Johnny Sexton said “it doesn’t get much better than this” after Ireland beat the All Blacks became the first touring team in the professional era to win a series on New Zealand soil.

Ireland scored three tries before half time on Saturday in Wellington to lead 22-3, and held their nerve as New Zealand stormed back with three of their own after the interval to win 32-22 in the third and final Test to clinch the series 2-1.

It completed just the sixth series win by a visiting team in New Zealand and the first since France prevailed 2-0 in 1994.

The victory – Ireland’s fifth in the last eight meetings with the All Blacks – establishes Andy Farrell’s men as among the leading contenders to win next year’s World Cup in France.

Highlights: Ireland stun All Blacks to clinch series

Sexton made no apology for his team’s unbridled celebrations at the final whistle. “I’m sure there’s lots of smiling faces across the country. It doesn’t get much better than this,” the skipper said.

“It’s the biggest respect we can give New Zealand. The celebrations probably weren’t the most humble but that shows how much it means to us. I don’t think we could be much prouder.”

Farrell added: “We lost game one and our backs were against the wall. This is the hardest thing that you can do by a country mile in rugby, especially when you take it down to the last game and we know from history that the All Blacks will come out firing.

“The most pleasing thing for me by a long stretch was the composure when they came back at us. We never got ahead of ourselves when we were in front and we never panicked.”

© Agence France-Presse