The world’s rugby media have been rich in their praise for the All Blacks’ impressive win over France with former England lock Paul Ackford declaring: “The World Cup is as good as theirs”.

Of course we New Zealanders have heard it all before as we have endured a 24-year drought at the tournament. The All Blacks have regularly dominated pool play but choked when it matters most.

But for now, let’s relish the glowing reports coming in after the commanding 37-17 Pool A win over France that will give the All Blacks their expected ride into the quarter-finals and a nation high on World Cup fever some real hope that this might be their time again.

That’s certainly the feel floating around international coverage of last night’s match.

“If the All Blacks play anything like as well for the rest of the tournament as they did in the first 45 minutes of this game, then the trophy is as good as theirs,” Ackford wrote in The Guardian newspaper.

“People sometimes wonder what’s behind the mystique of the Black machine. Well, this effort provided all the answers. Where the rest of the world makes an essentially simple game look complicated, New Zealand just focus on the basics.

“When they are on song, passes go to hand, tackles are made, first phase secured and everything is done with the minimum of fuss and maximum accuracy and efficiency.

“There was so much to admire about their performance. Dan Carter’s artistry on the advantage line, the speed with which Israel Dagg sees and reacts to opportunities, the running lines and strength of Ma’a Nonu, the predatory work of Richie McCaw and Jerome Kaino at the breakdown, the forceful, aggressive defence.

“But better than all of this is the way the All Blacks stitch everything seamlessly together as a side.

“Most teams have a weakness or two. This All Black side doesn’t, even in the teeth of a French team who made a good start to this contest. There was no panic from the Blacks, just a stiffening of resolve.

“I’ve watched all the big teams in this competition and nothing comes close to the levels New Zealand reached in the first half.

“Ireland’s effort was magnificent against Australia a week ago but it had none of the all-round excellence that the All Blacks demonstrated.

“Is this World Cup done and dusted? Leaving Eden Park, it felt like it.”

It was a similar theme on the BBC’s website where Alistair Eykyn wrote: “Have we caught an early glimpse of the future world champions? I believe we might.

“It took New Zealand just eight minutes to break the French. It’s easy to say with hindsight, but it’s the truth. From the moment fly-half Dan Carter put boot to ball to clear downfield after an inspired French opening, the visitors were done for.

“The All Blacks were intent on displaying why they are the hot favourites to lift the Webb Ellis trophy.

“It was a destructive performance from New Zealand, who have now declared their hand. We have seen the real All Black side, and even their doubters must recognise that it is a genuine force to be reckoned with.”

South African website SuperSport felt the All Blacks had hit “their most awesome form” against France.

“The match had been billed as the big one of the Pool phases and it lived up to that billing, with the game being played at a fast and furious. However apart from an impressive opening from France, which suggested it might be a close game, the All Blacks made sure that the result of the contest was seldom in any doubt as the hosts turned in the commanding all-round performance the demanding Kiwi public have been asking for.”

Irish website Setanta said the All Blacks showed “no mercy to humiliate France”.

International news agencies didn’t play it low-key either.

The Press Association reported: “New Zealand underlined their status as World Cup favourites with an emphatic demolition of France”.

Reuters said: “The All Blacks blew away a cloud that had threatened to hang over the rugby World Cup as they qualified for the quarter-finals.

“The victory guaranteed the hosts a last-eight place and banished the bad memories of the 20-18 defeat by the French in the quarter-finals of the 2007 tournament.

“It also allowed New Zealanders to breathe a collective sigh of relief: the All Blacks also lost to France in the 1999 semi-finals and many saw Saturday’s match as another potential upset.

“While France were the last side to beat the All Blacks at Eden Park in 1994 any chances of a repeat ended when the New Zealanders ran in three quick tries in the first half to take a 19-0 lead. They engulfed the French defensively and conceded two tries against the run of play only long after the game was won.”