"I know he’ll do the country proud."
Andy Farrell and Peter O'Mahony were at the Guinness Storehouse, this morning [January 22], for their part of the Six Nations whistle-stop, before they flew out to a training camp in Portugal.
Ticking off the big media obligations and hoping for a green light to depart from Dublin Airport, Farrell and O'Mahony were obliging, enthusiastic but keen to get out of dodge when the last interview was done. O'Mahony, not content with being Ireland's newly minted captain, wore a No.6 Ireland jersey. There may be challengers for it, but the Munster man is in form possession, heading into that opener with France.
O'Mahony told reporters, in a grouped session before his press briefing, that he had given serious consideration to hanging up his boots after the World Cup quarter final loss to New Zealand. After sitting on it for a while, he opted to stay on and fight. Andy Farrell was delighted.
"Obviously there’s a few [captaincy] candidates because we have some great leadership in the group. That will continue to grow, and Peter will be at the heart of it.
"He’s being his true self," Farrell added. "I know he’ll do the country proud."
Asked about being named permanent Ireland captain, the Munster back-row replied, "The overriding feeling is a huge honour. I’m incredibly grateful to be asked… to do it for a Six Nations captain is very, very special."
Andy Farrell on his 'settled' squad
Inevitably, there was talk of Peter O'Mahony and his contract discussions with Munster and the Irish Rugby Football Union.
Shrugging, well aware what was coming, the Cork native did his best to dead-bat with his reply.
"This is always the time of year this will come around… there's been lots of talk around that in the past few weeks. I'm happy to leave it at that... To get a phone-call from Andy was pretty special, and that is my big focus, right now."
Asked if he had an injury update, after a bruising couple of Champions Cup weekends, Andy Farrell said he would know more when he landed in Portugal. "I’m hoping there are no curveballs!"
There was also talk of a "settled" Ireland squad and why no uncapped players made the full Six Nations squad [Sam Prendergast, Oli Jager and Tom Ahern are 'training panellists']. Farrell responded:
"Is this a new start? It’s not, because of everything we have been through. We want to build on that. You don’t do that by cutting the legs off yourself… I don’t buy into that four-year cycle talk."
Put simply, the Ireland head coach is not ripping up a script that has seen Ireland lose just once since that First Test stumble against the All Blacks, in June 2022.
There is scope for new faces in the squad, but places need to be earned. This is a gradual build to 2027, but the main focus is on retaining the Six Nations crown.
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