Ireland

Farrell, who was not in Paris to accept the award, saw off competition from South Africa’s Jacques Nienaber, New Zealand’s Ian Foster and Fiji’s Simon Raiwalui.

The 48-year-old Englishman guided Ireland to a Six Nations Grand Slam earlier this year, but his side were knocked out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals by New Zealand, who went on to lose to South Africa in the final.

New Zealand’s Ardie Savea was named men’s 15s player of the year ahead of Ireland’s Bundee Aki, France’s Antoine Dupont and South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth.

The All Blacks are also adamant they're a much better team now than the one that lost to hosts France in their opening game of the World Cup, as they prepare to try and stop the Irish from reaching the final four of the tournament for the first time.

Ireland have won four of their last six games against the All Blacks, including their two most recent clashes.

If the All Blacks were to be beaten in Sunday morning's quarter-final in Paris, they would suffer the ignominy of heading home as statistically the worst ever All Blacks team at a World Cup.

Etzebeth, a major enforcer in the Springbok pack, had been struggling with a shoulder problem picked up in the 18-3 victory over Scotland, but will line up alongside Franco Mostert in the second row.

It is the same starting XV that defeated the Scots, bar Bongi Mbonambi at hooker as he replaces Malcolm Marx, who has since been ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury.

Deon Fourie and Marco van Staden are the replacement hooker options, while the Munster lock pairing of RG Snyman and Jean Kleyn are also on the bench.

The fly-half contributed in Samoa’s strong outing after successfully kicking one conversion and two penalties.

However, Samoa fell short 13-17 against the world number one side.

Sopoaga is one of the three former All Blacks players that was named by Coach Seilala Mapusua for the Manu Samoa’s Rugby World Cup squad.

He was named alongside flanker Steven Luatua and prop Charlie Faumuin.

The 37-year-old first five-eighth was charged with misconduct after engaging in a heated exchange with match officials after Leinster’s Heineken Champions Cup final defeat to La Rochelle in May.

An independent disciplinary committee ruled Sexton’s behaviour “confrontational and aggressive towards and disrespectful of the match officials”.

Each member of the set-up was heavily outnumbered by family and friends, to a person drinking in the achievement of a first Grand Slam on home soil in the professional era.

It was a lovely sight and a fitting end to a Six Nations that promised so much and delivered in equal measure.

Ireland scored three first-half tries with Hugo Keenan, James Lowe and Andrew Porter all crossing.

Damian Penaud's brilliant counter-attacking try and three Thomas Ramos penalties kept France in touch.

Ramos cancelled out Ross Byrne's penalty with a drop-goal, but Garry Ringrose's try secured Ireland's win.

The victory further underlines Ireland's status as the world's number one side and gives Andy Farrell's side a national record 13th straight home win, while ending France's dream of a second successive Grand Slam.

Saturday's 32-22 win by the Irish in Wellington clinched a historic first series win in New Zealand and moved them top of the world rankings.

"If we played New Zealand again next week, we'd probably beat them again," said ex-Ireland coach O'Sullivan.

"But I think, come the World Cup, things will even up again."

"There is a lot of water to flow under the bridge between now and next year," he added.

Ireland's latest victory over the All Blacks was their fifth win in eight contests against the three-time world champions.

Ireland completely dominated the home side in the first 40 minutes, leading 22-3 at half-time after scoring three tries in front of a sold out crowd.

Warhorse captain Johnny Sexton was supreme as the Irish stunned the hosts with the string of tries and bone-jarring tackles.

The All Blacks scored the first try of the second half to Ardie Savea before making the most of an Ireland player being yellow carded to dot down again through Akira Ioane and cut the visitors lead to 25-17.

Ireland led 10-7 at half time, with the All Blacks having a player sent off after 30 minutes.

Prop Andrew Porter scored the opening try for Ireland after just three minutes, with Jonny Sexton kicking the conversion and then a penalty to give the visitors a deserved early lead.

The All Blacks then had winger Leicester Fainga'anuku and Ofa Tu'ungafasi both sin-binned and replacement prop Angus Ta'avao was red-carded in the 31st minute for a dangerous tackle.