THE GRAND PLAN

Farrell: We weren't at our best but we kept calm, didn't panic & got the job done.

- MICHAEL SCULLY

ANDY Farrell was confident his Ireland team would keep calm and carry on – even when nerves were frayed with a Grand Slam on the line. 

The hosts were clearly overthinking the importance of the occasion from the start as a lot of the fluidity in their play that has been in evidence since last summer in New Zealand went out the window.

Instead, Ireland got sucked into playing according to England’s wishes – a kicking game that didn’t suit – and, when they did try to move the ball with off-loads and tip passes, Farrell’s men were hesitant, disjointed and well off their best.

They persevered, however, and as they did against France and Scotland, they powered through in the final stages to win comfortably in the end.

It was character more than anything that saw Ireland through an off-day.

“Yeah, it 100 per cent was,” Farrell said. “We tried to throw everything into the mix that we’ve learned over the last three years and it all comes out in days like that, when things aren’t going too well for you.

“I keep on saying that the opposition is always going to have a say and they were there to spoil the party 100 per cent, and they did really well as far as that’s concerned.

“I thought we started off pretty nervy, which obviously wasn’t part of the plan.