World beaters.

Joe Schmidt has understandably played down Ireland’s famous 16-9 win over the All Blacks on Saturday, while Steve Hansen has of course already begun his Rugby World Cup mind games, branding Ireland the new “best team in the world…”

But how have the lads across the pond reacted? We’ve already seen what the New Zealand media have had to say, lauding Ireland’s win and the manner of their victory. And it’s much of the same in Britain.

In the Sunday Times (UK), Stephen Jones writes:

“Ireland took rugby’s globe and set it spinning, in an awestruck Dublin last night. They took notions of All Black infallibility and tore them to shreds.”

“The World Cup may or may not have been turned on its head, but one thing is certain. Ireland know they can and should beat New Zealand; it is now Steve Hansen and the Kiwi coaches who have to catch up with Joe Schmidt, Andy Farrell and the Irish masterminds.”

Mean while The Observer’s Robert Kitson writes:

“Brutal does not even begin to describe the contest but, for Ireland, the outcome was as beautiful as any in their rugby history.

“If New Zealand are still officially the world’s best team, it did not particularly feel that way at the final whistle.”

Elsewhere, in The Independent (UK), Nick Purewal said Saturday’s win was “Schmidt’s men at their gritty, canny and brutal best…”

“And after passing this unremitting challenge against the back-to-back world champions, few could argue if they do. This was boss Schmidt’s men at their gritty, canny and brutal best,” he writes.

“All Blacks chief Hansen warned his side not to fall for any of Schmidt’s special moves, but that’s exactly what happened for Stockdale’s winning score.”

And finally in the The Daily Mail, Will Kelleher says Ireland’s win will “reverberate around the world…”

“This result will reverberate around the world, and so it should. Ireland are world beaters. They have now sent the All Blacks packing twice in two years – no northern hemisphere side has done that since England were on the march to their World Cup win.”

“The rugby world has shifted on its axis,”