Farrell stepped away to prepare for the Lions tour and Test series against the Wallabies at the end of November’s Autumn Nations Series with defence coach Easterby taking the helm for the recent Six Nations campaign. Now O’Connell has been handed the reins for the Tests against Georgia in Tbilisi on Saturday, July 5 and seven days later in Lisbon when Ireland will face Portugal. Munster duo Denis Leamy and Mike Prendergast will step up from provincial to national duties for the tour, covering defence and attack respectively while Connacht scrum and contact coach Cullie Tucker, currently standing in as the western province’s head coach in the absence of Pete Wilkins on sick leave, has also been drafted in. Tucker assisted Prendergast when the former he took charge of the Ireland A side against their England counterparts in Bristol on February 24 and it will make for a Munster-born coaching group to lead Ireland this summer. O’Connell said: “I am excited to work with a coaching team who I know well individually and are hugely motivated to deliver success to Ireland and look forward to putting our plans in place over the coming weeks.” Munster and Ireland fly-half Crowley said Farrell’s recent absence on secondment with the Lions had not impacted negatively on the squad in terms of dialogue or feedback to players and did not foresee and fresh disruption this summer. “No, no, absolutely not. One thing about that coaching group is that they’re unbelievably aligned, consistent in messages, and that’s the way it’s always been right through the Six Nations. We pride ourselves on adaptability as a group. You’ve seen through certain games, certain challenges that have faced us, and we’ve been able I suppose to navigate them, some better than others. “Certainly over the last number of months, everyone couldn’t speak highly enough about the way in which Simon took it and I’m sure the same in the way Paul will take the summer. That’s just the way those lads are driven and they give all to the group.” O'Connell, who will name his touring squad in mid-June, a month after Farrell is scheduled to name his Lions tour party, was named as interim head coach last week and he said: “I am honoured to accept the interim position of head coach for the forthcoming summer tour to Georgia and Portugal and it promises to be an important series of matches played against unfamiliar opponents in testing conditions. "With a busy schedule of international rugby this summer, these two Tests will provide us with further opportunities to assess and develop the competition levels within the squad." IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys added: “We’re delighted that Paul has accepted this role and believe that his elevation ensures continuity within the Men’s coaching team. "It will also mark an important step in his coaching career as we look ahead to an exciting summer schedule. “He will be assisted by Denis, Mike and Cullie who have all been in Ireland camp at different points over the last number of months and their selections is another positive progression in their coaching careers and reasserts the IRFU’s commitment to developing a pathway for Irish coaches.” Saturday, July 5: Georgia v Ireland, Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi (kick off 9pm local time, 6pm Irish time) Saturday, July 12: Portugal v Ireland, Estádio Nacional do Jamor, Lisbon (kick off time tbc)