Andy Farrell is looking at the autumn international fixtures as a chance to "reassess" as he urges his Ireland team to "kick on" ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

Farrell is back at the helm, having temporarily stepped away from the Ireland job in order to oversee the British and Irish Lions' successful tour of Australia earlier this year.

But now he is back in the dugout ahead of their four Tests against New Zealand, Japan, Australia and South Africa, with the first taking place in Chicago on Saturday.

Ireland earned their first-ever win over the All Blacks at Soldier Field in 2016, triumphing 40-29, and also won their subsequent four matches against them, including a 2-1 series win in New Zealand in 2022.

However, the All Blacks have won their last two meetings, knocking Ireland out of the 2023 World Cup quarter-finals.

Now, halfway through the World Cup cycle, Farrell is keen to gauge Ireland's progress.

"Many teams are reassessing where they're at, every single season," Farrell said. "Halfway stage, though, between World Cup cycles is being talked about.

"There's always a reassessment of where all parts of our game are at, and we've certainly done that.

"It's up to us to make sure that we keep kicking on, because staying where we are isn't going to be good enough going forward.

Our team to face New Zealand in Chicago!

— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) October 30, 2025

"It's about us all, including myself and all the backroom staff, to keep getting better, keep improving, to keep challenging one another to reassess where our standards lie and how we need to kick on with that.

"Because every team is going to progress over the next couple of years, and we need to be at the forefront of that."

Ireland have twice won the Six Nations under Farrell, including a Grand Slam in 2023, but Farrell is relishing the chance of leading them to another World Cup and improving on their last result.

"It's not daunting – it is what it is," Farrell added. "This is where you want to be.

"This is the challenge that you want in front of your team to see how you react.

"We constantly say big opportunities are there to be taken, and if they're not, we've got to understand why and learn from that. So, in that regard, you can't lose."