Andy Farrell: Why Ireland's Sean Jansen is ready for All Blacks homecoming

The New Zealand-born back row began his rugby journey in Dunedin, within the Otago region of the South Island. This weekend, Farrell has selected Jansen to make his mark at Eden Park, as Ireland look to end the All Blacks incredible 32 year and 52 Test unbeaten run at their spiritual home. Farrell expressed how Jansen nailed his Ireland debut last weekend, as the Connacht man collected a try and Player of the Match honours in the hard-fought win over Japan.

"I said after the game, that he's [Sean Jansen] a fantastic example of how to nail your your debut." Farrell expressed, from Ireland training camp in New Zealand. "He's just being himself. He is, and he doesn't let the game or the thought of a first cap or anything like that get in the way of producing what he knows he's all about. You just know he's going to be able to do that again on Saturday."

Having worked his way into the Otago squad for the 2020 NPC Season, Jansen was overlooked for any Super Rugby selection and decided to depart New Zealand in 2021. The back row made his way up to the Northern Hemisphere and signed with Leicester Tigers at just 21-years-old, having cut ties with his dream of playing in the fabled black jersey. The break-out move to Connacht followed in 2023, where Jansen qualified for Ireland through his Grandparents and set his sights upon Andy Farrell's squad.

"It shows his character, doesn't it, of how he's gone about his business." Farrell added, when asked about Jansen's journey to last weekend's Ireland debut. "Backing himself to go overseas, and first at Leicester and then onto Connacht, he's been unbelievably consistent. Not just consistent, but some top performances certainly for Connacht this year, and he's back there up at test level. So I don't think he'll be overawed by what's in front of him at all. He'll just be himself."

Ireland captain Dan Sheehan echoed his head coach: "It's my first sort of campaign with Sean, and he's been unbelievable. What a player, every time we come up against him [with Leinster] in Connacht, he's probably the one person we talk about you need to manage.

"What a ball carrier and attack, he brings incredible energy. I thought he was unbelievable last week. Exactly what you want from a debut is to stand out and do your thing, and he did it in spades. So, it's brilliant, he gets his reward tomorrow, and hopefully he has a similar game off the bench."

Casting a wider look at his selected Ireland squad to face the All Blacks at Eden Park, and Andy Farrell has selected a returning Robert Baloucoune to start on the wing, along-side the in-form Jimmy O'Brien. Baloucoune is back in the match day squad after overcoming a brief hamstring issue, which ruled him out of Ireland's second round against Japan in Newcastle. Farrell expressed how he is excited to see the Ulster flyer back on the grass, in what will be a major learning curve for the 'Cat'.

"Rob's talent is there for all to see. So, exposing him and others from this squad into an occasion that's coming up on Saturday night is vital for him and for us all moving forward."

When asked about Jimmy O'Brien retaining his position out on the opposite Ireland touch-line, Farrell said;

"He's been in great form. He's gone from 'stop-start' [form] for Leinster over the course of a season, and not really nailing down any type of genuine spot, whether it be fullback or wing or centre. But for us, over the last three or four weeks, it's been obvious that he's been really on top of his game, he's been in great form. Obviously, there's pressure within itself playing for your country, and he deals with those pressures superbly well."

Casting his eye across to the opposition, and Farrell shared how he has been impressed with what he has seen thus far from the Dave Rennie era of the All Blacks. Rennie took up the top job from the departing Scott Robertson ahead of the Summer, with the head coach overseeing back-to-back Nations Championship wins over France and Italy to kick off his time at the helm.

"Yeah, I've been super impressed. I've followed Dave's career, a very impressive one at that, and understand fully how his sides like to play. We've seen that with the Chiefs, and certainly saw it in Glasgow effect that he had, and being successful in Japan just shows [it too]. I also thought he did a fantastic job in Australia as well.

"So I think the style of rugby suits the DNA of how a New Zealand rugby playing nation want to play, and he's brought a bit of steel back to them as well. It certainly makes them very dangerous on Saturday."

With Ireland getting acquainted to their surroundings in Auckland, the ever-present question reared it's head as the men in green look to end the All Blacks phenomenal streak at Eden Park. Farrell led Ireland to the same stadium back in the Summer of 2022, and he's excited to have another crack at the storied streak this Saturday.

"It's fantastic. I feel we're the fortunate ones. We're the lucky ones in the sense that we get the opportunity to go to Eden Park, and we had that fortune in 2022, in the first game up. Obviously we couldn't get that over the line (42-19 defeat), so we're pretty lucky to be back there and have another shot at it."