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IRELAND BOSS ANDY Farrell said he feels the best is yet to come from his team after a comprehensive win over Scotland sent them into a World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand.
Farrell’s men will take on the All Blacks in Paris next Saturday night after completing a clean sweep of four wins from four to top Pool B, while also extending their winning streak to 17 games.
New Zealand knocked Ireland out of the last World Cup with a dominant quarter-final win in Tokyo, but Farrell believes his side can make history and reach a first-ever semi-final here in France.
“I don’t think, and neither do the team think, that we’ve played our best rugby yet,” said Farrell after the six-try 36-14 win over Scotland last night.
“We know where we want to go and what we’re trying to achieve. Will we ever get there? I don’t know.
“It’s days like next week that’s coming where we need to find out a little bit more about ourselves. These lads are certainly willing to do that.”
New Zealand were already talking about Ireland before Farrell’s side had even secured their quarter-final by beating the Scots, with fullback Beauden Barrett stating that the Kiwis would love to get revenge over the Irish for their series win last year.
Farrell was full of praise for Ian Foster’s Kiwis, who lost their opening pool game against World Cup hosts France but beat Namibia, Uruguay, and Italy in recent weeks to earn their quarter-final place.
“I think New Zealand are a fantastic side and for little old Ireland to be talked about in the same bracket as the All Blacks shows how far we’ve come as a rugby-playing nation,” said Farrell.
“The respect we’ve got for New Zealand is through the roof. The form they’ve got at this moment in time is top drawer and I’m sure that they will be relishing this fixture to try and put a few things right. It’s tough, it’s as tough as it gets.
“Two weeks ago, it was a tough game [against South Africa] and this one was knock-out type rugby so it gets a whole lot tougher next week against the All Blacks and hopefully they will need to be at their best to beat us as well.”
While Farrell said it was important for his players to enjoy last night’s victory by celebrating with their families, he’s keen to look forward as soon as possible.
There are injury concerns for Mack Hansen and James Ryan in particular, but Farrell wants to see energy from his players this week.
“We’ll treat this week, I’m sure once we recover properly, with a spring in our step because if you can’t get excited about what’s coming… this is proper living now, this is exactly where you want to be.
“These boys have been waiting for opportunities, big games to show what they’ve learned for a while now. It doesn’t get any bigger than next week so we’ll relish that.”
The 42 is the home of game-changing Rugby World Cup coverage. Click here for their trademark analysis, sportswriting, and all of the latest news from France
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Playing well so far. However a short lapse in concentration and we concede 2.
@Dman: With several of our players replaced, to protect them, having already won the game . Wouldn’t worry about that.
@Brian Keelty: I’d always worry about a lack of concentration especially against stronger teams.
@Dman: you missed @brian Keelty’s point. Replacing 5 would upset the rhythm of any team. The fizz had sort of gone from the game at that point so leaking points and the overall consequence wasn’t toooiii much of an issue. If they had leaked 2 in quick succession during the first 25 now that would have been something to be concerned about.
@Thomas Meaney: Not a big deal but it does show what can happen if standards dip even for a moment. Maybe not a bad way of keeping feet firmly on the ground.
Injuries to key players would be a bigger worry.
@Thomas Meaney: Thanks Thomas that was a close one.
@Brian Keelty: Add to that we had JGP and Ringrose on the wings which would disrupt the position sense of our defence. I think Henderson was on the wing for the first try.
Will Farrell be held in the same esteem in Irish culture as fellow English man Jack Charlton if he manages to win it outright
@: doing a great job but no one will ever be the same as big Jack. Very hard to warm to Will. Rivers run deep and all that jazz
@Dman: who’s Will ?
@: the lad from Anchorman?
Doesn’t Farrell have Irish heritage?
@Dman: Absolute clown u dont no who or what u are talking about.
@Brian Keelty: D’Oh
@Tom Collins: lol
Absolutely. Not that it matters, but with a name like Farrell, he’s part Irish anyway. But winning a WC will trump even Big Jack’s achievements.
Probably not as there’s nothing like the same amount of interest in Rugby here
@: No way to talk to the person who pays your social welfare. There will be an FAI post along shortly for you.
@Dman: you don’t even know his name so we’ll leave your opinion out of the official figures.
@Dman: ah i new u were that old woman who works in post office. See u in morning when im in to collect my social
Brilliant manager!
@Michael Mc Gee: Couldn’t agree more, best manager we have ever had. Win the World Cup, and they can replace that awful Spire with a statue of Faz.
I was nervy before last night, thought the Scots had more in them but game was over before half time. Great performance when they had to, I wouldn’t worry about the 2 tries Scotland scored after a rake of subs coming on. Roll on the All Blacks
I’d imagine there was an element of protecting themselves from injury among the Irish in that last quarter. With the game and progress assured.
What an inspirational leader Faz is. (Just wish he did politics!).
Bring on the all blacks.
The All Blacks are always a formidable threat, no doubt, but they are not the team they used to be. I don’t think Ireland fear them , they respect them.. which is a subtle difference… Post the wonderful spectacle of the Haka, they’ll believe they have the measure of them. It’ll be tighter than a duck’s…well, you know what I mean… we should have our own Haka… based on Riverdance, perhaps… now that would scare the bejesus out of anyone…
@HurdyGurdyMan: The Haka is from a different era. Shouldn’t be allowed in the modern professional era. Why should one team be given an opportunity for a final warm up and psyching up session while the other team stand around like lemons getting cold?
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: It’s called tradition + I, like many, love watching it.
@Patrick O’Leary: Fine. Then at the beginning if the tournament, at the opening ceremony or whatever, have it then. But NOT at the beginning of every match. Is it right/fair that in a World Cup quarter or semi or final one team has to just, well, hang around and wait?
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: I agree with you. It is pretty cool to watch, however it is a form of intimidation which has unnerved international teams over the years. Either every single team should have a form of war dance before the games or none at all as its not fair, tradition or not
@casio shock: I used to feel the same way about the haka when NZ still had the aura. This changed during last year’s summer series, and it started to seem faintly ridiculous and needy in the face of a team that knew it could beat them.
@Steve O’Farrell: Yeah when NZ ruled the rugby world it was a very intimidating sight indeed, but yeah you’re right as in they’re not half the team they used to be now
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: You have to respect tradition. End of story. And the haka doesn’t take half now does it ?
@Eamon Morris: No. You don’t have to respect tradition. In fact you MUST question ALL ‘traditions’. If you don’t question then you can remain stuck in some pastiche of a bygone era.
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: I disagree. I enjoy watching the haka. Where I do have a problem with it is that we can only play irelands call. Not allowed two anthems. Think it could even to do with time to play both. But NZ get their anthem and the haka. That would be my only issue with the haka is the inconsistency afforded to NZ and the Pacific Islanders. But different issue I guess. I don’t buy into this whole thing of the haka is a psychological edge for NZ. I know if I was facing that it would probably amp me up so much more. Don’t think you shrink and be intimidated. But who actually knows, it’s all speculation and cannot be tangibly measured.
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: We have Irelands calls now as a tradition, do you want to complain about that aswell ?
@Eamon Morris: No. Because that is a political necessity, especially for away matches.
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: blow in rugby fan
I like the idea of an Irish alternative to the New Zealand Haka….
The Craica, based on Riverdance, where the team goes mental for five minutes, dancing around the New Zealand team ….
Sure it would disorientate anyone…
A great manager, and we are very lucky to have him ! Long may he reign !
The Irish Haka… The Craica… :)
Fiji, Samoa all do their traditional “haka” So the haka from NZ is here to stay and I support it 100% Any other nation is welcome to perform their very own “haka” Any takers?
@Paddy: Yeah, as I say above and below Ireland should perform the Craica… just go mental with Riverdance moves:)
World cup done and dusted well done ireland
@HurdyGurdyMan agreed! Imagine Cian Healy or Tadg Furlong leading? Even the horses will bolt…
@:HurdyGurdyMan both parents are Irish. He had Irish citizenship at birth due to foreign birth registration.
He has to say that
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