New Zealand vs Argentina: Seven teams have a shot at glory — but we’re ready to make history, says Conrad Smith

History maker: Conrad Smith has his sights set on a successful World Cup defence
Phil Walter/Getty Images
Chris Jones18 September 2015

Conrad Smith has warned his All Blacks team-mates that becoming the first side to retain the World Cup will be an even greater challenge than lifting the trophy in 2011.

The All Blacks are the No1 team in the world and favourites to make history but both their Cup triumphs have come on home soil and they have made just one final appearance overseas, in South Africa 20 years ago.

Patently, the benefits of being the hosts far outweigh the negatives of increased pressure on the squad. That is certainly something England hope to make count and Smith acknowledges this scenario.

The 88-cap centre will bow out of international rugby at the end of this campaign to take up a two-year contract in France with Pau, giving him an added incentive to help the All Blacks make history.

The holders, who start their defence against Argentina at Wembley on Sunday, are ready for what many believe will be the most competitive World Cup so far. Such is the fervent support back home, the All Blacks are always under pressure but it is certainly not at the level of 2011 when they were hosts.

“Allowing the pressure of being the host country to affect you is a danger that you have to be aware of,” said Smith. “To a large extent, you could say we handled it well in 2011 because we won the World Cup, but at times it was certainly a challenge.

“However, if you can harness that support it can be a massive advantage. You do feel the pressure with every public outing and it makes you that more determined to do well. If you don’t let it become a burden it can be a very big motivating factor and the history of the World Cup shows the advantage of being the home side.

Chris Jones's favourite Rugby World Cup memories

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“It is an advantage that England will want to use and something we won’t have this time. However, it doesn’t have to be a deciding factor and that is the way we have always looked at it.

“We are preparing for the toughest ever World Cup and there are at least seven teams who have a genuine shot at the title and I don’t believe you could have said that at previous tournaments.

“The plan is to win it again. We have talked about what kind of challenge defending the Cup is going to be. It will be harder than last time and it was the first thing that was spelt out to the squad. You don’t have that natural hunger if you have won it before and the fact teams haven’t repeated it, suggests that something isn’t quite there second time around. We have to make sure that is not a factor.”

Smith took a six-month sabbatical in 2013 which ensured he was mentally ready for this World Cup. Captain Richie McCaw and record-breaking kicker Dan Carter did the same at different times.

“It did me good and I have reached this point absolutely pumped,” said the 33-year-old. Smith is not the only All Black heading to France after the tournament with Carter joining Racing and Ma’a Nonu moving to Toulon.

Clearly, it will be a significant moment for New Zealand rugby and Smith believes the experience this group of players boasts can help avoid the kind of defeats that have seen the All Blacks fail to even reach a World Cup Final in the northern hemisphere.

The most damaging defeat was the 20-18 quarter-final loss to France in Cardiff in 2007 and the teams could meet at the same stage this time, a fact which has not been lost on the All Blacks who have talked through the various ‘what if’ scenarios.

(Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Smith said: “I think that 2007 did prepare us well for the 2011 tournament and no matter what approach you take to the World Cup, it so often comes down to small margins.

“We are getting used to facing France in the World Cup and it is one of the great challenges and you never know what to expect.

“One of the lessons we carried into the last World Cup is that things aren’t always going to go to plan and that is where All Blacks sides have come unstuck in the past.

“We are preparing the same way this time and we don’t know if there will be injuries or something in the course of a game that happens. It’s how a team reacts to those pressures that dictates how you do in the tournament.”

Conrad Smith was speaking at the premiere of Made Of Black — an adidas documentary about the iconic status of the All Blacks jersey and the ground-breaking four-year design process behind the new adidas All Blacks shirt. More information: adidasrugby.com and join the conversation with #ForceOfBlack @adidasUK on Twitter and Instagram

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