But Andy Farrell is a slick operator and would have circled this date in red on his calendar long before Erasmus and his gang touched down at Dublin Airport. He'll no doubt have a few tricks up his sleeve. Ireland, though, have not managed to kick on in quote the same fashion. The loss of Johnny Sexton is still keenly felt and there is an over reliance on some players who are in the autumn of their careers.
Johnny Sexton said, 'This is an exciting opportunity for me and Iâm looking forward to contributing at the highest level. My coaching journey has just begun, and I hope to bring my experience to the team.'