Jonathan Sexton ready for 'the biggest test in world rugby'

With plans afoot to align the northern and southern hemisphere calendars, it's been suggested in recent weeks that this summer's Test series around the world may very well be the last of their kind.

If so, what a way to sign off from one of rugby's great traditions.

Saturday will see each of the major summer Test series go down to the wire, starting with Ireland and the All Blacks clashing in Wellington, before eyes turn towards Sydney, Cape Town and Santiago, each series beautifully poised at 1-1.

It wasn't long ago that the prospect of Ireland winning a game in New Zealand, let alone a series, seemed hopelessly out of reach, but after last week's 23-12 win against the All Blacks in Dunedin, Andy Farrell's side stand on the verge of doing something that's only happened on five previous occasions; winning a series against New Zealand, in New Zealand.

The size of the potential achievement isn't lost on Johnny Sexton.

"It's an incredible place to come and try and test yourself, and it's the biggest test in world rugby," he says of touring New Zealand.

"To come down here and win a Test has been fantastic, but when you have a chance of doing something special, let's try and make the most of it."

Sexton (above) has been in this situation before as part of the 2017 British and Irish Lions, who arrived into a Test decider against the All Blacks level at 1-1, just as Ireland do on Saturday.

On that occasion, a 15-15 draw at Eden Park saw the series shared, and although the Lions will return to New Zealand in 2029 for a new series, Ireland's future visits down under will all likely be one-off matches, rather than multiple games.

How special then, to potentially be the last touring nation to both play and win a series away to the All