Kiwi Wales coach Warren Gatland says despite the All Blacks' recent shock loss to the Springboks in Wellington, they're still "on another level" from everyone else heading towards next year's World Cup.
Gatland will head to Japan next year for one last campaign with Wales to wrap up a lengthy stint coaching the British side.
In his 12-year spell with Wales, Gatland also coached the British and Irish Lions twice - including last year's Tour of New Zealand where he earned a drawn series against the All Blacks.
Having witnessed what an All Blacks side looks like a week after suffering a loss from that experience, the 53-year-old said the 36-34 loss to South Africa will only help New Zealand and the global game.
"I think the All Blacks losing to South Africa recently was good for rugby, although as a Kiwi I don't want them to lose," he told Walesonline.
"If they look back at that game South Africa will know it was a great result, but with a 14-point lead if New Zealand had scored again it would probably have ended up as a 40-point blow-out.
"It was one of those games. South Africa got an intercept, there was a quick line-out throw, Beauden Barrett has missed four from six kicks at goal, they didn't take the drop goal and if Damien McKenzie holds on to that pass at the end of the game they probably would have scored."
Having coached in and against Six Nations rivals since 2007, Gatland offered his insights into where northern hemisphere rugby stands for next year's World Cup.
"You'd like to think so," Gatland said when asked if the World Cup was "particularly open".
"With Ireland and ourselves, and there has been some resurgence in Scotland. England, with the amount of depth they have, are capable of winning the World Cup if they get it right," Gatland said.
"So it is pretty exciting. We have gone into World Cups hoping to be competing with southern hemisphere teams. Apart from the All Blacks, who are still another level ahead, there isn't much between the other teams."
Should Gatland manage a strong campaign next year and the All Blacks avoid any more upsets, the earliest the two sides could meet would be in the semi-finals of the World Cup.
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