'We make a lot of that kind of stuff' - Special occasions all-around for Farrell's Ireland 

For 25-year-old Jimmy O’Brien, Saturday’s final whistle completed a memorable 72 hours which had begun with the uncapped Leinster back being named on the wing for Ireland A ahead of Friday night’s game against an All Blacks XV.

CENTURION: Conor Murray of Ireland and assistant coach Mike Catt celebrate after the Bank of Ireland Nations Series match between Ireland and South Africa at the Aviva Stadium. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

It did not pan out the way he would have envisaged on his 100th Test for Ireland but there was still plenty for Conor Murray to celebrate amid the discomfort on a groin injury in Dublin on Saturday night.

Ireland’s 19-16 victory over world champions South Africa was a fitting outcome on a day Murray became just the eighth Irish player to reach a century of caps for their country and, at the other end of the experience scale, Jimmy O’Brien made an impressive Test debut off the bench in challenging circumstances.