Hansen: Now Ireland are best in the world

tick off in Ireland, so happy days.”

The All Blacks remain the top-ranked side in the rankings but when asked if this win makes Ireland the front-runners for the finals in Japan next year, head coach Hansen (left) quipped: “If you want to make them favourites, then go ahead.

“I said at the start of the week that it was the two best teams in the world playing. As of now they are the number one team in the world – so I guess they are favourites.”

But Hansen had no complaints. “I’d like to congratulate Ireland,” he said.

“They played superbly well, they took their chances in the game and we didn’t take ours, and our discipline fell down a little in the first half.

“The effort from our boys was first class and we just got beaten by the better team.”

Schmidt in reply to Hansen quip saying Ireland are favourites said: “The World Cup? In 11 or 12 months time? Yeah, we’re going to have to work hard in the next week to make sure we’re ready for the USA!

“People will postulate about who’s where and who’s favourite but it’s a nebulous thing for us. We’ll leave 11 months time to 11 months time.”