Hardest thing you can do in rugby by a country mile – Andy Farrell hails Ireland

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell hailed the proudest collective achievement of his career after accomplishing the “hardest thing you can do in rugby by a country mile” by masterminding a historic series win in New Zealand.

The Irish claimed a landmark 2-1 tour triumph over the All Blacks following a spellbinding first-half display in Wellington, which paved the way for a 32-22 victory from an epic third-Test decider.

Tries from Leinster trio Josh Van Der Flier, Hugo Keenan and Robbie Henshaw helped the tourists lead by 19 points at the interval before Rob Herring extinguished a Kiwi fightback sparked by scores from Ardie Savea, Akira Ioane and Will Jordan.

Former dual-code international Farrell – a two-time Man of Steel during his rugby league days – was left beaming with delight by a result which moved Ireland top of the world rankings.

“It’s difficult for me because it (the achievement) is not mine, it’s theirs (the players),” said Farrell. “They’ve grabbed hold of it hugely.

“Some of the stuff they’ve done out there today, we’ve done it together so I suppose when you look at it like that it’s the most proud that I’ve ever been part of a group, without a shadow of a doubt.

“Pleased? I don’t think that’s the word. I mean, what’s the biggest thing that you can say about a group of people? I don’t know if there is a word.

“This is the hardest thing you can do in rugby by a country mile, especially when you take it down to the last game and we know from history that the All Blacks are going to come out firing.”

Farrell became the first visiting coach to orchestrate tour success over New Zealand since France prevailed 2-0 in 1994.

Ireland had never won away to the three-time world champions before last weekend’s milestone