'What are we waiting for? Let's go full throttle' - Farrell embraces the pressure to drive on 

Ireland head coach says now is the time to lean into position atop the world rankings but insists 'we’re nowhere near where we want to be'

EYES ON THE PRIZE: Ireland coach Andy Farrell during the Guinness Six Nations match at the Stade de France, Paris. Pic: Adam Davy/PA Wire.

Andy Farrell and Ireland have been here before, on top of the rankings with a World Cup just around the corner yet not far enough through the bend to see the traps that lie in wait.

The memories of the transition from annus mirabilis in 2018 to horribilis in 2019 at the tail end of an otherwise successful Joe Schmidt era are still raw enough for the then-defence coach and many of his players not to repeat the mistakes that brought implosion in Japan three years ago when the latest bid for the Webb Ellis Cup gets under in France next September.