Irish eyes just keep on smiling after win against All Blacks

Ireland have become mentally stronger under Andy Farrell as they showed in putting behind them missed chances in the first-half to go on and deservedly beat New Zealand 29-20, said a “very, very proud” Irish captain Johnny Sexton.

The Irish, roared on by a fired-up capacity crowd at Lansdowne Road for the first time since February last year, dominated the first-half but through handling errors, and a try that was ruled out, went in 10-5 down at the break.

“We weren’t clinical in the first half but then, fair play,” said Sexton. “This team has worked a hell of a lot on our mental side of the game so to bounce back and come again was testament to the management and leadership group and the players themselves to come back and be clinical in the second half.

“Because previously, we would have said ‘Ah, we didn’t take our chances’ and we would have… not given up but we would have put the heads down a bit.

“But we kept pounding away and we got our rewards.”

All Blacks coach Ian Foster said he thought it was the best performance by an Irish side he had seen. Foster was Steve Hansen’s assistant when the Irish also beat them in 2016 and 2018 – the only previous two occasions an Ireland side had beaten New Zealand prior to Saturday.

Farrell said Foster had told him that as well after the gripping match.

“He was kind enough to say those words to me, which I really appreciated,” said Farrell. “You need to be at your best and you probably need a little bit of luck as well against the best side in the world.

“I don’t think we needed a lot of luck because we were at our best probably… the pleasing thing is we can be better.”

Farrell has silenced the doubters from earlier in the year when Ireland lost to Wales and France in their first two Six Nations matches.

The 46-year-old Englishman’s side will take a seven-Test winning run into their final match of the year on Sunday against Argentina, so often a bogey team for the Irish at the World Cup