It never rains but it pours, literally, including at Ireland’s pre- Six Nations warm weather training camp at Quinta do Lago on the Portuguese Algarve. At this stage, Andy Farrell must be wondering if someone has cast a spell on his squad. When Ireland were the number one side in the official World Rugby rankings entering the 2023 World Cup, Farrell not only took that as a badge of honour, acknowledging the fact openly, he encouraged his players to do likewise, to absorb that everyone was coming to knock them off their high perch.

Source: Irish Examiner February 05, 2026 13:45 UTC