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Farrell and Ireland learn a lot in South Africa but leave Leinster with big decisions

Farrell and Ireland learn a lot in South Africa but leave Leinster with big decisions

Anyone wanting to map Ireland and the Andy Farrell era needs to take a close look at his massive tours.

Previous tours to Ireland traditionally began with a valiant effort, but the second attempt had a difficult time in the Third Test and they fell off the cliffs.




Farrell has virtually reversed this process, almost like Benjamin Button, which makes the Man of Steel’s reign all the more remarkable.

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The tour to South Africa began with a seven-point defeat. It could have been much worse had Ireland not scored a try before half-time and Handre Pollard missed goal after goal.

But then came a one-point victory, which could have been more, as they led by ten points and denied the Springboks a try for over 80 minutes. Pollard’s eight from eight penalties kept the home side in the game.

Ireland’s last tour was in 2022, when they were trounced by the All Blacks 19-42 on the opening day in Auckland. That did not bode well.