Farrell Hails “Unbelievably Close” Ireland Squad After Six Nations Campaign

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has heaped praise on his squad’s incredible bond and resilience following their second-place finish in the 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations.

Despite narrowly missing out on the Championship title—which went to France following Thomas Ramos’ dramatic late penalty against England—Ireland finished their campaign on a massive high. A commanding 43-21 victory over Scotland at the Aviva Stadium secured a fourth Triple Crown in five years for Farrell’s men.

The campaign was a testament to Ireland’s depth and character. Bouncing back from an opening-round defeat in Paris, the team strung together four consecutive victories, including a record 42-21 away win over England at Twickenham. Throughout the tournament, Farrell utilised 35 players, handing out three new caps and giving eleven players their Six Nations debuts.

Standout Performers Step Up

Speaking after the seven-try demolition of Scotland on ‘Super Saturday’, Farrell highlighted the seamless integration of the squad’s newer faces.

“You look at the lads who took the field today and it was their first tournaments,” Farrell said. “Somebody like Darragh Murray to come in… score the try and charge down a kick. His lineout was great. Mikey Milne, to perform like he did when he came on. You could go through it like that and talk about everyone.”

Farrell reserved special praise for Tom O’Toole’s remarkable transition across the front row. “The Tom O’Toole thing is amazing. What he’s done, going from tighthead to loosehead prop, he should be unbelievably proud of himself because it’s a tough thing to do. How he stood up in the scrum today is a fantastic story.”

McCloskey’s Masterclass

With key backline figures like Hugo Keenan and Mack Hansen ruled out through injury, and Bundee Aki suspended for the opening rounds, Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey stepped into the void with spectacular effect.

Playing every minute of the 400-minute campaign, the Bangor native was a revelation. He topped the team’s carrying charts (74), provided six try assists, and led the Championship in turnovers won (8) and dominant contacts (18).

“Stu McCloskey should definitely be in the running for the player of the tournament,” Farrell stated. “To perform and be consistently performing to that higher level is amazing, and it is all because he’s playing in a squad that’s unbelievably close and connected to one another.”

McCloskey’s playmaking was instrumental in unleashing a newly-formed back three of Jamie Osborne, Robert Baloucoune, and Tommy O’Brien, who collectively crossed the whitewash 10 times.

Farrell was particularly impressed by Osborne, who slotted into the crucial full-back role despite having played no rugby earlier in the season due to a shoulder injury. “He’s played every game there and shone like a light,” the head coach noted.

Leadership from the Front

The Wigan native also lauded out-half Jack Crowley for his outstanding all-round contribution against Scotland, noting that he “committed to his performance in every aspect” and “led the team really well.”

However, the ultimate example of leadership came from captain Caelan Doris. Driven by a collective determination to finish the tournament strongly, the number 8 delivered a dynamic, player-of-the-match performance against the Scots, making 16 carries and 18 tackles.

“I thought Caelan had one of his best games that he’s played in his career,” Farrell concluded. “First and foremost, you lead by your actions if you’re a proper leader. When you’ve got your captain getting over the gainline time and time again, and the work ethic… it’s very easy to follow, that’s for sure.”