Andy Farrell doesn’t buy into ‘four-year cycle’ and wants Ireland to ‘evolve’

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell does not buy into Rugby World Cup cycles as he looks to claim back-to-back Six Nations titles.

The only uncapped players included in the Ireland squad for the tournament are training panellists, Oli Jager, Thomas Ahern and
Sam Prendergast.

Having completed a Grand Slam last year, Farrell is now keen to build on Ireland’s progression rather than make a fresh post-World Cup start for Australia 2027.

That is underlined by his selection of 26 players in his Six Nations squad who travelled to the World Cup in France, and that number could have been higher if it was not for injuries to Ross Byrne, Dave Kilcoyne, Rob Herring, Mack Hansen and Jimmy O’Brien.

Lack of player turnover

“You look at the squad we have picked,” Farrell said, speaking at the Six Nations launch in Dublin.

“Over the last couple of years, we have capped a lot of players. Some of those players are under 10 caps or so; some have not been involved in the squad over the last 12-18 months, so trying to grow the squad in that sense is pretty important.

“Is this a new start? It’s not because of everything we have been through.

“We want to continue to grow, we want to continue to evolve our game, and you don’t do that by just cutting the legs off it and going again.

“Competition for places is premium, and it has to stay that way, so this is the start of a new Six Nations.

“I don’t buy into the four-year cycle that tends to come around when World Cups are finished.”

New skipper

Following Johnny Sexton’s retirement, Ireland would always need to name a new captain for the Six Nations, and Farrell believes that Peter O’Mahony will shine with the responsibility.

He was picked ahead of the likes of James Ryan, Iain Henderson, Garry Ringrose and Caelan Doris.

The flanker takes on the role after guiding Munster to last season’s United Rugby Championship title but stepped down as skipper of his province in November after 10 years in the role.

“There are a few candidates because we have got some great leadership within the group, and that will continue to grow and Peter will be at the heart of that to help it,” Farrell explained.

“There are certain people that make the room feel right. It is pretty important around the place, and certainly on match-day that you have that type of person in the dressing room, and Peter is certainly one of those.

“Just being himself and helping others to grow. I know he will do the country proud.”

 O’Mahony’s ‘biggest honour’

And O’Mahony added: “It is a huge honour. I am incredibly grateful to be asked.

“I think I have done it on 10 occasions, but to do it for a Six Nations campaign is very special and probably the biggest honour of my career so far.

“I wasn’t expecting it, to be honest. It was a special phone call to get (from Farrell), and a huge honour.”

Ireland face a tough challenge in their tournament opener as they head to Marseille to face France.

READ MORE: Winners and losers from Ireland’s Six Nations squad, including Jonathan Sexton’s replacement