Ireland’s Andy Farrell feels that the team’s narrow loss to New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup last year won’t affect the players on Friday night.
The Irish team and New Zealand will meet in the opening game of the Autumn Nations Series tomorrow, marking their first encounter since Ireland lost 24-28 in their quarter-final.
Losing in such a narrow way can affect players in different ways, and the return of Ireland’s conquerors to Dublin is an interesting narrative.
However, Farrell does not believe that the loss in Paris will be on the players’ minds when the teams meet tomorrow. “The main thing that excites Farrell is what’s next.”
“I don’t see the relevance of the last game at all, really,” Farrell told RTE Sport.
“We got asked straight after the World Cup about the hangover, and that subject is in the past now, with the Marseille game [against France in the Six Nations], etc. We’ve moved on since the quarter-final, that’s for sure.
“We didn’t even get a chance to review our last game in South Africa because we were on our holidays, weren’t we?
“We had to get on a couple of flights to get home. So, our main thing has been about our last game. Where can we improve? What are the areas?
“That, to be honest, is the main thing that excites us about where our next steps are.”
No Tadhg Furlong, but reasons to be cheerful for Andy Farrell ahead of another mouthwatering match-up with the All Blacks #RTErugby pic.twitter.com/oQ2MLjbA8a
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 6, 2024

Ireland enter the series with a new permanent captain in Caelan Doris. The Mayo native will lead the team for the games against New Zealand, Fiji, Argentina, and Australia this month. Farrell has praised the “professional and popular” Doris for honing his craft since he joined the Ireland fold as coach in 2020.
“Well, one, he’s certainly popular among the group because there’s no ego there whatsoever,” added Farrell.
“He is unbelievably diligent in getting his own stuff right. He’s so professional.”
“He’s come on leaps and bounds in the last four years in that regard; he’s worked it out. He’s very comfortable in his own skin.”
Ireland’s game against New Zealand begins at 8:10 p.m. tomorrow night.
After the New Zealand tie, Ireland will face Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on Friday, November 15, followed by Fiji on Saturday, November 23, and conclude with a match against Australia for Irish Rugby’s 150th Anniversary Test on Saturday, November 30 (kick-off 3:10 p.m.).
All of these matches will be broadcast live on Virgin Media in the Republic of Ireland and TNT Sports in the United Kingdom.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (captain).
Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Ciarán Frawley, Jamie Osborne.
New Zealand: Will Jordan; Mark Tele’a, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke; Damian McKenzie, Cortez Ratima; Tamatai Willians, Asafo Aumua, Tyrel Lomax; Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa’i; Wallace Sititi, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea
Replacements: George Bell, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Pasilio Tosi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samipeni Finau, Cam Roigard, Anton Lienert-Brown, Stephen Perofeta
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