Farrell tells Ireland to be ready for 'big boy stuff' at the World Cup

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Andy Farrell tells Ireland to be ready for ‘big boy stuff’ at the World Cup as star duo Mack Hansen and James Lowe are passed fit for quarter-final against New Zealand

  • Andy Farrell is seeking to guide Ireland into the semi-finals for the first time
  • Six Nations champions face the All Blacks in a crunch quarter-final on Saturday
  • Mack Hansen and James Lowe have brushed off injuries to face New Zealand

Andy Farrell has told Ireland to be ready for ‘big boy stuff’ and the start of the World Cup’s ‘business end’ after passing his star wings Mack Hansen and James Lowe fit to take on New Zealand.

The world’s No 1 side and current Six Nations champions face the All Blacks in a crunch quarter-final on Saturday. Ireland have never got past the last eight-stage.

Their hopes of reaching a global showpiece semi-final for the first time were boosted when head coach Farrell named Hansen and Lowe in his starting side for the Paris clash. Hansen (calf) and Lowe (eye) have brushed off injuries suffered against Scotland.

Hansen didn’t train on Tuesday and wasn’t present at the session on Wednesday in the time it was open to the media.

But Farrell has insisted the maverick Australian-born back is good to go.

Andy Farrell is seeking to guide Ireland into the World Cup semi-finals for the first time

Mack Hansen and James Lowe have brushed off injuries to face New Zealand on Saturday

IRELAND TEAM

To face New Zealand (8pm Saturday, Stade de France): Keenan; Hansen, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe; Sexton (capt), Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Beirne, Henderson, O’Mahony, Van der Flier, Doris

Replacements: Kelleher, Kilcoyne, Bealham, McCarthy, Conan, Murray, Crowley, O’Brien

‘It’s the big boy stuff – the business end of the competition – and when you get to those points within a competition, then you hopefully draw on good experiences,’ Farrell said.

‘The experiences we’ve put ourselves under in the last three or four years were for moments like this. We’ve got a very experienced group that’s been through a lot.’

Ireland have swept to the top of World Rugby’s rankings under Farrell and beat New Zealand in a three-match series in the southern hemisphere last summer.

But their past World Cup history – and the quality of their quarter-final opposition – means their successes under Farrell could all count for nothing in the French capital this weekend.

‘We’re preparing for the toughest game we’ve ever faced,’ said Ireland captain Johnny Sexton, who will retire at the end of this World Cup despite playing the best rugby of his career at 38.

‘Trying to win a World Cup is something to go and get. It’s not something to be pressured about.’

Ireland’s starting side for New Zealand is the same one which hammered Scotland at the end of the pool stages, but as expected lock James Ryan isn’t fit to be named on the bench.

Backs Keith Earls and Robbie Henshaw also miss out but Farrell stressed all three would be fit for a semi-final if Ireland make it that far.

New Zealand – for whom former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt is now a central figure – will name their team on Thursday with prop Tyrel Lomax a fitness doubt.

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