Losing to Ireland this weekend may not be the worst way to prepare for next year's Rugby World Cup title defence, claims former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.
The clash between the world's two top-ranked sides has taken on added importance just nine months out from the tournament, with All Blacks coach Steve Hansen declaring the winners can claim the mantle of world's best.
That's not strictly true - even if they emerged big winners, the Irish would fall short mathematically, but they would certainly hold bragging rights and whatever psychological advantage that might bring.
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And that's OK with McCaw, who led New Zealand to victory at the last two World Cups.
"It can mean a little bit, whoever wins," he told Newshub. "But a lot of things can change, especially this far out.
"I just think back to 2015, we lost to Australia just a few weeks before we went away.
"You can look at it two ways, but it probably helped us, if anything, realising we were in for a hell of a challenge in that final."
Sure enough, less than three months after their 27-19 loss in Sydney, the All Blacks met the Wallabies again in the World Cup final, running out 34-17 winners.
Ireland certainly have the recent pedigree to trouble the All Blacks. They lost to a last-minute converted try in 2013 and finally recorded their first victory over New Zealand in Chicago three years later.
They are also reigning Six Nations/Grand Slam champions.
McCaw told Newshub that facing Ireland just a week after the 16-15 thriller against England was perfect preparation for the pressure-cooker World Cup format.
"It's going to be a huge challenge," he said. "They managed to sneak through against England, which was a hell of a match.
"To back that up 12 months out from the World Cup… you have to be able to back up the big games, so that's going to be a huge test."
Last week, McCaw nominated Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has a worthy successor, if Steve Hansen stepped down from his All Blacks role next year.
But he told Newshub he wouldn't discount current assistant coach Ian Foster either.
"Absolutely, he's good enough," said McCaw. "Look at the All Blacks and what they're doing now - it's not just one man.
"He's been there with Steven for a while and from when he started to now, the knowledge he's got is huge. Continuity can sometimes be a good thing as well.
"Hopefully, the boys do the job in nine months' time and it'll be hard to look past him."
Newshub.
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