All Blacks coach Steve Hansen thinks world number two Ireland are favourites for next year's Rugby World Cup.
This comes off the back of a 16-9 loss against the Irish in Dublin on Sunday morning (NZT).
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The Kiwi boss suggesting the northern hemisphere side will go into next year's World Cup as the team to beat.
"Given you had the two best sides in the world play each other, they won so I guess that does make them favourites, Hansen said.
"There's a lot of water to go under the bridge before this World Cup starts.
"A lot of things can happen, injuries, people come up with brainwaves and sack coaches."
But Ireland coach Joe Schmidt played down the comments about his team being the favourites.
The Kiwi reminded jounalists of the credentials of the back-to-back world champions.
"How can we be favourites for next year when they’ve been world number one team for nine years and continue to be world number one.
"We were at home and they have just come off the back of a long trip around the world, he said.
"People will postulate about whose were, who's favourite, it’s a nebulous thing for us because all we can tangibly control is our performance."
Hansen also touched on how open the 2019 Rugby World Cup currently is.
"Ireland are going to go to the World Cup pretty confident because they have a good side, so do we and so do England"
"Isn't it good for world rugby that nobody knows who's going to win this World Cup?"
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