Andy Farrell was keen to 'get back on the horse' after tough World Cup with England

Ireland defence coach Andy Farrell said he was desperate to get back to coaching stints after he was sacked as assistant coach of England following the World Cup debacle.

Farrell along with Mike Catt and Graham Rowntree were all part of Stuart Lancaster led England backroom staff when the red rose team were knocked out of the 2015 home World Cup at an early stage. When Eddie Jones took over from Lancaster he sacked all three existing assistant coaches and preferred Steve Borthwick and Paul Gustard as the forward and defence coach respectively.

However, Farrell, who joined Ireland as defence coach this year has bounced back splendidly as seen in his team's victories over South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

"You take everything badly. If you didn't care, you shouldn't be there in the first place," said Farrell, who will be part of the British and Irish Lions coaching team for next summer's New Zealand tour.

"The World Cup was difficult because it was a home World Cup and you don't get that opportunity again.

"But you have to go through experiences like that in life to see if you come through it.

"You've got to embrace things like that and not let it beat you down. If it does, you are in the wrong profession. I was always super-keen to get back on the horse and get going.

"It makes you stronger and it makes you reflect.

"The review after the World Cup was fantastic for me. It was a good process. It was fantastic to reflect properly, and the time off was great. I am fortunate that I went from a great job to another great job."

Farrell will be seen along with Borthwick, Rob Howley and head coach Warren Gatland in his second stint with the British and Irish Lions during the tour of New Zealand in June 2017 and the 41-year-old is excited to take on the back-to-back World Champions.

"If you look at the autumn, the four home nations' confidence after playing against the southern hemisphere is as good as it's been for quite a while," he added.

"And that's great for the Lions because it has to be about belief, it has to be about going there to win a series, it has to be about making history in the hardest place in world rugby.

"Warren has said about the players not getting on the plane if you don't believe you can win. It's the same for the coaching staff and the management.

"I was brought up on three-game series in rugby league. There are all sorts of twists and turns and emotions.

"Is the pressure on the second one (Test) to stay in it (series) or to win it? Are the tactics going to be the same as the first, or do you hold something back? I love that it's three games - winner takes all."