Ireland star Jacob Stockdale says teams no longer fear NZ

Ireland winger Jacob Stockdale knows the All Blacks are "still the team to beat" at next year's Rugby World Cup in Japan, but admits other nations don't fear the two-time defending champions anymore.

The 22-year-old scored the only try in Ireland's historic 16-9 win over the All Blacks in Dublin last month, when he re-gathered his own kick and fended off several defenders to score in the 49th minute.

The seven-point win was Ireland's second-ever against the All Blacks, but the first on home soil in front of a sold-out Aviva Stadium. The other was at Soldier Field in Chicago two years ago, when the Irish won 40-29.

After the latest win, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said the Irish should be the favourites to win the World Cup.

Speaking to the Guardian, Stockdale said Ireland backed themselves to beat New Zealand once more, should they meet at the World Cup.

"Everybody else is saying it out loud for us. Any player with a Tier One nation who says they're not thinking about the World Cup would be lying.

"You don't say, 'hopefully we'll get to the semis and then go out'. Winning it is a massive goal.

"New Zealand are still the side to beat, but we've won two of our last three games against them.

"They have that World Cup history and experience, but I don't think there's the fear of New Zealand like before. We're in a good position, we're very confident."

Ireland are in Pool A, while the All Blacks are in Pool B, so the rivals could meet in either the quarter-finals, final or the third/fourth playoff match.

If the All Blacks top their pool, while Ireland finish second - or vice versa - that would set up a quarter-final clash, but if both finish top or second, they could go on to reach the final or the bronze-medal match, should they lose in the semi-finals.

Stockdale added that the 2013 loss, when Ryan Crotty scored after the full-time siren, added fuel to the fire to cause a major upset.

"It was an incredible experience to be involved in that game.

"To be the first team to beat the All Blacks in Dublin - and to get a try - was special. There's also more belief.

"When we lost to them in 2013, there was the feeling we were holding on and trying not to let them score.

"This time, we were trying to attack all the way through. We went after them with confidence.

"That's down to the coaches and senior players. They made a big impact."