Coach Farrell warns Ireland to expect a ‘different beast’ when New Zealand arrive in Dublin

Andy Farrell has urged Ireland’s players to embrace the “privilege” of taking on New Zealand and is braced for a “different beast” following the demolition of Japan.

The All Blacks will arrive at a sold-out Aviva Stadium tomorrow having lost only two of the previous 32 meetings between the nations and on the back of scoring a worldrecord 675 points this calendar year. Ireland are on a six-match winning streak and blitzed the Brave Blossoms 60-5 last weekend.

“What a time to be alive, to be an Irish rugby player – the opportunity to play in front of a full house against the best team in the world,” said Farrell, who will also take Ireland on a three-test tour of New Zealand next summer. “This is where you want to be. We’re coming up against a different beast, we know that. It’s the challenge that we get excited about. Like it always has been, it’s a privilege, we’re unbelievably fortunate to get the opportunity to play them four times this year.

“We’ll learn a lot about ourselves this weekend and throughout the season and certainly learn a hell of a lot on the tour to New Zealand because that will be the ultimate tour, really. It’s a privilege to play against the best, we should embrace that and keep pushing ourselves.”

Farrell, who has made one change of personnel by recalling Iain Henderson in the second row in place of fellow British and Irish Lion Tadhg Beirne, admits his side will have to be clinical.

“The one thing that has to happen against the best team in the world is when you get your chances you have to take them,” he said. “We’ve got to make sure we play the game that’s in front of us and that’s all about decision-making.”