Andy Farrell urges Ireland to embrace challenge of being number one

CHALLENGING: Ireland head coach Andy Farrell in the press conference after the game. Pic: INPHO/Bryan Keane

Andy Farrell has urged his Ireland squad to embrace the challenges opponents will throw down to them as the world number one team heading into a World Cup year.

Ireland have emerged from a tough Autumn Nations Series with their top ranking intact thanks to hard-fought victories over world champions South Africa and Fiji before closing out the year with an equally rigorous examination from Australia in Dublin on Saturday.