Undaunted Head Coach Andy Farrell ready to tackle Ireland's new age of transition

Ireland Head Coach Andy Farrell could call on Calvin Nash among his Six Nations panel

Ruaidhri O'Connor

As they stood on the Aviva Stadium turf, bedecked in their suits and belting out ‘Angels’, the Ireland players almost seemed aware of the universal truth of all teams.

By the time they regather in the summer of 2024, one or two of them will be gone. Injury, retirement, loss of form and the emergence of fresh talent will guarantee a couple of changes, by November it will have altered further, and when it comes to defending the title in 2025, there’ll be a new group altogether.