FIJI BECAME THE first World Cup squad to arrive in New Zealand on Monday, touching down to a traditional Auckland welcome just ten days before kick off in the 2011 competition.
Martin Johnson’s England squad should be next to land, following by the French and Japanese sides, on Wednesday with Ireland, Romania, Samoa, Argentina and Namibia all scheduled to reach New Zealand 24 hours later.
The host nation, meanwhile, has taken the opportunity to present their 30-man panel on home soil – having had to make their final squad announcement in Brisbane last week – and only Kieran Reed and Adam Thomson were absent from the event at Ponsonby Rugby Club, as both men are receiving treatment for injuries picked up at the weekend.
“I don’t think there is any greater expectation in rugby than on the All Blacks team and that is why they have been so successful,” coach Graham Henry told the assembled media.
“(We are) the most successful side in professional sport and that is something that the All Blacks are very proud of. There will be huge expectations and I think that will bring the best out of the guys.”
New Zealand were far from their best when they were beaten by the Wallabies in the deciding Tri-Nations fixture on Saturday but Henry is confident, nonetheless, that his side can lay their World Cup ghost to rest over the coming weeks – the All Blacks, despite their dominance of the sport, have only claimed one World Cup crown (1987) to date. Henry added:
“What happens in the next eight weeks is going to define this team; how they focus, how they play and how they enjoy the expectation of the New Zealand public and the excitement of this tournament. That’s what’s going to define the 2011 team.“I was disappointed in the way we played (against Australia at the weekend), particularly that first half which was a shocker. They showed a bit of grit in the second half and I think it’s a good learning experience for the team. It’ll certainly knock out any complacency.”
Watch highlights of the final Tri-Nations game in Australia:
Defending champions South African, meanwhile, have concerns over six players ahead of their journey to New Zealand. However, Ruan Pienaar (ankle), Jean de Villiers (groin), Frans Steyn (hamstring), Victor Matfield (hamstring), Pat Lambie (shoulder) and Bakkies Botha (knee) are all expected to be fit for the Boks’ opening game against Wales on September 11th.