Andy Farrell looks to ‘bigger picture’ as Ireland show character to get past Italians

The Ireland head coach will prepare his side for a trip to Twickenham next weekend. 

UP AND RUNNING: Ireland head coach Andy Farrell after the game. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Defensive resilience, bags of character and one of the best tries Ireland have ever scored. That Ireland’s 20-13 Guinness Six Nations victory over an exciting and ambitious Italy in Dublin on Saturday was as hard-fought as it was made it all the more satisfying for head coach Andy Farrell.

Ireland had trailed 10-5 at half-time to a visiting team brimming with confidence following their first-round victory over Scotland at Stadio Olimpico seven days earlier. And given they were hammered by France in their opening match in Paris, there was genuine anxiety among supporters in the sell-out Aviva Stadium crowd that Farrell’s team were potentially facing a historic first championship home defeat to the Italians.