Farrell's embrace of new wave already paying off for forward-thinking Ireland

An evolving Ireland group recovered from opening-night defeat to end the tournament on a high. 

STEPPING STONE: The Ireland team celebrate with the Triple Crown trophy. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Ireland were deep into the physical part of their Six Nations prep in Portugal as a sodden January gave way to February when Andy Farrell turned to the task of training his players’ minds as well as their bodies.

The squad picked by the head coach not long before had listed no fewer than 16 players with 10 caps or fewer, and Farrell made a point of asking all of them to stand up at a team meeting one evening in Quinta do Lago.