While the Irish rugby side may be fresh off the back of a second successive Six Nations triumph, it's fair to say that some of the wind has been taken out of the team's sails in recent weeks.
The defeat against England at Twickenham was a huge disappointment, with that result ending any hopes of winning consecutive Grand Slams. As well as that, it's fair to say that Andy Farrell's side did not perform to their best over the last few games of the championship.
Ireland's form during the opening few weeks of the competition reignited debates surrounding the best team in world rugby, with some feeling that they had overtaken South Africa as the top side in the game.
Some still believe that to be the case, with the two sides set to face in a two-test series later this summer.
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NZ star's response to suggestion Ireland are world's best rugby team
With many debating who is the world's best team out of Ireland and South Africa, New Zealand are often overlooked in that conversation. After all, they did defeat Ireland in a World Cup quarter-final and run the South Africans close in the final.
In saying that, their star player believes there is only one team that be considered the finest in world rugby.
Speaking to reporters in Japan, he gave a blunt response when asked about suggestions that Ireland are currently the top side in the game. He also looked forward to his team's visit to South Africa for two games in the Rugby Championship later this year.
Mate, South Africa are world champions. That speaks for itself...
South Africa is one of the biggest rivals for us as All Blacks. And yeah, we do miss playing South African teams in Super Rugby.
Playing two Tests in South Africa, it’s like a highlight I guess in a player’s career in New Zealand to be able to go to South Africa and play against the Springboks.
It will be awesome to be able to make that team, be a part of that and come back to South Africa and play the world champions. There will be a bit of sting in that too. It will be good.
South Africa certainly deserve their title as the world's best rugby team after back-to-back World Cup wins, with a victory against the Springboks the biggest scalp in the sport at the moment.
Ireland will have a chance to make their case this summer with those two games in July. It should make for quite the spectacle.
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