Ireland are the No.1 side in the world right now – according to conquered All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.
The reigning Grand Slam and Six Nations champions beat New Zealand – the two-time defending World Cup winners – on Irish soil for the first time in 113 years of trying on Saturday.
The 16-9 victory owed much to stubborn Irish defence and Jacob Stockdale’s moment of magic at the start of the second half.
The All Blacks remain No.1 in the world rankings with Ireland close behind in second – but there has been a changing of the guard according to Hansen, whose side also lost to Ireland in Chicago two years ago.
“As I said earlier in the week this was number one versus number two in the world,” said Hansen. “So as of now they are the number one team in the world.
“So if you want to make them World Cup favourites, go ahead. I guess they are favourites.
“They played outstandingly well and deserved to win, they took their chances and we didn’t take ours.”
The All Blacks were held tryless on Saturday night at the Aviva Stadium for the first time since the second Test against the British & Irish Lions last summer.
But with the Rugby World Cup in Japan now less than a year away, Hansen has vowed that his side will come back fighting.
“It will be very useful, no doubt about that, this team hasn’t suffered much in the last three years,” he added.
“There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge before the World Cup. A lot can happen.
“Injuries, brainwaves, sacked coaches, new coaches … what we do know is that Ireland are going to go there reasonably confident and they should be, I think New Zealand will go there feeling confident too.”
