Doris channels 2024 Farrell ‘bollocking’ as Ireland gear up for Springbok test

'Straight shooting' Andy Farrell told Ireland captain Caelan Doris and hooker Dan Sheehan where they need this improve their games.

Caelan Doris: "Faz speaks unbelievably well, he holds the room, captivates the attention massively, and hits the right emotional tone." Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Caelan Doris had reason this week to recall the mid-series “bollocking” delivered to his Ireland team by Andy Farrell in the wake of their first Test defeat to South Africa on tour in 2024. If it is enough to provoke a similar response against the Springboks in Dublin on Saturday evening then the discomfort will have been entirely worthwhile.

The captain leads Ireland into battle once more at Aviva Stadium looking to close out 2025 on a high by defeating the current best team in Test rugby. It was their most recent defeat to the back-to-back world champions 16 months ago and the response it prompted from the tourists to draw the series a week later that provides an incentive to get to exactly the right mental and emotional pitch this time around.