Initial plans to ensure Ireland’s World Cup quarter-final defeat in Paris could no longer happen were put in place when the sting of defeat was at its worst.
The day after the 28-24 defeat against New Zealand last October, Ireland coach Andy Farrell spent a day gathering his squad and their families to remember the contributions and sacrifices made over the previous five months.
While the event was designed to allow players to blow off steam, it also included discussions between Farrell and David Nucifora, the Irish Rugby Football Union’s director of performance, on steps to take moving forward.
“We just had a few beers,” Nucifora recalls. “I think it was just about enjoying each other’s company, there was a group and families there, it was great. That’s something Andy really focuses on. It’s really important for him to have his family close to him and accordingly the group and the IRFU are really supportive of that.
“We had a day enjoying each other’s company after the pressure of formation. We knew what we had to do. There is nothing wrong with what we do. We are determined and determined. Continues. It was clear to us that when we came back we would continue to work.
“One of the highlights of the World Cup was the team’s connection with the Irish community. The support they received in France was incredible. If there was a sense of disappointment individually as a team, there was also a sense of disappointment in the fans.
“Everyone is different and some people have dealt with it differently, but when we got back together we talked about the campaign, reviewed it and moved on to the next challenge. Teams constantly talk about wanting to get better but this team really wanted it and they couldn’t wait to get back.” .”
If the tone for the reunion in Paris was set, Farrell gathered his coaches together shortly after returning to Ireland. Their instinct was to move forward. Their margin of defeat against the All Blacks was very good after a 17-game winning streak. This was not the time to tear everything down at the start of a new four-year World Cup cycle.
Nucifora’s review of the campaign underscored Farrell’s thoughts. The former Wallaby hooker and head coach of the ACT Brumbies and Auckland Blues, who laid the foundations for Ireland’s success by overhauling the centrally controlled high-performance program upon his arrival in 2014, revealed he and Farrell spoke every day in France. Provide real-time feedback.
“I’m not a fan of those big ‘looking back’ reviews months later because it’s too late. We learn as we go and apply what we learn to what we do today, tomorrow and next week. We think similarly about this, so there is trust and confidence between us in how we do our job, and that allows us to continue moving forward,” Nucifora added.
One of the criticisms is that Ireland leaned too heavily on the core group, which, in addition to the quarter-final defeat, also played in all four pool matches in a five-week period.
“We thought it was the right thing to do at the time because no one knows the band better than the band itself, so we knew the choices we made were the right choices,” Nucifora insisted. “We could really rely on how our players were conditioned. You see how we play the game. It’s a compliment to our staff to get the players into the shape they are in for the coaches. All our players can play the way we want them to.
“There are little things we learned in the field, things we talk about that are probably not for public consumption.
“In this business you have to be adaptable and flexible and make decisions based on what’s in front of you in the here and now. I think the real strength of this team is; the way we play, the type of players we have, the skills we can offer. I think Andy will be proud of himself and the team will be proud of themselves for being able to deal with whatever situation is thrown at them.
“It’s a real testament to what they’re about and the resilience they’ve shown. As players, they have great trust in each other, their coaches and their team. “They just dust themselves off and move forward and that’s what they did after the World Cup.”
The appointment of 34-year-old Peter O’Mahony to replace Johnny Sexton as Ireland captain expressed a desire for continuity, while Farrell turned his sights to backing up last season’s Grand Slam victory and the coach told his team: “Go make it happen.”
“Peter earned his due with his performance and respect,” Nucifora added. “It’s been a mutual evolution for the team. How long he stays in the role will depend on performance. Things will eventually come out and it will become clear how we proceed rather than trying to pre-plan events.
With such a solid foundation, the introduction of new players such as Jack Crowley, Joe McCarthy, Ciaran Frawley and Calvin Nash proved seamless; This evolution has become even simpler thanks to their recent integration into the larger staff. a few years. Competition for places has never been fiercer, Farrell’s knack for creating a fun environment as well. “No one wants to miss this opportunity,” Nucifora added.
The Australian’s association with Irish rugby is coming to an end after 10 years. His final involvement will be managing the Irish Sevens teams at the Olympics in Paris this summer. He was instrumental in prioritizing the Sevens program in a country where 15-a-side is king. But perhaps his greatest legacy has been the change in mentality.
“I am proud of the thinking and behavior of the Irish team,” he added. “What passes through the Irish system is the legacy they built. We’ve had a few years where our young players have watched senior teams consistently beat the best teams in the world.
“When I arrived the mentality was: ‘We’ve never beaten New Zealand, we’ve never won in South Africa, we’ve never won a series in Australia or New Zealand’. This shift in how the Irish think about their ability to win is the most important thing. We changed the way they thought about themselves and what they could do. They are now comfortable being the best and have expectations of winning. “In the past, this has been something Ireland hasn’t been good at.”