Simon Easterby eyes Ireland progress as he takes reins for 2025 in place of Andy Farrell - 'We will start to evolve'

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Simon Easterby is "excited" to take the reins of the Ireland side next year as head coach Andy Farrell begins a sabbatical to lead the British and Irish Lions. Easterby, who won over 60 caps for Ireland, spoke to TNT Sports about what to expect next year. Cian Healy also became Ireland's most-capped player with his 134th appearance, overtaking Brian O'Driscoll.

Easterby 'massively excited' to take Ireland reins after wrapping up Wallabies win

Video credit: TNT Sports

Simon Easterby has told TNT Sports that he is looking forward to implementing some "evolution" when he takes the reins of the Ireland team in 2025.

Ireland finished their Autumn Nations Series campaign on a high with a 22-19 comeback win over Joe Schmidt's Australia on Saturday.

In Schmidt's first match in Dublin since leaving the Ireland job in 2019, his side threatened to ruin the Irish Rugby Football Union's 150th anniversary celebrations until Gus McCarthy's winning try late in the game.

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The win marked Andy Farrell's last game as head coach until late next year as the Englishman will temporarily depart to take charge of the British and Irish Lions.

The Lions will travel to Australia next summer, before which former Ireland international Easterby will lead the team for the 2025 Six Nations.

Easterby spoke to TNT Sports after the game, giving Craig Doyle, Simon Zebo and Brian O'Driscoll his thoughts on the Wallabies clash, and some insight into what Ireland can expect next year.

"It was a hell of a Test match," Easterby said. "Probably not for everyone, but the purists. We gave them access, we got access. It went right down to the wire and I guess that's what we expected from a team that was coached by Joe.

"They've got better and better across the last four or five weeks. It was the type of Test that we probably needed and thankfully we came through.

"We probably needed to attack the line a little bit more at times and engage them a little bit more, but they defended well, and they put the hits in. We probably didn't quite do that in the first half and gave them a little bit of momentum."

Easterby now takes charge of the Irish squad, with his first challenge being the Six Nations in early 2025.

With the Lions tour to Australia taking place in the summer, the reshuffled coaching team will play a huge part in making sure Ireland's stars are ready for a demanding trip Down Under.

"Massively excited," Easterby said when asked about taking the reins.

"We have a lot to play for next year. So much rides on next year in terms of the Six Nations, but there's obviously that thing at the end of the year that everyone wants to try and be involved in and it's important that we give the players the best opportunity to go and do that. So yeah, it's a brilliant time for us to come in.

"Faz [Andy Farrell] has done an amazing job. He goes away, he'll still be connected to the team and I think we'll start to evolve and like 'Drico' [O'Driscoll] said, maybe we start to evolve slightly differently.

"But certainly, the fundamentals of our game will certainly ring true into the new year."

'Hit and rush from Ireland' - McCarthy crashes over for Ireland's winning try in epic clash

Video credit: TNT Sports

HEALY MAKES HISTORY IN GREEN JERSEY

Cian Healy came off the bench against Australia to win his 134th cap for Ireland, officially becoming the most-capped player in the green jersey and overtaking former team-mate O'Driscoll.

Healy made his Ireland debut against Australia at Croke Park in November 2009, in what was coincidentally O'Driscoll's 100th cap.

While commentating on the game, O'Driscoll paid tribute to Healy, remembering what a unique set of skills he brought into the Ireland camp on his debut.

"As I said before the game, he brought something completely different that really wasn't in vogue in the late noughties," the Ireland legend said.

"His ability to carry ball, footwork, agility, power, good scrummager. He really worked on his ball handling over the course of his career.

"But on top of it all, an incredibly humble team-mate and that's why there's such a likeability factor in the crowd here and amongst all of his team-mates."

'Nobody has worn the jersey more' - Healy becomes Ireland's most capped player

Video credit: TNT Sports

At 37 years old, the Leinster prop has subtly signalled that 2025 could be his final year on the pitch, but his desire to win medals and achievements in green is still well and truly strong.

Ireland open their 2025 Six Nations by welcoming England to Dublin on February 1, where fans will first see how the team will progress under Easterby.

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