Former Ireland scrumhalf Isaac Boss has slammed Andy Farrell's coaching decisions as the reason Ireland were unable to win back-to-back Six Nations this year, claiming 'It was more probably Andy Farrell’s coaching that cost the Irish'.
While Andy Farrell's side still claimed impressive back-to-back Six Nations titles, it was quite clear that Boss felt all blame lay with Andy Farrell for their failure to claim what would've been a record-breaking second consecutive Grand Slam.
New Zealand-born Boss made 22 appearances for Ireland between 2006 and 2015, as well as enjoying successful stints in both Ulster and Leinster, making over 240 combined appearances for the provinces and famously winning every available trophy during his time in Dublin.
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Ireland overcame Scotland last weekend to claim the 2024 Six Nations, however, the euphoria was somewhat muted by a post-Twickenham hangover that had seen Ireland's chance to win a back-to-back Grand Slam crushed by a last-minute Marcus Smith drop-goal.
While there was no doubt over England's superiority that day, plenty has been made of Farrell's choice to go with a 6-2 split on the bench, a decision that proved costly when both Calvin Nash and Ciaran Frawley were forced off through injury, leaving scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park pushed out wide, with Boss blaming that decision for Ireland's Grand Slam disappointment.
9 March 2024; Tadhg Beirne of Ireland after his side's defeat in the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium in London, England. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Isaac Boss slams Andy Farrell's 6-2 bench split
Speaking on The Breakdown Isaac Boss didn't hold back in his opinion on what cost Ireland the Grand Slam, criticising Andy Farrell's choice to go with a 6-2 split and the subsequent isolation of Gibson-Park out wide.
It was more probably Andy Farrell’s coaching that cost the Irish.
When you’ve got Jamison Gibson-Park out on the wing; he’s the best player to tie up a game with 20 minutes to go and he’s having no influence.
When Frawley himself was injured, they had to put Keenan back to full-back and take out Jamison Gibson-Park and play him on the wing. Conor Murray...is a fine player, but Jamison Gibson-Park is one of the best scrum-halves in the world.
In saying all that, Boss was hopeful about Ireland's future, paying homage to both the U20s and Ireland's rising stars.
There is a lot of those young guys coming through, whether it’s (Jack) Crowley or Joe McCarthy, who’s been very good in the locking department. There’s going to be more guys like that.
Their U20s were back-to-back champions and went for a three-peat, so there might be some of these young guys coming up from the 20s, but they still need that very experienced core group.
Next up for Ireland and Andy Farrell is a trip to Durban and Pretoria in July, where they'll take on Rassie Erasmus's South Africa in a top-of-the-rankings two-test clash.
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