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Ireland secured a series split with the Springboks thanks to Ciaran Frawley's late drop-goal

Regardless of the outcome in the second Test against the Springboks in Durban on Saturday, the end of this anticipated tour signals the start of a new chapter for Irish rugby.

With Andy Farrell securing his 40th victory in 50 games, he now boasts the highest winning percentage of any Irish coach in history, surpassing even his predecessor Joe Schmidt. Yet, despite this success, a sense of change looms large.

The drawn series in South Africa, after an initial Test defeat, has only reinforced the feeling of an impending shift.

As back-to-back Six Nations champions and with Farrell set to lead the Lions on their tour to Australia next summer, it’s easy to forget the rocky start to his tenure. Farrell, who had been Ireland’s defensive coach since 2016, succeeded Schmidt after the 2019 World Cup. Instead of making radical changes, Farrell opted for gradual evolution.

Following the departure of captain Rory Best and long-serving full-back Rob Kearney, Farrell chose to integrate new players slowly. Early in his tenure, he introduced Caelan Doris and Ronan Kelleher, followed by Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe, and Hugo Keenan. Over a year into the job, Craig Casey and Ryan Baird were brought in, with Dan Sheehan and Mack Hansen joining later.

Even after another quarter-final World Cup exit to the All Blacks, Farrell resisted the urge to overhaul the team, preferring to maintain continuity. However, recent events suggest a more rapid transition.

Joe McCarthy’s emergence, displacing Iain Henderson and James Ryan during the Six Nations, is a notable example. Uncapped Jamie Osborne debuted in the first Test defeat to South Africa, and Craig Casey was preferred over veteran Conor Murray in Pretoria in the absence of Gibson-Park.

Additionally, the IRFU’s recent decision to restrict provinces from importing props indicates a recognition that stalwarts like Tadhg Furlong and Cian Healy won’t be around forever.

Farrell’s coaching staff will also see significant changes with Leinster’s Andrew Goodman replacing Mike Catt as the attack specialist.

Perhaps the most significant sign of change was Farrell’s bold decision to drop 34-year-old captain Peter O’Mahony to the bench for the second Test, signaling a shift towards a more future-oriented approach.

All these developments point to an Irish team balancing present ambitions with an eye on future prospects.