Relax lads.

New Zealand are without doubt the number one team in the world right now. There’s absolutely no denying it. The World Rankings don’t lie and they’ve got back-to-back Rugby World Cups to top it off.

On Saturday they sent a warning to all other nations hoping to take their crown off them in Japan next year, by smashing the Wallabies 40-12 to claim the Bledisloe Cup for a 14th consecutive season.

But as we all know – there’s a lot of rugby to be played between now and September 2019. The All Blacks may be favourites to retain the World Cup for an unprecedented third time, but they will not be without a challenge.

New Zealand Herald columnist Chris Rattue however, is already ‘jumping the gun’ and reckons the All Blacks might as well be ‘handed’ the World Cup right now after Saturday’s result.

“It’s time to jump the gun,” he wrote.

“They might as well hand over the Webb Ellis Cup now, with the All Blacks looking this good.”

“If this All Blacks team holds together —and that’s no gimme considering some of the players’ ages and injury histories — they will be unbeatable at the World Cup in Japan next year”

“They’ve got so many strings to their bow, the most important being an ability to up the ante when under pressure. They’ve also got Beauden Barrett, who ripped the Wallabies apart at Eden Park on Saturday night.”

“Barrett may come to be widely regarded as the greatest No 10 to pull on a rugby jersey, and he’s certainly already the best I’ve seen.”

Some bold words that may come back to haunt him and New Zealand next year. And as for Beauden Barrett being the greatest ten of all time? Another questionable claim if you ask me.