{"id":12653,"date":"2020-02-01T15:46:16","date_gmt":"2020-02-01T19:46:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=12653"},"modified":"2020-02-03T12:48:37","modified_gmt":"2020-02-03T16:48:37","slug":"farrell-delighted-after-ireland-dig-in-for-victory-over-scotland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=12653","title":{"rendered":"Farrell Delighted After Ireland Dig in for Victory Over Scotland"},"content":{"rendered":"

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2020 Guinness Six Nations Championship Round 1, Aviva Stadium, Dublin 1\/2\/2020
Ireland vs Scotland
Ireland\u2019s Jonathan Sexton scores a try
(INPHO\/Gary Carr)<\/figcaption><\/figure>At the end of a tough Guinness Six Nations battle with Scotland at the Aviva Stadium, Andy Farrell cut a satisfied figure as he reflected on his first win as Ireland head coach.<\/p>\n

It has been a long wait for the Wigan man to get to this point \u2013 it was first announced in November 2018 that he would take over the role from Joe Schmidt following the Rugby World Cup in Japan.<\/p>\n

It was far from pretty at times against a tenacious Scotland side, but former defense coach Farrell felt some admirable traits were on display during the closing moments of an intense first round clash.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was delighted to get the win,\u201d he said at the post-match press conference. \u201cI thought we thoroughly deserved the win, although I thought Scotland were great. It was a good Test match. It was a tough old Test match, first up. It was very attritional.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought the Scottish forwards were excellent and defensively they were hitting hard. We know what a threat they can be with ball in hand. We had to fight and dig deep plenty of times, certainly in the first half.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think our performance, you can sum it up in the last five minutes really. We asked the lads all week to make sure they stand for something and I think you could easily see the true grit. Especially from some of those tight five boys.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had to dig deep. We had a couple of injuries nice and early, that makes it a little bit tricky as far as your subs are concerned. Some of them were out there a lot longer than they probably have done in the past, but they were leading the way in those last five minutes. I thought it was outstanding.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, Farrell readily admitted it was a far from perfect performance. Despite eking out a 19-12 victory, there are areas to work on ahead of Wales\u2019 visit to Dublin next Saturday.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought we got too carried away at times. I thought some of the decision-making was good. Some of it was a bit wayward. Those type of things are going to be a work in progress but, again, we asked the boys to stand for something and it was true Irish grit out there.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe rest of it we\u2019ll keep building on. I thought we didn\u2019t have much field position but when we got into the 22, I thought we looked quite dynamic and we were flowing a little bit better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following a powerful display over the 80 minutes, CJ Stander was a popular choice as the man-of-the-match in this Six Nations opener. Having started the game at blindside flanker, he switched to number 8 as a result of the head injury picked up by debutante Caelan Doris.<\/p>\n

At the same time as he acknowledged the high quality of Stander\u2019s play on the day, Farrell gave the seal of approval to several other forwards, noting: \u201cI thought he was great. I think CJ\u2019s performance just epitomized what the whole pack was doing for one another. I thought Josh van der Flier made great yards in attack as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you see Tadhg Furlong with his head up and struggling to get over the gain-line, and then suddenly he\u2019s got three players on his back. I think you can see the fight that\u2019s throughout the pack. Iain Henderson worked himself to the bone. I thought Rob Herring was really, really good. I thought the pack were terrific.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although it was a landmark day for Farrell in his rugby career, he was not alone in this regard. Out-half Jonathan Sexton led out the team for the first time as Ireland\u2019s newly-appointed captain, taking over from his retired predecessor Rory Best.<\/p>\n

Sexton was skipper for the Rugby World Cup pool triumph over Russia in Japan, but this was his first time to do so at the Aviva Stadium. For Farrell, the fact that the Dubliner produced such a strong performance \u2013 he contributed all 19 of Ireland\u2019s points \u2013 after a recent knee injury-enforced absence is testament to his overall character.<\/p>\n

\u201cJohnny hadn\u2019t done any team training whatsoever, any rugby training whatsoever until we touched down in Portugal. For him not to touch a ball and not to fight in anger until Thursday of this week, that says it all about the man.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo have the pressure of doing something (captaining Ireland) that he has passionately wanted to do and all the new bits that come around that. And then deal with coming back from such an injury and leading the side like that. Hat\u2019s off to Johnny, that\u2019s a magnificent effort.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the occasion of his 89th Ireland cap, Sexton scored an early try and landed five of his six kicks at goal before making way for Ross Byrne in the 73rd minute. He showed no ill-effects following his injury issues and was content to see Ireland beginning the new decade \u2013 and era \u2013 in a winning fashion.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt good. Obviously rusty. It\u2019s tough when you\u2019re in a brace for three weeks, you can\u2019t do anything,\u201d said Sexton. \u201cThen for three weeks I worked my socks off trying to get fit for Portugal. I didn\u2019t train that well at the end of last week, start of his week.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust delighted to get the win. First game of this tournament is all about winning. Last year, the England game here was Triple Crown gone, Grand Slam gone and you\u2019re in a battle to chase the Championship.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re alive in everything (after today) and that\u2019s where you want to be. We knew it was going to be tough. it\u2019s always difficult to come together and have a perfect game. I thought we saw glimpses of what we could do and some of the ideas that we had.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe couldn\u2019t get two scores clear. We had chances to do it. If you can go two scores clear it allows you to open up and really try to get that next score. When it\u2019s four points, seven points, it\u2019s an arm wrestle and you have to keep playing in the right areas.\u201d<\/p>\n

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