Six Nations 2026: ‘Destructive’ keyboard warriors must tackle and help Ireland – Andy Farrell

Head coach Andy Farrell has issued an impassioned plea for “keyboard warriors to tackle and try to help” Sam Prendergast and Jack Crawley amid a “damaging” narrative about Ireland’s fly-half situation.

Crawley played every minute of Ireland’s winning 2024 Six Nations campaign, and Prendergast has started all but one of the seven tournament matches since then.

Prendergast struggled in Ireland’s win over Italy in Dublin on Saturday before being replaced by Crawley, whose quick display left Farrell with another selection headache ahead of the clash with England.

“You know, maybe I’m speaking out of school here, but in my opinion, for what’s happened over the last year or something, especially with the keyboard warriors, I think people need to ask themselves, really, sometimes, ‘Are we Irish?'” Farrell said. Do we want people to do well or not?”

“Because it can be hard on these kids like, you know? It can be hard on these kids. I’ve seen it, and they walk around with both of them, and they both have strong personalities.”

“It takes a lot to break kids down like that. But I’ve seen it affect people, you know. So the keyboard warriors on Twitter or whatever you call it now need to adapt and try to help these kids.”

“It’s harmful, you know,” he added.