Scoreboard flattered Andy Farrell’s team but bench-impact is a positive
Jack Crowley celebrates after scoring Ireland’s first try during the Nations Series match against Japan at the Aviva Stadium. Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
That the better side won convincingly – on the scoreboard at least – is beyond dispute but that the better side deserved to win convincingly is not.
Before Saturday’s game against Japan, Andy Farrell had declared his pre-match mantra as “a lot needing to be better as far as accuracy is concerned but our intent in how we play the game, we need a reaction to that”.