All Blacks defence coach Scott McLeod said he was "hugely impressed with the intensity" of Ireland's Rugby World Cup victory over South Africa on Saturday night.
"Set-piece pressure was huge from both sides," said McLeod on Monday.
"The defence and the movement and the collisions for as long as it was was immense. A lot of us were really impressed with watching that game. It's definitely the standard.
"That's what impressed me the most, the speed of play but the collisions were clean. They were very clean and accurate, there was no infringing around that area. And that's a bloody hard thing to do that speed, with those collisions and bodies are flying everywhere and both teams did that very, very well."
23 September 2023; Steven Kitshoff of South Africa is tackled by Peter O'Mahony of Ireland during the 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and Ireland at Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Speaking about the New Zealand players, McLeod said watching a game like Saturday night's "definitely gets them buzzing".
"They can see it and they can feel it in the speed," he added.
"It's not something we've talked about as a group at all but the players have seen it and they've talked about it amongst themselves. There is a buzz, that excites them, that's the level they want to play at."
All Blacks backrow Dalton Papalii said a game like Ireland vs South Africa is "what fans love to watch".
"Two great teams going at it and also there were some moments in that game where you would hold your breath for longer than usual.
"As players, we try to watch those games and watch it as a player and get some detail and see what they’re doing, but it’s hard not turn into a spectator and actually be on the edge of your seat watching those games because that’s how rugby should be played - how the game flowed so well.
"There was no calls around head-highs (tackles) or shoulder to heads or anything, it was clean contact and it was fast ball as well. Those are the games I love watching and I think everyone can agree on that."
23 September 2023; Jasper Wiese of South Africa is tackled by Ireland players, from left, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne and Caelan Doris during the 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and Ireland at Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Papalii added that he "one hundred per cent" took inspiration from the game.
"If you want to play with the best you’ve got to play at that level," he said.
"We’ve shown glimpses throughout the year and this is where you need to do it because this is the tournament we all want to perform at.
"We know what the standard is now, and we’re pretty excited coming off that bye week to really show what we’ve got and the level we want to play at."
9 July 2022; Dalton Papalii of New Zealand, James Lowe and Tadhg Beirne of Ireland attempts to gain possession of a loose ball during the Steinlager Series match between the New Zealand and Ireland at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Asked if Ireland would be a good quarter-final match-up for the All Blacks, McLeod said he wasn't going to get caught in that "trap". The All Blacks face Italy in their third game of the tournament on Friday.
"I have rats and possums on my property and that's a trap, right there," he said.
"I know what a trap looks like, I know what it smells like and that to me is a trap right there.
"Pure thing being, we deal with what is in front of us. Italy are a very good side and if we look too far ahead or start thinking about others, we will come undone. So, we can't do that. Thanks for the trap."
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