They don't think a whole lot of us down there.

It's well known in rugby circles that respect from New Zealand when it comes to the oval ball is earned, not given. The All Blacks are far and away the best team in world rugby at the moment and they've blown apart The Rugby Championship with some scintillating performances. In the process they've managed to clock up a total of 262 points over the six games in the southern hemisphere competition while conceding just 84 points. Sheer dominance are the words that spring to mind. Ireland will face the mighty All Blacks in two games in November and will be hoping to come out on the right side of one or both of the results for the first time in history. After the heartbreak of a few years ago... It seems like the New Zealand media are very confident of their side's chances ahead of the November tests, if this opinion piece on Newshub New Zealand is anything to go on. The article states: "We are so far ahead of the pack that we could literally send an All Black D side to Europe on the End of Year Tour with basically a whole new team and still wipe the floor clean with the 'Northern Raiders.'" It continues on to infer that the Ireland team is a much softer touch than Wales or England, neither of whom will face the All Blacks this November, and both of them would provide a sterner test than Ireland.

"I've been of the view for a very long time," journalist Matt Tewhatu writes, "that there is nothing to gain by sending a full strength All Black side to the Northern Hemisphere for a month-long tour after a very long season that stretches back to the end of February.

"If we were coming against the more challenging nations of Wales and England (loosely used expression there) then I could possibly see a point."

Don't sugarcoat it Matt, tell us how what you really think of us...