Andy Farrell has made plain the internal frustration felt by himself and the Ireland squad during their review of last Saturday’s 26-13 loss to New Zealand in Chicago. Hence, the head coach has also made it clear that the team should stand for something definable in Saturday’s Test against Japan at the Aviva Stadium (kick-off 12.40pm). The inference being they failed in that regard last weekend.
Farrell has made eight changes in personnel to the starting XV, including an Irish debut for his 32-year-old namesake Tom Farrell. This need to freshen things up can be attributed to the prevailing lack of match sharpness, a four-game November schedule and the travel demands of playing the All Blacks in Chicago.
This comparative fixture has drawn Farrell’s ire in the past, namely against Fiji in November, 2022, when Ireland laboured to a 35-17 win.
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