Andy Farrell said for "little old Ireland" to be in "the same bracket" as their Rugby World Cup quarter-final opponents New Zealand shows how far the Irish have come as a rugby nation.
Farrell was speaking after his side showed why they are ranked number one in the world as they crushed Scotland 36-14 in their final Pool B match at the Stade de France on Saturday.
It sets up a rematch with the All Blacks, the three-time World Cup winners who thrashed Ireland at the same stage in 2019. Ireland though recorded a historic series win in New Zealand last year.
Farrell will be bidding to take the Six Nations Grand Slam champions to new territory in reaching the last four of a World Cup for the first time.
The All Blacks, though, have begun to show some scintillating form in the pool matches despite an opening defeat to hosts France.
"New Zealand are a fantastic side," said the 48-year-old Englishman.
"But for little old Ireland to be talked about in the same bracket shows how far we have come as a rugby nation.
"Our respect for them is through the roof, their form is top drawer at the moment.
"They will be relishing this fixture to try and put a few things right."
Farrell -- who after an initially rocky patch has taken the Irish to new heights since he stepped up from assistant coach after the 2019 World Cup -- said his team were battle-hardened after two tough pool matches.
They beat defending champions South Africa in an epic match a fortnight ago and then ran the Scots ragged on Saturday after a tricky first 20 minutes.
"The All Blacks is as tough as tough as it gets," said Farrell.
"Two weeks ago was tough and tonight was like a knockout match.
"However, it gets a whole lot tougher next week but hopefully the All Blacks will have to be at their best to beat us."
- 'Put it right' -
Farrell does have some potential injury headaches with pivotal players. Wings Mack Hansen and James Lowe have calf and eye issues while James Ryan has a wrist problem.
Farrell, though, was keen to enjoy the moment and the players' wives and girlfriends were in the crowd -- Peter O'Mahony, who won his 100th cap, took his children onto the pitch at the end.
"We will enjoy the win tonight, it has been a big week for us and we gave a fantastic side Scotland the respect they deserve," said Farrell.
"We will recover from this and I expect do so with a spring in our step.
"If you cannot get excited about this now then I do not know what would get you out of bed.
"These boys have been waiting for these big games, these opportunities to show what they have learned for a while now."
Ireland's inspirational captain Johnny Sexton said the 17-match winning run since July last year -- the loss to the All Blacks in their Test series being their last defeat -- was down to Farrell.
"We went to New Zealand and Andy told us he'd put us under the most pressure he could find," said Sexton.
"To go on a three-Test tour but also to do the midweek games, it was to test us and to make us learn.
"We learnt so many lessons on that tour to take with us for the Six Nations, to win a Grand Slam, and it's to put us in this situation to have to play them again."
Sexton, 38, brings the curtain down on his stellar career when Ireland bow out of the competition and he has his eyes on a different feeling to the crushing disappointment he felt after the 2019 hammering.
"(The All Blacks) have already said it's one that they want and when they're hurting and they want to put it right, that's the biggest challenge in rugby, to try and beat them when they're in that frame of mind," said Sexton.
"Two teams will both be under pressure for different reasons. And it will be who copes with that the best and who can put their game out there on the biggest day when the pressure is on."
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