Eddie O'Sullivan: 'Irish rugby has come of age. We're arguably the best team in the world'

Former Ireland head coach Eddie O'Sullivan has said Ireland have a claim to be the best team in the world after their 16-9 win over New Zealand.

The RTÉ pundit said Ireland were the better team "by a mile" in a first-ever home victory over the All Blacks.

"Today Irish rugby has come of age. There was times we flirted with the top-five. This is real," he said.

"We are arguably the best team in the world after today. I know we're second in the rankings but we were the better team today by a mile.

"To be fair to New Zealand, we played absolutely brilliantly, they played brilliantly but we held them off and we were the better side.

"We had the character to keep defending, defending, defending.

"This is it. We all talked before the game that the best team was going to walk away today, so we've come of age as a rugby nation.

"We'll be taken seriously by anyone who wants to play us now."

Eddie O'Sullivan: "Today Irish rugby has come of age. This is real. We are arguably the best side in the world." https://t.co/0IMitsIxQF #RTErugby pic.twitter.com/KVt4M0oi8k

— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) November 17, 2018