Andy Farrell admitted Ireland’s World Cup quarter-final defeat had brought the end of an era for Irish rugby but he was pleased it ended with a bang and not a whimper.

The Ireland boss toasted captain Johnny Sexton, for whom this 28-24 defeat to New Zealand at Stade de France on Saturday night brought down the curtain on a glittering career for the 38-year-old fly-half, and also fellow veteran Keith Earls, whose retirement, at least from international rugby, he also revealed.

Ireland’s exit, yet another in a long line of last-eight exits at the World Cup, was in stark contrast to meek departure at the hands of the All Blacks in Tokyo four years ago, when Joe Schmidt’s tenure as head coach was brought to a shuddering halt by a 46-14 defeat.

The Irish and their skipper went out on their shields this time around, fighting to the end in an absorbing contest between the world number one side and the three-time champions that will go down as an all-time World Cup classic.

Ireland had opportunities to win the game late on, only for All Black centre Jordie Barrett to hold up hooker Ronan Kelleher over the tryline before a 37-phase onslaught from Sexton’s team with the clock past 80 minutes was ended with a turnover penalty. For the current head coach there was some consolation in the manner of defeat.

“It is. If you go out with a whimper, it's pretty hard to take. We deserve a little bit more of ourselves than that and we didn't,” Farrell said.

“When New Zealand put pressure on people and get the scoreboard ticking over and it was 6-0 and we gave three penalties away at the start of the game that gave them the soft points there and then they score next as well and all of sudden we've seen time and time again with this team, the All Blacks that is, just take the game away from people.

“And these guys, they kept on believing in themselves and rightly so because of the rugby that they're able to play under pressure. I'm immensely proud of absolutely everyone that's connected with Irish rugby, to be fair.

“The standards have been immense over the last four years, the players – not just in this squad – that we've used in that four-year cycle have been a joy to work with. And not just that, their connection with the fans, it seemed like it's all one big family. I'm unbelievably proud to be associated with it all.

“I think the sad thing for us now is that for this group it's probably the end. Obviously it is for Johnny and Keith Earls is going to retire as well, so things are going to change. Mick Kearney, our manager, is going to finish up as well.

‘Over the next 24 hours, it’s time to make sure that we get a smile back on our faces as soon as we possibly can and celebrate what has been some unbelievable careers and what they have done for Irish rugby. It’s important to us, that.” 

Farrell rued the “fine margins and all that” when asked where the game was lost.

“Being held up over the line from a maul very close to the end, which could have sealed the game. Those little bits are all over the game, aren't they? Ifs, buts and maybes and all that, but at the end of the day it was two good teams out there playing some outstanding rugby, and unfortunately for us we came out on the wrong side of the score.

“Sport can be cruel sometimes, that's why we love it so much, but I'll reflect on it more over the coming days. My initial feeling is that I'm unbelievably proud of the group, how they handled themselves, not just today but all through the tournament, over the last couple of years. That will be my overriding feeling.” 

The Ireland head coach did sound a positive note when he spoke of his confidence in the younger members of the squad who will be picking up the baton from Sexton and company over the next four years as they build towards the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

“I think a lot of our group are still learning, and I just said to the group in the changing room the reason they're going to keep on learning is because of this guy (Sexton) sat beside me here.

“The impact that he's had on the rest of the team over the last four years has been amazing, and the way that he's conducted himself as a leader and as a player and the way that he's shown the love playing for Ireland will be remembered and connected to this group for many years to come. Through his example, the younger guys will keep on getting better and striving to be better, there's no doubt about that.

"Just knowing what we've got. The type of character that we've got, the type of people we've got, the type of player, staff. The hunger to want to wear the green jersey.

“It is the end for this team because people are going to be leaving but the competition that this team has built over the years will continue because of how it's been driven, certainly over the last couple of years.

“The talent that we've got in Ireland will continue to come through and we'll continue to challenge, I have no doubt about that."