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Andy Farrell says Ireland must develop a clinical edge to become a \u201cworld-class\u201d team after suffering their worst start to a Guinness Six Nations campaign.<\/p>\nAndy Farrell says Ireland must develop a clinical edge to become a \u201cworld-class\u201d team after suffering their worst start to a Guinness Six Nations campaign.<\/p>\n
The Irish are bidding to salvage some pride in the competition following disappointing defeats to Wales and France.<\/p>\n
Head coach Farrell insists the situation is far from doom and gloom and hopes his side can take a giant stride forward during Saturday\u2019s game against perennial wooden spoon winners Italy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s quite a lot right within our game but it all comes down to having a clinical edge at this level, right at the top,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur fight and want and will to impose ourselves against the opposition has been top-class.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe finishing clinical edge is always the missing ingredient of any team that wants to be world-class, so that\u2019s what we are striving for and hopefully we can make a jump in that direction this weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ireland\u2019s only Championship tries so far have come from forwards Tadhg Beirne and Ronan Kelleher, with Farrell calling for greater spark from his backs following the loss to Les Bleus.<\/p>\n
Opponents Italy have lost 29 successive Six Nations fixtures dating back to 2015 and are the only other team yet to win in this year\u2019s tournament.<\/p>\n
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Farrell has made seven changes for the trip to Rome, including recalling skipper Johnny Sexton and vice-captain James Ryan following head injuries.<\/p>\n
The Englishman believes his squad possesses world-class individuals but feels teamwork is crucial in order to realise that quality.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to be a team-first player and if you are a team-first player, which our guys are, and you gel together then you start to get world-class players on the back of that. And that\u2019s where we are at at this moment in time,\u201d said Farrell.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course we have got world-class players within our group but as a unit the stronger we are, the more the individuals will come to the fore.\u201d<\/p>\n
Conor Murray is the only injury absentee in Farrell\u2019s squad, meaning Jamison Gibson-Park retains the scrum-half role, with uncapped Munster number nine Craig Casey hoping to make his Test debut from the bench.<\/p>\n
The return of 35-year-old Sexton at fly-half sees Billy Burns back among the replacements and Ross Byrne left out altogether.<\/p>\n
With question marks surrounding Sexton\u2019s ability to play on until the 2023 World Cup, Farrell needs adept alternatives for the number 10 jersey.<\/p>\n
Munster fly-half Joey Carbery, who has not played competitively since January 2020 due to a string of injury problems, has been named on his province\u2019s bench for Friday\u2019s Guinness PRO14 clash with Cardiff.<\/p>\n
Farrell is thrilled with that news but intends to be patient with the talented 25-year-old, who has 22 international caps.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m absolutely delighted for Joey. I know first-hand what he\u2019s been through over these last couple of years and he has worked so hard to try and get back and on a few occasions it\u2019s not happened for him,\u201d said Farrell.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we need to be cautious about is giving Joey the time. He\u2019s been out for so long, he\u2019s so keen to get back in there to do well.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you give him the room and the time, let him get a number of games under his belt, I\u2019m sure Joey will come back to be the player we all know he\u2019s going to be.\u201d<\/p>\n