Peter White: Here we go again, folks

New Zealand rugby fans hope Richie McCaw will again get his hands on the Webb Ellis Trophy. Photo / File.

The Rugby World Cup begins next Saturday (7am), when hosts England face Fiji at Twickenham.

It really is hard to believe it is four years since Andy Ellis kicked the ball into touch to end the 2011 final.

The All Blacks held on for dear life over the final stages, with an 8-7 margin against a resurgent France who refused to submit. For supporters at the ground or watching at home or in fan zones, it was almost too much to bear.

But prevail they did and a nation drew breath at the end of one of the greatest tournaments of any era.

That night at Eden Park had enough drama to fill a decade of international rugby. Who will ever forget replacement Stephen Donald kicking the winning penalty after being summoned from a fishing holiday? The stuff of fiction writers, surely.

But most importantly, the All Blacks finally put to bed so many demons from failed campaigns.

The 2011 triumph repeated the success of 1987 when the All Blacks won the inaugural title at a very different-looking Eden Park.

New Zealand, South Africa and Australia have each triumphantly held aloft the Webb Ellis Trophy twice, with England the other winning team from the seven tournaments played.

The All Blacks are in Group C with Argentina, Georgia, Namibia and Tonga. Their tournament begins with Argentina at the 90,000-capacity Wembley Stadium on Monday, September 21, and they are easily the top-ranked team going into the Rugby World Cup. In the years since winning in 2011, they have played 42 games, for 38 wins, two losses and two draws.

In 2013 they became the first test team of the professional era to record a 100 per cent record through a season when they won all 14 games. There is no doubt that this All Blacks team, under the outstanding captaincy of Richie McCaw and astute management of head coach Steve Hansen, is ready for the epic challenge to come.

I would never want any harm to come to McCaw, in my view the greatest All Black of all, but it will be good to see our Bay of Plenty boy Sam Cane get some game time during the tournament.

The All Blacks are gunning to be the first team to win three Rugby World Cup titles - and the first to defend their crown. Let's hope it is the great McCaw who gets to hold aloft the Webb Ellis Trophy on November 1.