"What pleases me is the attitude and determination of our squad to keep improving," said Andy Robinson, their coach.
"You climb the world rankings by winning games and it is very important that we build on Saturday's result by delivering again when we face very tough opponents in Samoa in Aberdeen on Saturday."
The rankings have New Zealand top, ahead of Australia and South Africa, with England fourth, ahead of France. Wales, who face the All Blacks in Cardiff on Saturday are down in ninth place.
New Zealand have eased right back on training as they prepare to play their 13th Test match in five months. "We put a huge amount of energy into the early part of the year so we have to make sure we prepare well and not overdo it," Graham Henry, the coach, said.
Ireland, already deprived of Rob Kearney and Luke Fitzgerald through knee injuries as they prepare to play Argentina on Sunday, will learn today whether they are also likely to lose captain Brian O'Driscoll, who has a sore shoulder.
Wing Tommy Bowe and centre Gordon D'Arcy will be assessed as they recover from calf muscle injuries. Coach Declan Kidney will announce his team today
Italy's veteran flanker, Mauro Bergamasco, will undergo shoulder surgery in Milan on Thursday and faces a race to regain fitness before the Six Nations Championship after failing to recover from the injury he picked up in training before the match against Argentina.
Read more: Sport
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