All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and captain Richie McCaw saluted a ‘special’ All Blacks team after they completed a clean sweep of victories this year with a last-gasp win over Ireland today.

Hansen’s team have set new standards since he took over from Graham Henry after the World Cup victory in 2011, losing just once before becoming the first team in the professional era to win all their Test matches in a calendar year.

Last week they had to survive a fight back from England, the last team to defeat them, who came back to within two points while there was a similar scare in Paris a week earlier before they emerged victorious over France.

Then there was today when Ireland were on the verge of a first victory in 108 years of trying.

Recalling a club game 12 years ago when former All Blacks lock Todd Blackadder fired up a young Richie McCaw, the flanker said the key was never to give in.