'What are we scared of?' - Andy Farrell calls on Ireland to go 'full-throttle' against Springboks

Ireland must embrace their status as rugby's world number one, according to head coach Andy Farrell.

Less than a year out from the 2023 World Cup in France, Ireland are the best in the world - according to the rankings at least - courtesy of their famous Test series win against New Zealand over the summer.

It's a position they've only ever been in on one previous occasion, when they briefly leapfrogged the All Blacks at the top of the list just before the 2019 World Cup, a ranking that ultimately aged like milk.

The challenge for Ireland, as it has always been, is maintaining their place at the top of the tree, with the true test of their credentials still a year away.

But rather than play down the rankings, Farrell has called on his players to embrace it.

"I’ve been asked this a lot from the minute I got back from New Zealand," he said.

"What are we scared of? We want to be at our best. That’s why I said before [the New Zealand tour].

"We wanted New Zealand to be in a position where they never lose twice in a row, they had their injuries back, they never lose a home series."

Ireland begin their Bank of Ireland Nations Series against South Africa on Saturday 5 November, and Farrell says he wants the Springboks to be at their very best, so he can see how his side respond.

"We want that to see where we’re at, you know? That’s why I hope South Africa and ourselves are at our best.

"The result will take care of itself but at last we’ll keep finding out about ourselves. That’s what we want to do. That’s how we keep progressing. Not necessarily just on the scoreboard" he added.

And while Ireland come into the game having lost just two of their last 13 Tests, the head coach (below) insists they still have plenty of gears left to hit.

"Agai