Brian O’Driscoll encountered Josh van der Flier and his spouse, Sophie, during a breakfast outing last Friday. With the England match approaching, O’Driscoll offered reassurance to his former Leinster colleague, predicting a strong comeback after van der Flier’s exclusion from Ireland’s victory against Italy.
“I conveyed my regrets about the team choice,” O’Driscoll shared with ITV. “Josh responded, ‘No, it’s hardly a benching’. He was aware of his upcoming participation this week. It was merely Andy creating some agitation.”
Van der Flier assisted in preparing the Irish squad of 23 for their triumph against Italy but observed from the periphery. Tommy O’Brien also did so. Jamison Gibson-Park and Tadhg Beirne – two additional players who started in the 36-14 defeat to France – were designated as substitutes and entered the game only for the concluding 30 minutes.
“Crucial athletes deliver in significant matches,” Farrell pondered, shortly after these four individuals proved instrumental in an unprecedented victory at Twickenham against England.
Farrell’s strategy with van der Flier, who had been subdued versus France, echoed Alex Ferguson’s classic tactic – you won’t feature in the upcoming match, but your presence is absolutely essential for the subsequent fixture. Ferguson frequently employed this incentive with Phil Neville, particularly when facing Arsenal. Following Neville’s departure, Park Ji-sung regularly assumed this role, consistently performing well against Arsenal.
Neville recounted a time when Ferguson altered almost half of his initial lineup for an FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park against Arsenal. “Good heavens, he’s swapped out five players,” Neville remembered in the ‘99 documentary. “I struggled to comprehend it. Then, abruptly, I realized, ‘He completely believes in each and every one of us’. And I have never, ever experienced such a profound feeling as I did that evening. I resolved, damn it, I will give everything for him.”
Van der Flier might share a comparable account of Farrell’s approach to player management, probably minus the expletives. The back-row forward was being prepared for the England fixture. This represented a chance for vindication against his British & Irish Lions positional competitors, Tom Curry and Ben Earl.
At Twickenham, he delivered an outstanding performance. Van der Flier successfully completed all 13 of his tackle attempts, made five carries accumulating 38 meters, including a penetrating line break, and aggressively cleared out numerous attacking rucks. The extent of Ireland’s superiority was so vast that Farrell nearly included every one of his 23 players on the roster following the 42-21 triumph. Van der Flier, he expressed with delight, was “tremendous”.
Restraining some key players after the Paris game, then unleashing them for England, formed one component of Farrell’s strategy. A further element was the mid-week discussion that influenced Ireland’s reaction to England and to any skepticism regarding their capacity to compete with elite teams.
This approach originated in January when Farrell, during the Six Nations launch in Edinburgh, described Ireland as the pursuers rather than the pursued. Losses in 2025 to France, New Zealand, and South Africa had revealed weaknesses. A series of significant injuries to crucial players further hampered them, and Ireland engaged in minimal pursuit, apart from restarts, at Stade de France. Farrell, however, remained committed to this concept, advising his players that their only recourse after Paris was to maintain their pursuit. Secure victories, stand by one another, and strive to apply pressure.
The previous Tuesday, the Irish squad conducted their training at Clongowes Wood College in Kildare. This independent educational institution, which produced talents like Beirne, Gordon D’Arcy, Rob Kearney, and Dan Sheehan, has served as a secluded retreat from their primary Dublin base.
Training exercises that day were satisfactory, yet not exceptional. A rigorous evaluation ensued. The subsequent practice was significantly improved, and Farrell gathered his players for a discussion emphasizing individual accountability and mutual dedication.
During the Tuesday training session, a try was scored, and in that play, Stuart McCloskey had relaxed his effort while tracking back. That particular video segment was replayed for the Ulster midfielder. The instruction was thoroughly assimilated. Towards the end of the match at the weekend, McCloskey faced a comparable scenario and sprinted 50 meters to force Marcus Smith over the sideline. In the coaching booth, Farrell leaped from his chair, exultantly cheering.
“We engaged in a productive conversation on Wednesday,” Farrell disclosed, “and every individual, without exception, was candid about their approach to the match.”
Regarding that assembly, and the mental state that carried the players into Saturday’s contest, McCloskey elaborated, “It pertains to complete commitment for everyone and in every instant… as long as we contend on behalf of one another, we will be content.”
“The crucial element,” Farrell pondered, “was fulfilling the commitments made to one another.” Concerning McCloskey’s try-preventing tackle, he further stated, “Adequate preparation pays off. Such actions hold greater significance than scoring points.”
Pursuing, battling, and defying those who forecasted England’s overwhelming strength. These served as foundational principles. An additional goal was to rejuvenate the team’s honor and uplift the entire nation through exceptional performances on the field. “Our aim is to bring a sense of well-being to the Irish populace, and this was certainly a frequently discussed topic during that Wednesday gathering,” Joe McCarthy commented. “The positive influence you can have on the weeks and months of Irish individuals, and the confidence it instills in them when observing our squad.”
As they approach the third round of the tournament, further invigorated by the Under-20s’ victory over England at The Rec, the national morale has undeniably ascended.
While others revel in that positive atmosphere, a persistent feeling of discontent lingers. The year 2025 appears, in several aspects, to be unproductive. In the summer of 2024, Ireland followed up a Six Nations triumph by traveling to South Africa and dividing a Test series with the global champions.
Cian Healy, Peter O’Mahony, and Conor Murray were encouraged to continue their service to maintain team cohesion while Farrell embarked on his Lions hiatus, but Ireland would have benefited more if Jack Boyle, Cormac Izuchukwu, Cian Prendergast, and Craig Casey possessed more extensive international experience.
During the second Test, McCarthy and James Ryan began as a lock pairing. Beirne was shifted to flanker, and Jack Crowley assumed the fly-half position. Ciarán Frawley entered as a replacement to seal the win with a pair of last-minute drop goals.
Ireland commenced the November international fixtures – facing New Zealand and Argentina – featuring Ryan, McCarthy, Beirne, and Crowley. McCarthy experienced injury challenges in 2025, concurrently as Farrell, Simon Easterby, and a significant portion of the coaching team were greatly impressed by the rapid rise of Sam Prendergast, seen as a successor to Johnny Sexton.
A period of 16 months (463 days) and 12 international games elapsed before Ryan, McCarthy, Beirne, and Crowley were all reinstated into a starting lineup.
Subsequently, players such as Cian Healy, Peter O’Mahony, and Conor Murray were requested to persist in their roles to aid team consistency while Farrell was absent on his Lions break. No disrespect intended towards this group of three, but Ireland would currently be in a more advantageous position if individuals like Jack Boyle, Cormac Izuchukwu, Cian Prendergast, Craig Casey, and Nathan Doak possessed more extensive international match exposure.
Ireland’s recent triumph enhances the reputation of numerous veteran players. They have once more performed successfully away from home. How does this perspective align with World Cup aspirations? The median age of Ireland’s initial lineup in London stood at 29 and a half years. Should the identical team compete against Portugal in October 2027, the average age would exceed 31. Ireland has previously encountered such a dilemma.
The upcoming match at home against Wales presents an opportunity for some peripheral players and new faces to contend for significant positions. Ireland will be eager to maintain their pursuit of a formidable French team, the evening prior to their encounter with Scotland at Murrayfield, though there will be fifteen personnel alterations. Izuchukwu could return at blindside flanker, and it will be intriguing to observe if Farrell includes Edwin Edogbo and Bryn Ward in his game-day roster. Additionally, Tom Stewart, Michael Milne, Harry Byrne, and Doak might secure places among the reserves.
There has been a perception that Ireland remained in a stagnant state from December 2024, when Farrell departed to concentrate on the Lions, extending until the final whistle of their victory against Italy.
Versus England, they performed with intense vigor. “Unleash everything,” as Sheehan declared to the ITV broadcast team. Operating in a mode of complete combativeness, ruck aggression, and relentless pursuit. France remains within their focus for now.
PROBABLE IRISH SQUAD (against WALES)
Jamie Osborne; Rob Baloucoune, Tom Farrell, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Tom O’Toole, Tom Stewart, Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, Edwin Edogbo, Cormac Izuchuku, Nick Timoney, Caelan Doris (captain)
Substitutes: Dan Sheehan, Michael Milne, Finlay Bealham, Cian Prendergast, Bryn Ward, Jamison Gibson-Park, Harry Byrne, Tommy O’Brien
