REPORT CARD
Name IRELAND Class/Year 2019
SUBJECT: Gold star
The opening win over Scotland was impressive if, in hindsight, misleading. Many players who had struggled for form in 2019 appeared to come roaring back that night. Ireland were without Rob Kearney, Keith Earls and Robbie Henshaw but they put Scotland away with a bonus point. Jordan Larmour and Andrew Conway showed up well. It was the perfect beginning.
SUBJECT: Room for improvement
In his final weeks in the job, Joe Schmidt crossed his fingers and hoped his old guard would find their 2018 form, but it never happened. They peaked a year early and it was downhill from there. The error-strewn loss to New Zealand – one of the worst defeats in years – was a disintegration of the Schmidt project. Players struggling for confidence made an extraordinary catalogue of mistakes.
Andy Farrell, the new coach, needs to
