Doris States Players Receive “Second Chance” After New Zealand Defeat

Ireland captain Caelan Doris has stated that head coach Andy Farrell has granted the team a “second chance” following their uninspired display in last week’s defeat by New Zealand. Doris himself acknowledged his disappointment with his individual performance in the loss to the All Blacks. The upcoming Autumn Nations Series match between Ireland and Argentina is scheduled for Friday, 15 November, at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, with kick-off at 20:10 GMT. Coverage will include commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds, and BBC Radio Foyle, along with live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app. For Friday’s fixture against Argentina, Farrell has implemented only one alteration to the squad, with Robbie Henshaw stepping in for Bundee Aki. The coach conceded that certain players were “lucky enough” to maintain their positions in the line-up. Doris, who had previously voiced his displeasure with his own play last week, emphasized his desire for Ireland to exhibit greater “edge, physicality and intent” when facing the Pumas, a team that has historically never secured a victory on Irish soil. The 26-year-old Doris, a Leinster back row player who was named captain prior to the Autumn Nations Series, commented on the team dynamics, stating, “There’s competition, there’s a lot of people who want to wear the jerseys so there’s a bit of pressure to perform there, but excitement and opportunity too.” He added, “That’s the underlying thing.” Regarding the team’s mindset, Doris further explained, “I think the way it’s framed from Faz [Farrell] and the coaches in quite a positive way. “There’s expectation coming from ourselves and the group and coming from what we see in training and the plan we have. It feels like positive pressure to a lot of guys, to myself.” In the previous week’s match, Ireland found themselves trailing New Zealand 9-6 at the half-time interval. They commenced the second half with vigor, taking a slight lead courtesy of a try from Josh van der Flier. Nevertheless, the team failed to capitalize on this momentum, instead conceding multiple penalties before Will Jordan’s try ultimately sealed the victory for the All Blacks. Doris emphasized the critical need for Ireland to enhance their in-game management. Doris elaborated on the team’s performance, stating, “We did come together where possible and take a breath, but acknowledging what’s gone on and what the trends are in-game is something I need to be better at and as a group we need to be better at.” He attributed some of the issues to the game’s circumstances, adding, “We probably got a little bit desperate given the nature [of the game], we were chasing a little bit, and the penalties probably came from desperation. “Coming together and getting back to neutral would have been a help.” The last time Ireland and Argentina met in Dublin, in 2021, Ireland secured a dominant 53-7 victory, with Doris being one of six Irish players to score a try. However, considering the Pumas’ strong performance in their inaugural year under former Leinster player and coach Felipe Contepomi, which includes triumphs against world champions South Africa and the All Blacks in Wellington, Doris anticipates a significantly more competitive match this time. Doris, who previously collaborated with Contepomi at Leinster, remarked on the Argentine side’s current standing: “We know that Argentina are a proper team and a proper test.” He further elaborated, “They’ve shown that over the year with some of their wins and their development under Felipe. “They’ve obviously been a top-class team for a number of years having been in three of the last four World Cup semi-finals but I think they’ve gone to another level under Felipe.”