Ireland head coach Andy Farrell signals willingness to strengthen backroom staff after mixed Autumn Nations campaign.
Ireland review options as World Cup cycle begins
Andy Farrell says he is prepared to add new voices to Ireland’s coaching ticket as preparations begin for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Ireland fell to New Zealand and South Africa during the Autumn Nations Series, exposing pressure points around the scrum, line-out and overall discipline. With three years left in the cycle, Farrell confirmed that every part of the setup is under review.
“We’ve had a number of reviews over the last few weeks,” Farrell said. “Nothing is locked in. We’re always open-minded about doing the right thing for the squad.”
Autumn issues prompt deeper reflection
Ireland’s set-piece came under scrutiny again during the defeats to the All Blacks and Springboks, while high penalty counts and loss of composure in key moments added to concerns.
Farrell acknowledged that improvement is needed and highlighted South Africa’s influence on the contest.
“It isn’t just discipline,” he said. “It’s how you manage pressure within the game. That has to keep improving.”
Ireland’s current coaching group includes Paul O’Connell (forwards), Simon Easterby (defence), and John Fogarty (scrum). Farrell indicated that specialist additions will be considered if they strengthen Ireland’s ability to compete with the world’s elite pack-driven sides.
Pool D draw sharpens focus
Ireland were drawn in Pool D for the 2027 World Cup alongside Scotland, Uruguay and Portugal. Despite entering previous tournaments among the favourites, Ireland have yet to progress beyond the quarter-final stage.
Farrell made no attempt to downplay ambition.
“I back myself, the coaches, the players and all the staff to go as far as we’d all hope,” he said. “We’d have the ambition to win a World Cup — otherwise what’s the point?”
What an expanded ticket could mean
Adding to the coaching group would follow a broader trend among leading nations.
- South Africa have embraced specialist consultants across defence, set-piece and kicking.
- New Zealand regularly draw on outside expertise for attack and skills development.
- France built a large multidisciplinary team during Fabien Galthié’s tenure.
For Ireland, reinforcing the set-piece and technical areas appears the most likely route, though no candidates have been publicly linked.
Farrell’s willingness to consider changes signals that Ireland are treating the next phase of the cycle with urgency rather than stability for stability’s sake.
Path to 2027
Ireland will next gather for the 2026 Six Nations, where their response to the Autumn Nations shortcomings will be closely watched. A refreshed coaching structure — if introduced — could define the direction of this World Cup cycle.
