Copyright irishmirror
Andy Farrell has told the Ireland players to 'get over themselves' following two poor performances in seven days. Low-key performances against the All Blacks and Japan, dogged by lineout problems and a sense of being undercooked on the back of so many players on Lions duty. The Ireland coach went as far as describing the performances at 'Charity Shield' stuff, an unusual analogy for Irish sport, referring to the generally slow-paced English soccer pre-season exhibition game. Farrell doesn't rage per se, not in public at least, but he is not happy with the carriage of the group - and he wants them to know it. "We need to get over ourselves and get on with the big boy stuff, this feeling sorry for ourselves, you know?" he said following Ireland making hard work of Japan at the Aviva. "You can have all sorts of excuses, can't you, with the start of the season and travel, jet lag, all that - but not really, it shouldn't matter. "We shouldn't be giving ourselves that excuse that if subconsciously that's in the back of people's minds, we need to address that." Ireland lacked Test Match intensity. "It's almost like a Charity Shield game and that shouldn't be the case - anytime you play for Ireland, it should be a formal test match where you go out there with proper intention from the start and play your game. "I wasn't on the field but I could see it was as though we were suppressing ourselves. When everyone's flying it, you can see in body language, can't you, you can see with how people move, etcetera. "So we were just slowing ourselves down mentally and therefore physically as well. I mean, like I said, it's very easy, isn't it, to pick a full strength, full-bore side, etc, but what are we going to learn? "These guys are two games into it, most people have had a game and one (win/loss) each. We need to be learning the lessons, for the future as well, take responsibility for a good performance that does the shirt proud." Australia will be in the Aviva next Saturday night (8.10pm), coached by Joe Schmidt too, having lost last Saturday to Italy, so Ireland can expect them to be fired up. "We all know about Australia, what they'll be thinking about coming to the Aviva, there is obviously a big game for Joe, etcetera, and certainly will be for us at the same time. "Everyone knows the threats they've got, as far as the pace and athleticism in the backline but the threat is up front as well. The way they go about their business up front is obviously a part of their game that got better throughout the (Lions) series. It'll be a hell of a Test match." Selection for the Wallabies game will be the hot-topic this week with the coach likely to turn to his tried and tested, the unfortunate injury to Osborne, with Hugo Keenan, Joe McCarthy unavailable and nobody from last Saturday's slowish affair with Japan demanding selection notwithstanding. Mack Hansen may be fit while there are a number of options surrounding the full-back slot. "Don't know the full story there but I know Mack is progressing well so we'll see how he is. Jacob Stockdale loves, by his admission, loves playing full-back. So there's options with Jamie as well, Jimmy O'Brien. So it's just unfortunate for Jamie." Jimmy O'Brien is most likely choice for no15, Tommy O'Brien and James Lowe taking the wings (Hansen on the bench if fit), Stuart McCloskey and Garry Ringrose in the centre outside Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park. Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong remain the first-choice front-row, James Ryan, Caelan Doris to be retained, Josh van der Flier returning. That leaves a second-row and the no6 slot which looks like two from three involving Tadhg Beirne, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan. Click here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the top stories and biggest headlines from Ireland and beyond
