Andy Farrell says Ireland showed "outstanding" composure to survive a thrilling New Zealand fightback, as they claimed a famous Test series win.
The tourists needed to dig deep in the second half in Wellington as the All Blacks turned on the style, cutting Ireland's 19-point lead down to just three midway through the second half.
But despite looking rattled at times in the third quarter of the decider, Ireland's bench came up trumps, Ulster hooker Rob Herring crossing for a crucial try which proved to be the winning of the game, as Ireland moved 32-22 in front.
To magnify the achievement, the series is the first that New Zealand have lost in the professional era, while it's also just the third time they've ever come out on the wrong side of a three-game series on home soil.
"To come over here and to get a series win against New Zealand, that must be the hardest thing in world rugby to do, and these boys have achieved that," Farrell told RTÉ Sport following the game.
Remarkably, Ireland made the series win even tougher by losing the first Test in Auckland, and Farrell says they never lost belief in themselves.
"They knew they could do better. We left five tries out there in the first Test, and we were better in the second Test, and we knew that we could be even better, and that showed in the first 40 [today].
"But Test matches, especially against the world's best, will test you. That's what it's all about. They came back like we knew they would do, but we stayed composed.
"Our maul was outstanding, our composure was outstanding, our defence at times was outstanding," he added.
While Ireland scored an early try in all three Tests, they were clinical with their chances in the deciding game.
In recent weeks, the tourists dominated the
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