Ireland should be about to have the week of their lives as All Blacks series decider draws closer: Andy Farrell

Andy Farrell oversees Ireland training knowing a big week is on the horizon

Andy Farrell oversees Ireland training knowing a big week is on the horizon

Ireland veteran Keith Earls

Andy Farrell oversees Ireland training knowing a big week is on the horizon

Cian Tracey Twitter

July 12 2022 07:45 AM

Every now and then, those outside the inner sanctum of Ireland’s dressing room get a glimpse into Andy Farrell’s renowned motivational side.

At the start of a big week, the biggest for many of the squad’s younger players, it was important to set the right tone from the off.

Yesterday’s team meeting was designed with that in mind, and as much as Farrell’s voice was at the forefront, he has created an environment that encourages the players to take ownership.

Past experience means Ireland are braced for a major backlash from New Zealand in Saturday’s sold-out Series decider, but Farrell has been involved in enough of these scenarios to know it is easy to get distracted by the opponent’s threat and lose track of your own side’s merits.

“I’ve no doubt they will be firing on all cylinders and they will be determined to put things right, but I think it’s more about us and our mentality,” Farrell insisted.

“I have been involved in plenty of three-game Series, where one team wins the first game and the second team is so desperate that they have to (win) and the emotion of the second game takes so much out of them that it’s pretty hard to get back up.”

“We’ve all seen scenarios of that calibre but I don’t get that feeling (now). They were happy to win, they know things went pretty well, but this morning they know they can play a lot better, and they are relishing that opportunity.”

Belief is soaring that they can do something special on Saturday night. So much of that mindset is down to the culture that Farrell has worked hard to foster.

In that sense, the Ireland head coach is not worried about the issue of fatigue after a long season, as his players look for one more big performance before they take a well-earned holiday.

“Look where we are at, I mean it doesn’t get any better for us,” Farrell said.

“This should be the week of our lives. I mean, we are here. Not one person is talking about anything but the task at hand – today, tomorrow, Thursday’s training, whatever it may be.”

“This is where we want to be. Of course there is pressure going with that, but we have earned the right to put ourselves in a position to be in these big games.”

Even on this tour, Farrell has done a good job in spreading the leadership roles beyond the same familiar faces.

That’s partly why he has selected two new captains to lead Ireland against the Maori, with Keith Earls following Bundee Aki in skippering for the first time.

“The aim is to make sure that everyone is leading in a certain way because we all have to take responsibility for the team,” Farrell explained.

“We don’t want people just turning up and being told what to do all the time. We want people taking responsibility for themselves and their team.”

“There’s a bit of a difference there but the leadership group in general have been fantastic. 18 months ago, or two years ago, there was a lot of meetings between myself and them trying to guide them to what leadership really is and how they grab hold of their team.”

“They’ve been exceptional. James Ryan is in that (leadership group), Garry Ringrose and Tadhg Furlong too.”

“Johnny (Sexton) and Pete (O’Mahony) are in that and Iain Henderson, who’s obviously at home, as well but the knock-on effect that those guys are having on the rest of the team is making sure the likes of Hugo Keenan and Caelan Doris are growing as leaders as well.”

Reflecting on the messages he gave the squad when he appointed that new leadership group shortly after taking over as Ireland boss, Farrell said: “You have to think differently. You can’t just turn up for a meeting and be told by me what you need to do.”

“You need to understand what you want out of the day; how you want to turn up, how you’re going to plan, how you’re going to influence.”

“You’ve got to be more forward-thinking than that and we’re seeing that at the minute.”

As the week progresses, Farrell will take a step back and let the players take hold. After all, as he suggested, this is the biggest week of their careers because the chance to win a Series against the All Blacks in New Zealand may never happen again. The tone has been set.

Ireland should be about to have the week of their lives as All Blacks series decider draws closer: Andy Farrell

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