Andy Farrell says his Ireland team will do everything they can to create more "history" when they face the All Blacks in Saturday's series decider.
Last weekend’s victory was a first win on New Zealand soil for an Irish Test team and with the series level at 1-1, Ireland are tantalisingly close to what would be an incredible tour success, more so because the visitors lost both their opening matches.
"It doesn’t get any better, this is what it’s all about," head coach Farrell told RTÉ Sport after the second string recorded a 30-24 victory over the Maori All Blacks on Tuesday morning.
"We’ve got a fit squad, which is great.
"We’ve got a day off tomorrow together and we turn up for work on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, three more days to go to make a bit of history."
Ireland had looked for and got two matches against the Maori, which were confirmed just before the squad was announced.
Farrell had wanted to test the depth of his panel ahead of next year's Six Nations and World Cup.
The likes of Ciarán Frawley, Nick Timoney, Jeremy Loughman, Joe McCarthy and Jimmy O’Brien all got to experience taking on the formidable Maoris, who, until today, had not lost in five games against Ireland selections.
"You’ve got a young pack and we needed to fix a few things in the scrum from the last game that these guys played," he said referring to the 32-17 loss in the opening match.
"The game-management from half-backs in these conditions is never going to be perfect. I thought it was an excellent victory for them.
"They have learned a lot, sometimes desperation can get in the way, we were too desperate, trying to go our own way and therefore our discipline, not just with the referee but how we want to play the game, was pretty poor but it’s all about the second game and how you learn and improve and they certainly did that.
"They were able to get themselves back down to neutral the whole time when things weren't perfect and that's a great lesson.
"I keep saying you could get four or five gems from this.
"These guys will have a holiday and they’ll rip into preseason with an ambition to make the squad for the autumn series and that’s only going to be good for us going forward."
The game was played in very difficult weather conditions but Farrell says it about adapting.
"It was horrendous conditions, and you never see what it’s like on TV," added the Englishman.
"Obviously, this is a cricket ground, and a bowl. The wind was horrendous, it’s tipped down all day.
"Some of our lads played in a second Test here for the Lions and it was horrendous that night [but we won].
"It’s hard to work out because it’s coming from all corners and it’s changing constantly, but we’ve managed these conditions."
Finlay Bealhem picked up a minor calf injury in the warm-up, and although he's likely to be fit for the third Test, it meant a late call up to the bench for former Leinster and Ireland forward Michael Bent (above), a native of New Zealand.
"What a story, he played his first game coming off the plane and being brought straight into the Irish side against South Africa [in 2012] and he’s played his last game here for Ireland," he said without elaborating on Bealham’s fitness.
"He missed his flight last night and he only arrived this morning, so what a story."
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