Andy Farrell disagrees with general consensus of Ireland’s quality

He cut a positive figure.

As pointed out by the Irish Independent's Will Slattery, Ireland have now lost their last six games against either New Zealand, South Africa or France, by double digits.

The general consensus among fans is that there is now a very clear gap between those three sides and Ireland, and that today's scoreline of 40-21 was a fair reflection of the chasm between Andy Farrell's men and the All Blacks.

Farrell, however, was more positive than most, and was adamant that the sides are closer than the scoreline suggests.

The Ireland head coach said: “It wasn’t just the wrong side of the result, they won pretty comfortably in the end. I suppose the overriding feeling is one as a whole for the tour really. We’ve got to use it in the right manner for what’s happening in the next 15 months.

“If you look back on it, some of our best ball players, that’s why I say uncharacteristic really because it’s something you don’t see on a daily basis or on a weekend either. But that’s what big matches do to you and that’s a lesson that’s got to be learned, that’s for sure.

“I think the two sides are certainly closer than that, but I suppose the only thing that matters is how both teams keep on improving over the next 15 months.”