While Ireland have been strong at under 20 level, graduation to the senior Test side has been too slow
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell. Photo: Seb Daly / Sportsfile
For Andy Farrell, necessity is the mother of reinvention and time is not his friend. In a few weeks, he will fold away his black Ireland tracksuit and take his leave from the team that he’s rebuilding at a glacial pace.
Had they performed well on Friday night, then he’d have been comfortable stepping away and handing the team over to Simon Easterby, safe in the knowledge that progress is being made.