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Matt Williams: 'I'd love coaching against Andy Farrell's Ireland'

Former Leinster, Ulster and Scotland Head Coach Matt Williams explained why he would love coachin...



Former Leinster, Ulster and Scotland Head Coach Matt Williams explained why he would love coaching against Andy Farrell's Ireland on Tuesday's OTB AM. 

As James Lowe comes under public pressure regarding his place in Ireland's starting XV, Leinster backs coach Felipe Contepomi suggested why it may be taking him time to adapt to Andy Farrell's style.

"In fairness," he remarked on Monday, "the Irish system and the Leinster system are different."

On Tuesday's OTB AM, Matt Williams highlighted not only the difference in the two systems being employed but the superiority of one over the other.

"I'm totally in agreement with Felipe and I would much prefer to see Ireland playing Leinster's system," he asserted, highlighting one point of obvious concern when Farrell's team are moving backwards.

"What Ireland are doing is making their wingers who are the last men on the defensive lineout jam in [and] they leave [the opposition] winger and put pressure on the second-last attacker.

"Now, I understand the theory, but when you're 10 metres from your try-line and you're not out-numbered, you don't need to do that - just take your man and make the tackle.

"That seems to be policy though, I've got that from within the team that that's the policy... If it is, I think it is a mad policy and very, very hard on wingers.

"England will rip Ireland apart out there if you don't change it."

A defensive outlook that seeks to double-up the pressure on select opposition players, Williams admitted that he cannot feasibly see where its benefits arise.

Within international test rugby, the former Scotland Head Coach ultimately believes that Ireland will be vulnerable and he expects that better teams will ruthlessly expose it as a weakness.

"I think it is madness, absolutely madness," he stated, "[and] I would love to coach against that. 'Hey boys, guess what, if we get into their 22 the wingers are coming in. Let's stand a metre-and-a-half deeper, make sure your pass is out in front so we're running onto the ball and we'll take these guys every single time.'

"I'd be jumping out of my skin coaching against that system. I think it is madness."

Some justification for why Lowe might be struggling to adapt, Williams did not suggest that the New Zealand-born back was without culpability, however.

Disappointed with what he identified as some uncertain tackling on Lowe's part, Williams admitted that he would replace the Leinster man for this weekend's final Six Nations clash with England.

"But I would also change the defensive system within Ireland's own 22," he added.

OTB AM in association with Gillette | #MadeOfWhatMatters

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Andy Farrell Connacht Ireland Leinster Matt Williams Munster Six Nations Ulster