'The respect we have for New Zealand is through the roof. Hopefully they've a bit of respect for us'

MAN OF THE MOMENT: Centurion Peter O'Mahony celebrates Ireland's win over Scotland.

Andy Farrell has hailed Ireland’s “special” performance against Scotland but thoughts are already turning towards next Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final with New Zealand back here in northern Paris.

The Six Nations champions destroyed Scotland, putting up 36 points in the first hour before conceding a pair of consolation tries and it was more than enough to secure top spot for them in Pool B having won all four of their games.

It wasn’t all perfect for Ireland who have a handful of injury concerns over James Lowe, Mack Hansen and James Ryan. Hansen came off for a HIA, returned and lasted just a minute before feeling a problem with his calf and exiting for a second and last time.

Lowe took a blow to the eye which closed up after he came off but the head coach revealed that the winger had some vision back in it towards the end of the game. Ryan’s issue is a wrist problem. All three will be assessed on Sunday.

But on the victory and the prospect of a last-eight shot at the All Blacks, Farrell reflected: "Well it's what dreams are made of. It doesn't get any tougher. The respect we have got for New Zealand is through the roof and hopefully they have got a bit of respect for us.

“We will dust ourselves off first of all and recover properly from this one. But I would say that a couple of weeks ago we got some stick from walking around and thanking our fans. When they turn out in their thousands like this it is the least we can do."

The atmosphere before, during and after this game was up there with the best ever seen in any sport involving an Irish team. Players, coaches and staff once again lingered on the turf afterwards as ‘Zombie’ and a run of other Irish classics blared away.

The expectation always was that Ireland would do enough here and so it proved with a six-try display of sublime proportions. It was their best performance of 2023 – a more complete effort than the one that did for the Springboks.

It suggests a team timing its run just right and it deserves pausing on it for a bit.

“I think it was a special performance because Scotland really came of the blocks. Obviously we scored the try early doors, which was a great start but they really came out of the blocks after that. They threw everything at us. I thought our attitude, our defence to try and keep them out for long spells was the making of the game.

“We were calm enough and clinical enough when we got back down the other end of the field to put some points on the board. A really clinical first-half performance and it had to be because they are a great side Scotland. To get that many points at half-time was a good innings from us."

Captain Johnny Sexton was withdrawn after 45 minutes such was the dominance of the Ireland side and he was followed off the field by five starting forwards shortly after as Farrell and his brains trust turned towards that last eight tussle.

JOB DONE: Ireland's Head Coach Andy Farrell with Garry Ringrose.

He too made mention of the criticism the side shipped in some quarters for the manner in which they celebrated that defeat of the world champions two weeks ago but he was equally unapologetic in how these players are connecting with their enormous fanbase.

“I thought it wouldn't get any better after South Africa a couple of weeks ago but they have proved me wrong again. They keep turning up for us and it is important that we keep turning up for them. Last week they gave us the best day of our life and we gave them something similar if you look around at some of the faces.

“We are delighted to win the pool, this is where we want to be now in a quarter-final against the toughest opposition we could get. The way the draw was made three years ago, it turned out a bit unfair, it is the hand that we were dealt and we have to be ready for New Zealand next week.” It wasn’t all perfect for Ireland who have a handful of injury concerns now with the forced replacements of James Lowe and Mack Hansen but Ireland’s casualty ward remains remarkably light so deep into a major tournament. The journey continues.

Meanwhile ex-Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll doesn't believe Ireland have anything to fear against New Zealand - but still reckons it will take a 'monumental performance to beat the All Blacks.

Brian O'Driscoll, speaking on ITV after Ireland's convincing victory over Scotland, said no one in Ireland will be getting ahead of themselves, knowing full well the threat that this New Zealand team poses. 

"Be nervous around the prospect of what's coming and with the utmost respect for the All-Black, they are a great World Cup team, they've won multiple World Cups but I think we're a vastly improved team in the last year, miserly, don't cough up that many scores. It's seldom that we concede two." 

O'Driscoll spoke of the evolution of the Irish game plan: "Four years ago we came unstuck because we tried to do the same thing for two or three years just a little bit better and everyone worked us out. Teams stayed off us for three or four phases and waited for the power play to come and then completely flattened us. 

"Whereas, now with so many shot options, Johnny Sexton being able to pull the trigger on two, three, four options and then when they don't pick the right one, their ability to get back and create one-on-ones and mismatches very quickly within a phase or two is a real point of difference in this team. 

"On top of that, they are unbelievable at the ruck, there were ten turnovers against Scotland, spread throughout the team. So, they're just putting all these pieces together very very well but it will still take a monumental performance against a very good All-Black team."

Another ex-Irish captain Rory Best also told ITV: "The big thing with this team is the way they can play, they can mix it physically with teams or they can play on the front foot with great phase play. Generally their set pieces have been really strong. So, they have a real variety in how they can go about winning games. But I think the biggest thing they have is this togetherness, this is real team bond."

*additional reporting by Darragh Leen