By Padraic HalpinDUBLIN (Reuters) – “Roll on the World Cup” was the message from Ireland captain Johnny Sexton on Saturday after his side completed a Six Nations Grand Slam in a campaign that showed just why they are the world’s top-ranked team.

Ireland were far from their confident and controlled best in the 29-16 victory over England but found a way as they as they have been doing with increasing ease in a run of 10 straight wins and 22 in their last 24 games.

“I’ve just been saying to Johnny that there are bigger fish to fry than this. We’re onto the World Cup. We’re a good side that’s nowhere near reached its potential,” Ireland coach Andy Farrell told a news conference.

“Everyone’s going to get better in the summer and we get to spend a lot more time together so we expect our side when we get to the first game of the World Cup to be a lot better than what we are now and that’s the reality of it.”