Simon Easterby insists the possibility that Saturday's World Cup quarter-final may be the last game for Joe Schmidt and Rory Best is not being used as motivation by Ireland.
The duo will step away when Ireland's tournament is over and that is a reality now facing Ireland as the All Blacks will provide the last eight opposition in Tokyo.
"I don't think we'd be thinking about that," said Easterby, who has been an assistant coach under Schmidt since 2014.
"It's the first time I've thought about it, when you mention it. There's lots of guys have their own way of motivating themselves and have different reasons.
"This group has been challenged in lots of different ways in the last couple of months.
"They've been challenged by the media and more importantly they've been challenged by themselves to keep improving, keep pushing.
"I don't think they'll need any extra motivation - it doesn't get any bigger at this stage for us than a World Cup quarter-final against the All Blacks.
"No, we don't need any extra motivation."
Easterby is perfectly placed to explain how Ireland became a consistent winning team under Schmidt.
Now 44, Easterby made 65 Test appearances for Ireland between 2002 and '08, departing from the set-up before the breakthrough Grand Slam triumph the following year.
“I wasn’t involved in 2013 (against the All Blacks), and unfortunately they came off second best late in the game, but I think the group as a whole have grown the past couple of years," said Easterby.
"The ability to beat teams on our day has gathered pace over the last few years.
“As a team we were often gallant losers in my time as a player, we pushed teams close every now and then.
"We had the odd maybe two or three or four game winning streak against the top sides, and then maybe we’d fall over.
“But the consistency and the confidence that Joe has brought - not just to beat the likes of the All Blacks, but to go to South Africa, to go to Australia and win a series, to win Championships, to win a Grand Slam - the confidence the group has with the game plan, that they have in Andy Farrell’s defence...
"There's a combination of different things that have come together all at the same time.
"Sometimes when you don’t quite get everything right then sometimes we’re not good enough.
"We’ve seen that as well. So we have to be at our best - or close to our best - on Saturday. And if we are, then we’ll push them all the way.
“I think they (the All Blacks) know that, but we also have to be wary of the threats that they bring. Joe is across all of that detail, across our mindset and our understanding of what it takes to beat the All Blacks.
"That filters through the group as we go through the week and the confidence that we gain from has been shown in a couple of performances that we’ve had against them.”
