'No pressure' say record-seeking All Blacks

The relaxed All Blacks said Saturday their favourites tag seemed a natural fit for the defending champions embarking on a record-setting mission.

"Most of the things we wanted to happen have happened for us," emphasised coach Steve Hansen whose plan for New Zealand to become the first side to win back-to-back World Cups has been four years in the making.

It was confidence not arrogance from the 56-year-old former policeman as he prepared the All Blacks for a final training run on the eve of their opening Pool C match against Argentina at Wembley Stadium.

Tournament success would not only make the All Blacks the first side to win successive World Cups. They would also become the first side to win rugby's showpiece tournament three times, one more than South Africa and Australia.

"We've had a plan from day one about what we're going to do," said Hansen who stepped up to  head coach after assisting Graham Henry when the All Blacks won in 2011.

"I don't think we should be afraid of the favourtism tag. It's something we live with all the time anyway.

"And we shouldn't be afraid of all the expectations that come with being the All Blacks because you get that all the time.

"We're expected to win every Test match, so there's no more added pressure for us if you look where we live most of the time on the pressure scale."

Under Hansen, the All Blacks have played 47 Tests, won 42, drawn two and lost three as they steadily built towards England in 2015.

The one black mark in New Zealand's illustrious rugby history is that they regularly go into World Cup as the favourites but have never won the tournament away from home, earning them a reputation as chokers.

But goal-kicking ace Dan Carter, the world's most prolific Test points scorer, said there was no clear reason for the repeated failures.

"If we had that answer we wouldn't be sitting here an All Blacks side that's never won a World Cup away from home. But that's the challenge that we've got ahead of us and it is a huge challenge," he said.

"It's not just being away from home, it's the tournament itself in terms of this is the pinnacle of rugby.

"Every other team here are here to win and that makes it really tough and the beauty of this tournament is there are probably a good six, seven, eight teams that could win this but that's the challenge that we're walking towards.

"The fact that the All Blacks have never won the World Cup away from home is something that excites this team."

New Zealand are expected to go through their pool -- which also includes Nambia, Georgia and Tonga -- with ease before a likely match up against either Ireland or France in the quarter-finals.
Source: AFP