Ireland head coach Andy Farrell says that there’s confidence in the Ireland team built on the journey they’ve been on and the lessons learned but they will never underestimate the challenge of facing New Zealand.
Farrell said on Tuesday that he does not think much if they have broken New Zealand’s aura of invincibility with three wins in their last four meetings:
“I don’t think we think too much about it. It’s about the here and now. What’s gone on in the past is irrelevant. We’re just trying to get better as a team, and so are they, and roll on in the competition. What will be at the forefront is a mutual respect for where both teams are sitting right now. The competition is where it should be for a quarter-final.”
Farrell also said that injuries are part of their journey with three players not available for selection against the All Blacks: “People get injured and there are always bangs at the start of the week. Some turn round a lot quicker than you would expect. As far as Keith Earls is concerned, it was a little bit too quick for him this week, so he will get back to his rehab and we are very confident if we push on through [to the semi-finals], he will be fit for next week. It’s the same with Robbie Henshaw, they are both progressing well. James Ryan is out with a wrist injury but we expect him to be fit for next week if we are able to get that far.”
He also said it is business as usual for Ireland: “We were in the same mood last week. It’s big-boy stuff, isn’t it, we’re at the business end of the competition. When you get to this point in the competition, you hopefully draw on the good experiences you have had and put ourselves under over the last few years for moments like this. We have got a very experienced group who have been through a lot.”
