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.

A second-half reboot bolstered by another big contribution from the Irish bench, not least at fly-half where Jack Crowley’s performance earned high praise from Farrell in his post-match comments, averted that scenario, though Italy will leave Dublin full of regrets for the try-scoring opportunities they botched when they had their hosts on the ropes at various points across the 80 minutes.

Second-half tries from Jack Conan and man of the match Rob Baloucoune, whose finished capped a vintage Ireland multi-phase attack, with Crowley’s conversion and a penalty helping to see off a dangerous and dogged Italian effort that was maintained past 80 minutes.

"I mean, that's the bigger picture stuff that we've seen about the character, because we were playing against a very good Italian side that was never going to go away, because history shows us that, and how they've been performing,” Farrell said.

"But obviously, it was more than that, wasn't it? They were trying to batter the door down at the end. So, the resilience that we showed to win the game was fantastic to see. So, that's the bigger picture stuff.

"Obviously there's too many errors within our game at certain times, but the character shown to come back and have the courage to play the type of rugby that we did at times was very encouraging. To say that we were under a bit of pressure. The try that we scored with all those phases was as good a try as we've ever scored.

"So, it just shows that we're able to back ourselves. I think, on top of that, the experience that some of these lads are getting is absolutely huge. I said outside that you might have seen it, that the lads that are watching in the stand or at home who are not here, the big names, the lads that have been there and done that, they've been through all this.

"They've been through this type of pressure and come out the other side and they've grown because of it. These lads that managed to do that today, to stand up tall, will certainly stand to them. So, delighted with the win against a very good Italian side."

Farrell had rolled the dice with selection following the 36-14 loss at Stade de France, handing Six Nations debuts to right wing Baloucoune and his Ulster back-row team-mate Cormac Izuchukwu, recalling left wing James Lowe and promoting scrum-half Craig Casey, lock James Ryan and No.8 Jack Conan to the starting line-up with Jamison Gibson Park, Tadhg Beirne dropping to the bench and flanker Josh van der Flier dropping out of the matchday 23 completely.

Most of his choices were rewarded with strong performances though Casey’s yellow card, which led to Giacomo Nictoera’s opening try for Italy on 33 minutes, was harsh, the diminutive number nine sent to the sin bin for standing up in the tackle and making head contact with ball carrier Lorenzo Cannone, a back rower considerably taller.

Yet the bench impact was decisive, with hooker Ronan Kelleher, Beirne and Nick Timoney all producing strong contributions, as did Test debutant Edwin Edogbo, the lightly-raced 23-year-old Munster lock and Cobh Pirates product given 10 minutes at the end to crown his comeback from a second serious Achilles’ tendon injury.

Recognising there are still major improvements to be made on the training field next week ahead of Saturday’s visit to Twickenham to play England, Farrell is relishing the opportunity for his team to atone for their away day disappointments in Paris.

Asked what was needed to prepare for the English challenge, Farrell replied: “Well, we need to celebrate Edwin's first cap, that's for sure, because it's one hell of a story and I'm so pleased that we're able to get a win and show some fight to be able to get a win for him because his story's a phenomenal one.

“We'll celebrate that with him. Everyone's talking up England and rightly so because the form is good and they're playing some good rugby. It's another fantastic experience for us.

“It's a big away game, we had one of those last week, we didn't turn up for that. We need to learn some lessons from it but we've a big test coming up and we need to get excited about that and we are because it's another experience that will stand to us.” 

Having put in a big defensive stand to keep Italy out at the death, Ireland broke out of their 22 thanks to a Lowe interception and earned a penalty at the other end to put them within a shot of earning an unlikely try bonus point. It led to a rare Crowley error, who kicked the ball dead with his penalty to touch, yet Farrell refused to dwell on the missed opportunity.

“No, no, no. I thought Jack played outstandingly well when he came on, so I'm actually gutted for him because you know he wouldn't normally do that.

“I mean, there's a few things to check there as far as offside and jumping up and down in his eyeline for the kick, but still it was a bit of a shank, but that wouldn't be the overriding thought of what I take from Jack's game.

“I thought he was outstanding when he came on.”