“Chaotic” - Andy Farrell reflects on Ireland's defeat to Springboks – “I haven’t seen a game like that ever”

Ireland endured the majority of the match at a numerical deficit, with the Springboks out to flex their muscles for a dominant display at the second half scrum. Ireland were more often than not undermanned against Rassie Erasmus’ side, yet a defiant home outfit managed to bag a try through the gutsy efforts of hooker Dan Sheehan, whilst down to 13-men.

Farrell was asked as to whether he agreed in how the match was ‘shambolic at times’ from an Irish perspective. The head coach was not best pleased by the chosen word, with the former British & Irish Lions coach preferring to use the term ‘chaotic’ to describe the efforts against the back-to-back world champions.

“I say chaotic. I won't repeat your word, because I think you're wrong. I haven't seen a game like that ever. You think you've seen it all, and I haven't seen a game like that ever. But, first and foremost, you look at yourself and why things have happened.

“So, we'll do that and make sure that we learn the lessons from that. But my overriding thought of the game is that I'm unbelievably proud, so for you [reporter] to start a conversation off like that, doesn't sit well.”

Farrell’s frustration was well-hidden, with slight emotions sneaking through his regularly stoic demeaner inside the Aviva Stadium’s press conference room. The head coach was then asked his thoughts upon a series of the match’s controversial moments, beginning with the ‘un-carded’ offense by South Africa fly half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who’s no-arms tackle attempt made contact with the head of Ireland wing Tommy O’Brien.

The reporting media in attendance expressed how they believed that it was a yellow card offense, with Farrell and his captain Caelan Doris implying their agreement. Whilst the Ireland head coach and skipper did not implicitly demand for the referee’s decision to be reviewed, their thoughts were expressed through a succinct back and forth with the press.

“Well, you're asking the question though, because you thought so as well.” Farrell said. Doris then added “I thought the same” from the seat next to his head coach.

At one stage, Ireland found themselves down to 12 men against the Boks, with their grand total of disciplinaries reading as the following. The first yellow card went to James Ryan, as the back row cancelled out Tadhg Beirne’s try-scoring efforts in the previewing ruck.

Ryan was sin-binned and subsequently issued with a 20-minute red card, after his no-arms shoulder charge clear out made contact with the head of World Rugby Player of the Year Malcolm Marx. Then, Sam Prendergast was sent to the bin as a result of numerous team penalties going against the hosts. The Leinster man was joined by his positional rival on the side-lines shortly thereafter, as Jack Crowley got his marching orders after illegally knocking the ball out of the hands of Springboks halfback Cobus Reinach.

Loose-head prop Andrew Porter would take a stint on the side-lines mid-way through the second half for illegally halting a maul, with Paddy McCarthy flung off the bench to briefly re-inforce the front row.

The déjà vu would then see McCarthy sent to the bin following a scrum-time infringement, with Porter returning from the bench to close out the match in the number one jersey. South Africa’s sole sin bin went to Grant Williams, as RG Snyman had his yellow card ‘rescinded’ in quite unique circumstances.

“Well, if you can't learn from that then you're in the wrong place.” Farrell summarised. “For all sorts of reasons. I thought going down to 12 men, how the lads came out and showed the bottle for their country, certainly in that first 10 minutes of that second half was absolutely amazing. I think you could see with the crowd, the effort that they put in, that the crowd recognised that and supported them to be able to win a second half 6-5, under those types of circumstances.

“I know it doesn't tell a full story of the second half, but it's actually amazing, really, that that happened or that occurred. But the lessons to learn when you fight so hard to give yourself a chance. You know, you're at 72 minutes, you’re trying to overplay probably in your own 22 and you’ve still got time on the clock to put ourselves back in the right field positions.

“We overplayed a little bit and wasted a little bit of time, but then we find a way. With four minutes to go there, we had a glaring chance to score a try under the posts. Had we scored that with four minutes to go, who knows what could have happened with a little bit of momentum, but we couldn't do that. So, all credit has to go to South Africa.”