'In November, yes there were some decent performances, but we want to kick on and get better’
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell during yesterday's training session. Image: Billy Stickland/INPHO Ireland head coach Andy Farrell during yesterday's training session. Image: Billy Stickland/INPHO THERE WAS A calm confidence about Andy Farrell as he fielded questions during yesterday’s virtual Guinness Six Nations launch event, his team coming into the tournament billed as one of the favourites on the back of their impressive November campaign.
Ireland go into this championship unbeaten since February of last year – a run stretching eight games – and carrying the feelgood factor of a November win over the All Blacks, where Farrell’s side produced a wonderful team performance in which they looked solid in defence and inventive in attack. It’s just getting better at the things that we’ve been trying to get better at over the last 18 months or so. The good thing is that we’re nowhere near there yet. I was saying to the lads yesterday that there’s a good foundation that’s been built and there’s a real belief in how we’re trying to play the game, etc. “It came together in parts pretty well in the autumn and the aim is 100% to kick on and push the boundaries even further.
Farrell and Johnny Sexton's during Wednesday's Six Nations launch event. Source: GUINNESS Six Nations/INPHO “We can take nothing for granted. All we can do is control what we can control, and that’s our preparation and making sure we tick all our boxes.”