Farrell: Scotland finale just the start of blockbuster year

The Ireland head coach has seven big matches at the helm before he takes temporary leave to coach the Lions.

BIG YEAR AHEAD: Ireland head coach Andy Farrell speaks to the press during an Ireland rugby media conference at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Pic: Sam Barnes, Sportsfile

Andy Farrell whetted the appetite of Ireland supporters for the year of their rugby lives as he looked forward to a blockbuster summer and autumn, and a Six Nations title bid against Scotland tomorrow.

The Guinness Six Nations finale against the Triple Crown-chasing Scots at Aviva Stadium, when Ireland can seal back-to-back championship titles with a victory on home soil and perhaps without one given other results, is the first episode of the Ireland head coach’s final seven matches at the helm before he takes temporary leave at the end of the year to prepare to lead the British & Irish Lions to Australia and a series against Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies in the summer of 2025.