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Andy Farrell makes regretful confession over bold selection decision
By PA
Head coach Andy Farrell says Ireland are determined to continue their enviable track record of immediately bouncing back from defeats as they prepare to host Argentina.
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Los Pumas are due at the Aviva Stadium on Friday evening, with the hosts seeking a response to a dispiriting 23-13 loss to New Zealand in their Autumn Nations Series opener.
Only once during the Farrell era, which spans 51 games, have his side been beaten twice in a row – defeats to Wales and France at the start of the 2021 Guinness Six Nations.
The Englishman feels the pain of previous setbacks has been eased by instantly returning to winning ways and has spoken with his players about maintaining the trend.
“That’s certainly been addressed,” said Farrell.
“We’ve talked about that, our story this week, quite a bit. Lessons learned from those defeats have been really good for us actually in our development.
“It makes a loss that hurts a little bit easier to take. There’s a determination to make sure the same thing happens this week.”
Argentina, who sit fifth in the Test rankings, have never won in Dublin but have already beaten New Zealand, France, Australia and world champions South Africa this year.
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Farrell has made just one change to the team which began against the All Blacks but admitted some of his players were fortunate to be retained.
“You’ve heard me say before that sometimes you drop people and after a conversation five minutes later you wish you had picked them because they get another chance,” he said.
“So there’s a bit of that, a bit of hurt and a reaction and that will come as well but at the same time we haven’t got thousands of players anyway.
“We know where our bread’s buttered and we’ve got to act according to that and make the group stronger the whole time by giving them an opportunity either to right some wrongs or take an opportunity that’s in front of them.”
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Uncapped Leinster pair Thomas Clarkson and Sam Prendergast have been included on a rejigged bench.
Veteran prop Cian Healy is also among the replacements and will move level with Brian O’Driscoll as Ireland’s most-capped player if he comes on to make his 133rd international appearance.
“The utmost respect doesn’t do it justice,” Farrell said of 37-year-old Healy.
“It has been a pleasure to be able to coach him. He’s been a legend of our squad for all these years and he continues to be so.”
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Los Pumas!