Aussies. The ones we love to hate

Wallabies captain James Horwill leads his team onto the field during the Tri-Nations match last week. Photo / Getty Images

Forget the South Africans, English and French. The team we really dislike is the one we've played only twice before in the World Cup - our closest neighbours.

Australia is the country New Zealanders least want to win the Rugby World Cup - by a wide margin, according to a Herald-Digipoll survey of 750 people.

More than 33 per cent picked the Wallabies, almost twice as many as our second-least favourite team, South Africa, at 18.6 per cent.

But the results for our trans-Tasman rivals could be even higher. The poll was done before the All Blacks' disappointing 25-20 loss in Brisbane on Saturday. That Wallabies win has caused unease in New Zealand and boosted Australian interest in the tournament.

Almost 30,000 Australians are now expected to visit during the World Cup, up from original forecasts of 17,000.

England, coached by 2003 World Cup winning captain Martin Johnson, polled 9.1 per cent to rank as third-least favourite nation.

More surprisingly, our World Cup nemesis France finished fourth with 6.5 per cent. It seems New Zealanders do not hold a grudge against a team who knocked out the All Blacks in the quarter-finals of the 2007 tournament and the semi-finals in 1999.

Behind France are ... the All Blacks. It seems 4.3 per cent of those polled don't want a hometown triumph.

New Zealand has played Australia only twice in the previous six World Cups - losing both games: 16-6 in the 1991 semifinal in Dublin, and 22-10 in the 2003 semifinal in Sydney.

The All Blacks are still favourites to win the Webb Ellis Trophy on October 23 - at the TAB they're paying $1.60 for each $1 wagered.

The TAB's second pick is Australia, followed by South Africa, England and France.