Victorious Six Nations head coach Andy Farrell claims Eire’s defeat to England would be the “best thing for the group”, including chats over captain Peter O’Mahony’s future will happen subsequent week.
Farrell’s Eire secured back-to-back Six Nations titles for simply the third time on Saturday, beating a cussed Scotland 17-13 in Dublin to elevate the trophy.
Desires of a historic successive Six Nations Grand Slam have been dashed final week, as Marcus Smith secured England a last-gasp victory over Eire at Twickenham with the ultimate kick of the sport.
Eire picked themselves as much as safe a championship, and Farrell claims that defeat will work out vastly positively.
“I sure hope so [there’s better to come]. I think it was a fantastic campaign for this group. We all know things change year-on-year,” Farrell advised media.
“I reckon the loss final week [vs England at Twickenham] would be the smartest thing for us as a bunch. As a result of a few of these lads subconsciously, not by way of their very own doing, get used to successful.
“For a few of the lads who have not been used to shedding in any respect, then generally I suppose they’re attending to factors the place they’re turning as much as video games pondering: ‘We’re doing it..’
“You’re never doing it in the Six Nations, because things change weekend to weekend, and that Test match last weekend in Twickenham was a proper Test match. And so it should be.
“We’ll be taught the teachings from that and it will likely be highly effective for us going ahead, like this will likely be tonight [beating Scotland to win title].
“Scotland are a great side. I thought they were tenacious, I thought they were tough.
“I truly thought we performed bloody properly. We got here out of the blocks within the second half, that was magnificent – the ability, the tempo we put into the sport.
“It was tough. And that’s how it should be.”
Reviews on Saturday linked captain O’Mahony with retirement on the finish of the season, with each the 34-year-old and Farrell confirming conversations will likely be had this week.
“I need to have a think about it. I’m still loving it, this part of it is the best feeling in the world and it’s the part you chase but I have to have a proper chat (with my family) and be realistic,” O’Mahony mentioned.
“If it was my last one, it wasn’t a bad one to go out on.
“It means the world to me. I’ve said it lots of times before and to the players that it’s a special thing to be picked for your country and you’ve got to treat it with the utmost respect.”
Farrell mentioned O’Mahony would do what was proper for him and that he had led the group brilliantly in opposition to Scotland in his greatest efficiency of the marketing campaign.
“I’ve been a big fan of Pete’s for all his career. We’ve a close enough relationship to be honest with one another when talking about his career when he’s getting towards the end,” Farrell mentioned.
“We’re so proud of him…we’ll chew the fat over the next few days.”