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.

Sat, 22 Nov, 2025 - 05:00

Simon Lewis

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.

“We've touched on that a few times,” Doris revealed on Friday. “And if you think back to playing them over there in 2024 we didn't get it quite right in Test one, we got a bit of a bollocking going into Test two, and we've touched on elements of that and of the changes from Test one to Test two, and largely mentality. So trying to get back to that mindset. And it's been good through the week. We've touched on it and gotten those little spikes of emotion.”

He continued: “Intensity in all aspects is definitely going to be needed. Faz speaks unbelievably well, he holds the room, captivates the attention massively, and hits the right emotional tone and he's done that several times this week. So I feel we’re in a good place.”

Asked how Farrell has got his players to that good place, Doris explained: “How much of a privilege it is to be playing in this game, first of all, and touching on some of the elements of that meeting back in Durban in 2024. But how special it is to be playing this and what we'd want some of the guys we looked up to, to see watching us this weekend.”

Referring to the Springboks' tour victories this month against France and Italy, Doris agreed this Quilter Nations Series finale was the ultimate test for Ireland.

“You've seen the quality of what they've done over the last couple of weeks with 14 men as well. I'm sure they're full of belief coming here as well. But yeah, hopefully it’s going to be a cracker.”

Farrell had on Thursday revealed he had spoken to his team leaders Doris and Dan Sheehan about ways they could improve their games, using the examples to explain it was not just younger players like fly-half Sam Prendergast who needed to continue to develop.

A day later Doris said he was grateful for the head coach’s insights.

“He’s pretty straightforward, straight shooting. Me and Sheeno spoke to him during the week pre-pitch and it was quite direct what he wanted from us in that session.

“For me it was my tackle technique and getting more out of collisions really, which is obviously a big focus point of this week.

“It’s something I’ve been aware of myself. It hasn’t been as good as I’d like to be over the last number of weeks so given the task we face this week, it’s an important point.”