ENGLAND ASSISTANT COACH Andy Farrell knows Brian O’Driscoll well.
But he’s not sure what to expect when the talismanic Ireland centre faces England on Saturday.
O’Driscoll is in his final season of rugby before retirement and eyeing a second Grand Slam following the team’s home wins over Scotland (28-6) and defending champions Wales (26-3) in the first two rounds.
Farrell coached him on the victorious British and Irish Lions tour of Australia last year and is in no doubt O’Driscoll remains a force even at 35 years of age.
“Brian is certainly a threat,” former dual code international Farrell said. ”If you’ve seen some of the performances he’s put in already this year, he’s been spectacular,” he added.
“Leinster’s game against Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens earlier this season shows what he can do for his side.
“He can turn a game on its head with the special skills and knowledge he has.
“What he brings — even more so these days — is a unity to the team and a real know-how of how to win big games because he’s been there more times than anyone else.”
At the other end of the spectrum is George Ford who may make his Test debut against Ireland.
Farrell insists the young out half will have have no problems adjusting to the demands should he get the nod. Ford is in with a chance of providing cover for England first-choice fly-half Owen Farrell — Andy’s son.
The 20-year-old Ford has impressed at fly-half for Bath where his father Mike — like Andy Farrell a former rugby league player — is the coach, having previously been England’s defence guru.
“Definitely George would be ready to play against Ireland,” Farrell said today ahead of Thursday’s team announcement. ”He’s comfortable in the environment. He knows all the plays and our systems and is comfortable with them.
“When you get that you can start being yourself and bring your game to the party.”
The man talks a lot of sense. People started playing GAA to play the sport not to train for 11 months and play only a handful of games. GAA needs to full address the fixture issue and to bring in a closed season.
There is a closed season Johnny, except it’s for inter-county teams.
The GAA needs to tighten up the inter-county championship season. How does it take almost 5 months to play a hurling championship in which there are realistically (and I use the term loosely) 8 potential winners? Start it in May and have it finished in August at the absolute latest (I think it could easily be played out in 3 months but let’s not get too drastic here).
League: Feb – Apr.
Champ: May – Aug.
Club: Aug – Nov when All-Ireland club champs take place.
3rd level: played through the winter as usual
Yes. Clubs should play during the championship.Must be frustrating for non county players to sit on their hands when the weather is good and conducive for good games.
No need for the long breaks between matches, finish the club championships before Christmas
Every year people talk about what a shame it is to have the provincial club championships on in November/ December in terrible playing conditions, pitches, weather etc. Barring a radical change in the county season however, there is no alternative time to play them. Thus, moving the all- ireland series to December would result in the best club teams in the country having to play in the worst possible conditions, reducing the quality of the games and the standards of the competition.
could be finished sooner. championship in cork county can be held up for weeks an weeks if a team you are due to play has an intercounty player, even if they are a panel member an not likely to even play. season is far too long, you need time for family, work, partner, kids etc.