Munster have been the definition of inconsistency this season; it has been a real rollercoaster ride for the 2023 URC champions.
They have only once managed to record back-to-back wins in the BKT United Rugby Championship, more on that later, and only twice earned consecutive wins across all competitions.
Having lost head coach Graham Rowntree and assistant Andi Kyriacou, they are operating under interim boss Ian Costello, who is not in the running to take up the job full-time.
On the field, they have too often backed up very decent performances, against Ospreys and Stade Francais in particular, with bemusing sequels.
Injuries to key players haven't helped but they, are we are so often told, are part of the game, with few teams escaping on that front. Indeed, even when most of the frontliners have been available, they have failed to live up to their high standards.
The former Connacht and Leinster academy man has been their standout performer since joining from the Westerners over the summer.
After nine rounds, the 31-year-old tops the URC charts in defenders beaten (38), offloads (17, tied with RG Snyman), and is in the top four for successful carries, while he sits joint second in tries scored with five, and has also crossed the line in the Champions Cup and in their friendly against All Blacks XV.
Three of those came in December's away win at Ulster, the only time this season they have managed to back up a win, against Lions, with another one in the URC.
On a personal level, it has been an excellent start to Farrell’s Munster career.
"It probably has [exceeded expectations], to be honest," said the Dubliner, who stands 6ft 2in and weighs in over 15 stone.
"A couple of months before it, I didn't really know where I was going, I didn't know whether I was going to be in Ireland or abroad.
"Looking down the line where we are now, it probably has gone better, yeah.
"That coupled in with the injuries that we have, it's allowed me a lot of games under my belt and to get a lot of minutes, so loving it.
"I wouldn't say I was looking to prove a point necessarily, but I just knew that getting to join a club like Munster was a no-brainer.
"Once there was a sniff there, I put everything on hold, any conversations I had abroad were put on hold pretty quickly and it was a very easy decision."
Farrell, after spells in England with London Irish and Bedford, moved to Connacht in 2017 and went on to score 21 tries in 112 appearances.
Munster, having lost 28-7 to Leinster last time out, are back in European action this weekend with Mark McCall’s three-time winners the visitors to Limerick.
They sit third in Pool 3 on six points, three points behind Saracens, thanks to the home win over Stade and the bonus point picked up in Castres.
The English side, third in the Premiership, beat the Bulls and Stade in their games.
A must-win?
"Definitely, yeah," said Farrell, whose side also face a trip to pool leaders Northampton in round four.
"We haven't even looked any further ahead. We've only been talking Sarries the last 10 days or so, so we're fully aware of it.
"With the reduced games in the group stages nowadays, every point is massive for us. We're aware of where we are in our group, we're a couple of points off Sarries so a win will put us into second place.
"From the outside, it's a small bit of nearly envy or jealousy of people getting to play in a full Thomond Park.
"It's a special place, especially when it's packed out, European nights.
"The Stade game was my first game for Munster in Europe and it was a cool experience, so hopefully now come Saturday we'll have another big crowd and we can put a performance in."
Farrell was called up to the Ireland squad for the 2019 Six Nations but didn't break into the side.
He's under no illusions as to how difficult it would be to unseat the likes of Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Jamie Osborne and Stuart McCloskey, but, as one of the in-form centres on the islands, there's always hope.
"I'm fully aware of the personnel that are there," he said.
"You have three potential British and Irish Lions there who have been in and around the team for the last five or 10 years.
"With what they're doing and how good of players they are, obviously it'll take something outstanding or something worldly to displace them at this stage in my career, but look, I wouldn't rule it out, never say never.
"You never know, another good two or three weeks under my belt, anything can happen."
