VIDEO: Farrell on how Ireland can salvage tour
VIDEO: Ireland coach Andy Farrell firmly believes his side can still draw the Test series against South Africa which would require a win for the visitors in Durban on Saturday.
The Springboks ended an eight-year losing streak against Farrell’s side with a 27-20 win during a bruising encounter at Lotus Versfeld.
Farrell felt his side made too many mistakes in the first half, which left them playing catch-up.
That, and some questionable TMO calls, did not help his side’s efforts.
The Six Nations champions were only behind 8-13 at the break as they found it hard to impose themselves on the contest through the first 40 minutes.
Farrell carefully avoided commenting on questions around calls by the TMO and congratulated the Springboks on the win.
Asked by @rugby365com what he would change heading into the second Test, the coach sat forward and explained his plan of attack this week.
“Quite a bit actually,” the Ireland coach said.
“The main thing is attacking the game the way that we wanted to do it,” the 2023 World Rugby Coach of the Year responded.
“[We must] not be desperate next week just because we lost this week.
“If that creeps in then you become even more ill-disciplined and discipline costs us.
“I know the penalty count wasn’t outrageous [9-all].
“It’s the way that we put pressure on ourselves and relieve pressure on them is what we need to address.
“There is some great learning from the first half that we put right in the second half.
“We were still not clinical enough when we had chances on the Springboks line.
“You have got to convert in big games like this, there is no doubt about that. If you put things like that right, we were still in the game so that says to you there is a chance [next week],” Farrell explained.
*(Article continues below after Farrell interview…)
“South Africa deserved to win the game, so congratulations to them.
“Defensively we were a bit passive, certainly for the first try. But then the story of the game for me after some words at half time, I thought it was courageous at times how we defended and got ourselves into the game,” the coach commented.
His captain Peter O’Mahony agreed, saying there were “positives” for Ireland to take in the defeat but his side would analyse where they could improve ahead of the second Test.
“There are a lot of positives to take out of our performance but little bits here and there, playing against a side as good as this, they are going to punish you.”
Farrell also managed to provide an update on the injured scrumhalf Craig Casey after a collision with Springbok RG Snyman in the 63rd minute.
“He’s concussed,” Farrell said as the post-match press conference kicked off.
“He was still on the trolley when I came in at the end so obviously it was concerning enough but he was up and walking around, not quite himself yet but he’s up and about and wondering what’s going on.”
