Former coach Sir Graham Henry has delivered a warning to the All Blacks a year to the day from the beginning of the next World Cup.
Don't get too cocky.
Henry, who steered New Zealand to victory at the 2011 tournament at home, is concerned they will be too used to winning when they head into the 2015 event in the United Kingdom.
He even thinks there will be benefits if they lose a Test in the leadup to the tournament kicking off on September 18.
Under Steve Hansen, the All Blacks are unbeaten in their last 21 Tests.
Henry's men lost Tri-Nations games away to both South Africa and Australia less than a month before the their 2011 triumph.
"Perhaps they need to lose a game at some stage," Henry told TVNZ.
"I know I shouldn't be saying that but I think that galvanises the team and makes them re-analyse their position and you saw that with the 12-12 draw with Australia in Sydney recently and they came out and played brilliantly at Eden Park (winning 51-20)."
Henry is concerned about the lack of challenge the All Blacks will face in pool play next year.
Drawn alongside Argentina, Tonga, Georgia and Namibia, Henry compares it to their easy pool at the 2007 tournament.
He says hefty wins softened that team's resolve ahead of their shock quarter-final loss to hosts France.
"A little bit of adversity might be helpful," he said.
Henry also says he would lean towards fielding Dan Carter as his first-choice five-eighth at the World Cup, even though the 32-year-old has struggled for game time over the last three years because of injury.
It has allowed young rivals Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett a chance to establish themselves as world class playmakers.
Share
