TOUR OF BEAUTY
Irish down Kiwis for series win
New Zealand 22 Ireland ........... 32 Johnny Sexton warned Ireland’s heroes cannot let history repeat itself after a superb series win in New Zealand.
A week on from their first triumph over the All Blacks on Kiwi soil, Andy Farrell ’s men produced another sublime display.
Members of their squad were pictured in tears after a famous triumph in Wellington that clinched the series 2-1 and will go down as one of Ireland’s greatest rugby feats.
But skipper Sexton immediately urged his team-mates not to peak too soon ahead of next year’s World Cup.
The fly-half said: “It means a lot now. I know in a year’s time, when the World Cup starts, it won’t mean anything as we’ve learnt before. But we’ll certainly enjoy this and maybe a couple more days, then we’ve got to keep improving. That’s what we’ve got to learn from previous years.
“But this group of boys, the management we’ve got, they’re a very special group and I’m so proud to
be a part of it.” Farrell’s men led by 19 points at the break courtesy of a spellbinding first-half display which saw tries for Josh van der Flier, Hugo Keenan and Robbie Henshaw.
The All Blacks moved to within three points in a breathless second period thanks to scores from Ardie Savea, Akira Ioane and Will Jordan, only for Rob Herring’s try to help the tourists home.
Sexton chipped in with 12 points, becoming the second man to surpass 1000 in the green jersey.
Flanker Peter O’Mahony was in tears and said: “It’s hard to put into words.
“This has never been done before, it’s something I never thought was possible as a young fella.
“But now the young fellas back home will know this can be done.”
Farrell credited his team for not panicking when the All Blacks roared back. And the head coach declared his players have confidence they’ll beat any team after leapfrogging France to become world No.1.
He said: “They already do believe that because they keep turning up and surprising me.
“These guys have won a lot of stuff. This one will top it, I’d have thought.”