Andy Farrell insists players will keep their minds on New Zealand mission

Andy Farrell insists the absence of Paddy Jackson from the Ireland squad will not distract the remaining players’ preparations for Saturday’s showdown with world champions New Zealand.

Out-half Jackson had been set to fly with Joe Schmidt’s Ireland party to Chicago on Monday ahead of their Soldier Field showdown with the All Blacks but was stood down at the last minute with the IRFU citing “personal reasons”.

The Ulster fly-half was that night reported by the be one of three men, including fellow provincial and Irish team-mate Stuart Olding, to have been questioned by the Police Service of Northern Ireland in relation to an incident in South Belfast on June 28.