All Blacks flanker Sam Cane says the relaxed New Zealanders are not burdened by the massive expectations they will carry at the upcoming Rugby World Cup.
The All Blacks go into the tournament as defending champions and ranked number one in the world after losing just three of 47 Tests since the last World Cup in 2011.
While past New Zealand teams have been guilty of choking on the big stage, most notably in 1999 and 2007 when also heavily fancied, Cane said the current squad were relishing the pressure.
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“The overall feeling is we’re truly excited and there’s no real feeling of carrying the weight of expectation or anything weighing us down,” said the Chiefs back-rower.
“We’re really looking to embrace the challenge.”
The New Zealand public expects nothing less than a tournament win from Richie McCaw’s men.
But to achieve that feat they must become the first All Blacks team to claim the trophy on foreign soil and the first from any nation to defend the crown.
“Now we just can’t wait to get over there,” added Cane, who was a spectator among the 60,000 crowd at Eden Park to watch the All Blacks beat France 8-7 on home soil in the 2011 final.
Assistant coach Ian Foster said the players have held nothing back at training in Auckland as they prepare to open their campaign with a bruising clash against Argentina at Wembley on September 20.
“It was needed,” Foster said. “Sometimes you don’t have to enjoy something but you know it’s good for you.
“What you can’t do is go into a massive Test against Argentina in 12 days unprepared and not ready for the physicalness that’s going to come.”
The All Blacks depart for England tomorrow and will be based at St Mary’s University, just a stones throw away from Twickenham where they will hope to be when the final comes around on October 31.
