An article on the All Blacks website suggests they were better off not playing another November international test at the weekend as it would likely have been against Ireland and they could have been "ambushed" like Australia and South Africa.
It calls Ireland "the best team in Europe" at the moment and has plenty of praise for Jonny Sexton - "the best in-game management first five-eight" in the game right now.
While Kiwi fans might throw their jerseys up in the air in protest, in Jonathan Sexton the Six Nations champions have perhaps have the best in-game management first five-eighth going around (based on current form mind), but it is their pack that has been fearsome.
That is perhaps a little bit in contrast to a Kiwi columnist who thought it would be generous to say Sexton would get into the All Blacks starting XV right now and that Tommy Bowe and Rory Best would be the only two Irish players capable of doing so.
It also says at another meeting between the Six Nations champions and the world's number one ranked team is "eagerly awaited".
Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
