Andy Farrell: Edwin Edogbo well able to 'crack on and ignore the BS'

The Munster lock’s big day was met with an enormous deal of goodwill, but the IRFU and Munster had to disable comments on social media posts after some disgraceful posts

Ireland's Edwin Edogbo. Pic: Billy Stickland/Inpho

Andy Farrell has rounded on the online trolls who targeted Edwin Edogbo this last week, but declared that the Munster man is “made of the right stuff” and well able to ignore the minority who tried to spoil his big day.

Edogbo made his Test debut last week, coming on after 70 minutes of Ireland’s Six Nations win against Italy last week and making a huge impact as Farrell’s men just about got over the line against the impressive visitors.

The Munster lock’s big day was met with an enormous deal of goodwill, both when he ran on and in the hours and days afterwards, but the IRFU and Munster had to disable comments on social media posts after some disgraceful comments.

“There's no need for it in society,” said Farrell. “I didn't read it, I don't want to read it, I don't want to give people anything to even think about. I'm even [debating] commenting on some of the stuff that has been said really because they certainly don't deserve that. But as far as I'm concerned, Edwin's fine, he's strong, he's been brought up in the right way.

“We met his family last week, his mother, his two brothers and his sister. His father couldn't make it because he works all hours God sends as far as A&E, nursing there down in Cork, which says it all. 

"So he's made of the right stuff and that's why he's able to just crack on and ignore all the BS.” 

Despite the impression made in round two, Edogbo will not get the opportunity to follow up this weekend with Farrell opting against using him in his matchday 23 for the game against England in Twickenham on Saturday.

Part of that owes to the fact that Ireland have gone with a 5/3 bench split this time, rather than the 6/2 used on opening day against France in Paris and last week’s narrow win against the Azzurri in Dublin. Farrell offered more context.

“We've got some good players, he's obviously used to pushing in the scrum in the second row. Any type of unit like Edwin is going to be quite dominant in that department. I suppose the occasion, when you come in as a newish player in a big game like that, are you going to have it in your legs in the last 10 minutes or not?

“There's a difference there in that regard but I suppose Joe McCarthy is big enough and strong enough and we've certainly got a determined pack this week to make sure that area is attacked from us.”