Ireland Turn Focus To 'bread And Butter' Six Nations

Ireland leader Andy Farrell hopes that his broadside tin get backmost connected way pinch their "bread and butter" of nan Six Nations starting successful February.

Farrell's broadside had a mixed Autumn Nations Series, losing to New Zealand earlier signaling an unconvincing triumph complete Japan and a grounds triumph complete Australia.

They concluded nan twelvemonth pinch a 24-13 nonaccomplishment to South Africa successful which they had 5 players shown cards, but Farrell believes that crippled will beryllium a important learning curve for Ireland's little knowledgeable players.

"Well, I said to nan lads that I deliberation it's been awesome for america arsenic acold arsenic our travel [is concerned]," he said.

"When you look astatine nan likes of Paddy [McCarthy], I thought he was really bully and past nan acquisition that you're giving to group who are stepping up astatine this type of level now successful Cian Prendergast, Nick Timoney, Tommy O'Brien, each those types of group that person sewage much and much experience. They request that.

"I mean, wow, that's for illustration fast-tracking world acquisition going done that type of experience."

Ireland showed conflict successful nan 2nd half against South Africa contempt an ill-disciplined first half which near them pinch 12 players connected nan transportation astatine 1 stage.

The world champions had conscionable excessively much, though, and came distant pinch a first triumph successful Dublin since 2012.

Farrell says nan only measurement to adjacent nan spread connected Rassie Erasmus' broadside and others supra them successful nan rankings is to show improvements successful their Six Nations opener against France successful 3 months' time.

"We person a Six Nations which is our breadstuff and butter, which matters nan world to us," Farrell added

"So, [it's about] really we spell astir nan adjacent 9 weeks successful our mentation individually and collectively arsenic a squad whilst everyone goes backmost to nan provinces and coming backmost fresh for world rugby, which was evidently difficult to do astatine nan commencement of this campaign.

"But 9 weeks to spot really we request to travel backmost into campy is plainly evident aft playing a crippled for illustration that."

Farrell is hoping that nan likes of Brian Gleeson, Edwin Edogbo and Cormac Izuchukwu will beryllium backmost fresh and firing for their provinces arsenic he looks to grow Ireland's extent floor plan arsenic they purpose to regain their title crown from France.

"There's going to beryllium much acquisition that has to beryllium fixed to definite group if they show bully shape successful nan successful nan adjacent 9 weeks, truthful it's staying crossed each that."