STONE COLD WARNING

FORMER All Blacks boss Steve Hansen had some cautionary words for Ireland as they look forward to the World Cup in September.

- ALEX SPINK

New Zealand's two-time World Cup-winning coach says Andy Farrell's (right) men must deal with the added pressure of being the No.1 team on the planet.

Hansen, who coaches a World XV against Eddie Jones' Barbarians at Twickenham on May 28, said: "Every time a team is No.1 in the world, you've got to consider them to be a World Cup contender,.

"But it's a tough tournament to win, and they were No.1 going into the last one, weren't they? "So, they've seemed to struggle a little bit at World Cups. If it was the All Blacks, they'd probably be called 'chokers'. They've come a long way, they believe in themselves, they're a very good side.