Farrell pleased with competition for places ahead of Fiji challenge

The Ireland boss will name his side on Thursday. 

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell before the game. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

While the return to Dublin of world champions South Africa on November 21 is an understandable focal point of this Nations Championship Test window, getting there in the best possible shape to avenge their Aviva Stadium humbling of a year ago is the next task for the Ireland management.

Andy Farrell’s men got their bid to top the Northern Hemisphere charts heading into the November 27-29 finals weekend at Twickenham off to a flying start last Friday night with a 42-12 defeat of Argentina as the head coach got the performance, for the most part, he desired as a response to a 40-21 loss to New Zealand at Eden Park in their previous outing.