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Andy Farrell insists a World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand is \u201cas tough as it gets\u201d after \u201clittle old Ireland\u201d topped Pool B thanks to a six-try demolition of Scotland.<\/p>\n
The rampant Six Nations champions emphatically underlined their status as Test rugby\u2019s top-ranked side by banishing any lingering doubts of an early exit with a crushing 36-14 success which eliminated the Scots.<\/p>\n
Ireland will return to Paris next Saturday for a showdown with the All Blacks seeking to make history by progressing beyond the last eight of the tournament for the first time.<\/p>\n
Head coach Farrell led his side to a landmark series success in New Zealand last summer and is braced for another major test following statement Stade de France victories over reigning champions South Africa and Scotland.<\/p>\n
\u201cNew Zealand are a fantastic side, and for little old Ireland to be talked about in the same bracket as the All Blacks shows how far we\u2019ve come as a rugby-playing nation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe respect we\u2019ve got for New Zealand is through the roof.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe form they\u2019ve got at this moment in time is top drawer and I\u2019m sure that they will be relishing this fixture to try and put a few things right. It\u2019s tough, it\u2019s as tough as it gets.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo weeks ago (against South Africa), it was a tough game and this one was knock-out type rugby so it gets a whole lot tougher next week against the All Blacks and hopefully they will need to be at their best to beat us as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
James Lowe\u2019s early try settled any Irish nerves in Saint-Denis before Hugo Keenan crossed either side of a score from the recalled Iain Henderson to quickly take the game away from shell-shocked Scotland.<\/p>\n
Dan Sheehan and Garry Ringrose added to the opposition\u2019s embarrassment, prior to consolation tries from Scottish pair Ewan Ashman and Ali Price.<\/p>\n
Farrell must wait to discover the true cost of a feisty affair in the French capital, with wings Mack Hansen and Lowe and replacement lock James Ryan each sustaining injuries.<\/p>\n
I believe it’s bonkers back home. We’re torn a bit, enjoying it with the fans back home or stay here? We’ll stay here for now!<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, we\u2019ll see how they pull up in the morning but Mack went off with a HIA (head injury assessment) and when he came back on he felt his calf straight away, so we got him off,\u201d said Farrell.<\/p>\n
\u201cJames Ryan has a bit of a knock on his wrist that we have to assess more, so we\u2019ll see how he is now.<\/p>\n
\u201cJames Lowe got a bang in the eye, his eye shut and he couldn\u2019t really see much. His vision was coming back towards the end of the game, which is good.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen, a few more bangs and bruises that we\u2019ll need to assess tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ireland once again performed a celebratory lap of honour in front of tens of thousands of jubilant Irish supporters.<\/p>\n
Farrell savoured another special occasion, while wishing he could simultaneously enjoy the \u201cbonkers\u201d scenes back home.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy wife and me two girls were there, that\u2019s why I was singing to them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s amazing, the songs at the end of the game, I love all that.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe got a bit of stick, didn\u2019t we, for walking around against South Africa, but we walk round and thank the fans after every game.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the least we can do when they turn up in their thousands like they\u2019ve done.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe play for them, we talk about it every week. I talked about it before the game today in the dressing room, it means more than what people think, 100 per cent.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know that France is buzzing with Irish people, but I believe it\u2019s bonkers back home. We\u2019re torn a bit, enjoying it with the fans back home or stay here? We\u2019ll stay here for now!\u201d<\/p>\n