Irish captain: Dye Chicago river green

Ireland's captain Rory Best with his children celebrate their win against the All Blacks during the test match between the New Zealand All Blacks and Ireland. Photo / Brett Phibbs.

Irish captain Rory Best says Chicago's river needs to be dyed green to celebrate his team's historic victory over the All Blacks.

Best pointed out the river was painted blue to honour the Chicago Cubs winning baseball's World Series for the first time in 108 years. With Ireland having to have waited even longer to beat New Zealand - 111 years in total - the inspirational skipper suggested it was time to get the buckets of dye out again.

"It felt like a home game for us," he said of the huge support for the underdogs from the 62,000-strong crowd at Soldier Field. "I suppose we're going to have to dye the river green for this one."

Best said Ireland never lost faith they could win the test, despite being run down in the last minute via a Ryan Crotty try in the unforgettable encounter in Dublin in 2013.

"We just talked about attacking New Zealand. We knew they are a great side. You can see how good a side they are and how much it means to our boys to have won that," the tough hooker said.

"We just had to go out and attack them. If you give them ball and stand off them they're an unbelievably dangerous outfit.

"I couldn't be prouder of the work we've put in over the last couple of weeks. It's been a long time coming and history (has been) made. We're absolutely ecstatic."

The 40-29 victory was particularly poignant given the game was preceded by the crowd and two teams paying their respects to former Irish player and Munster head coach Anthony Foley.

Foley's father Brendan played in the only other Irish team to lower the All Blacks colours when the Munster province beat New Zealand 11-0 in 1978.