Green gems: Another handful of positives for Ireland's World Cup year

ABSOLUTE GEM: Ireland head coach Andy Farrell, left, celebrates with Gavin Coombes. Pic: Brendan Moran / Sportsfile

If Ireland’s series victory over the All Blacks was the crowning glory of this New Zealand tour, the development of Andy Farrell’s second string over two games against the Maori All Blacks surely came a close second.

Head coach Farrell stated early on the tour that if he could unearth four, five or six gems from the less experienced fringe members of his 40-man squad then he would consider the expedition 14 months out from the next World Cup a success.