Ireland latest: Andy Farrell’s stark ‘no excuses’ warning amid squad update
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has made no changes to his wider squad this weekend.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has resisted the urge to bring any fresh players into his wider squad for their upcoming Test against Japan, but has called for his side to ‘stand up to the challenge’ after a disappointing defeat to the All Blacks.
Farrell’s men led 10-0 after 15 minutes at Soldier Field, Chicago – the site of their famous 2016 victory over New Zealand – but Scott Robertson’s side mounted a strong comeback to eventually run out 26-13 winners.
‘It’s disappointing to lose any game’
The manner of the defeat has since put a harsh spotlight on the make-up of the Ireland squad, with key British and Irish Lions tourists only just working their way back from their extended summer break.
“There’s zero excuses from here on,” Farrell told BBC Sport.
“If we can’t stand up to that challenge, then we shouldn’t be here anyway.”
“It’s disappointing to lose any game,” he added in his post-match press conference. “When you play a world-class side like New Zealand, you always want to judge yourself against that type of opposition. Then you put the occasion and all that together, it hurts a little bit more.
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“Understanding why that happened is key for us now, addressing all that and then making sure we move forward pretty quickly for what is obviously a pretty important autumn coming up.”
Despite that, Farrell has made no changes to his wider 34-man squad to prepare for their three Autumn Nations Series Tests on home soil – with the recent meeting with the All Blacks serving as a standalone Gallagher Cup Test.
Centre Stuart McCloskey has emerged as a major doubt for this weekend’s Test, after reporting back with a groin issue following last weekend’s defeat in Chicago. He will be monitored closely throughout the week, with an update on his availability expected later in the week.
Elsewhere, Caelan Doris could be set for a starting role, after successfully coming through the All Blacks encounter. The Leinster number eight suffered a shoulder injury during his side’s Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton Saints back in May, ruling him out of the Lions tour in the process, and made his return to action off the bench in Chicago.
Farrell will name his 23-man squad for the Japan clash on Thursday (November 6).
