How many cards has Andy Farrell left to play as Ireland head coach?

If the new set up clicks then the brains trust can look at lubricating the wheels of change even more come the summer. More of the same stutters and the questions and doubts only multiply

Head coach Andy Farrell during the media conference at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Half-a-dozen changes to the starting side. More tweaks on the bench. Team selections have long confirmed the truism that you can’t please all the people any of the time. Andy Farrell would have needed no reminding of that before revealing his hand for Italy.

The accusation is that the Ireland head coach has long been too conservative, too loyal, with his choice of players. That long-term needs - World Cup cycles to you and me - were being sacrificed on the altar of immediate demands.