KEY POINTS:
The All Blacks will spend their last weekend at home - and enjoy their last chance for pre-World Cup passion - before jetting out of New Zealand on Wednesday.
After the squad's final preparations at a training camp in Auckland this week, the 30 players were yesterday allowed a few days off to go home.
Although more than two dozen wives and girlfriends are heading to France, they're not allowed in the players' bedrooms so this weekend will be the last chance for some intimate moments before the serious business begins.
Dan Carter says he is bored of training and just wants to get to France.
The key man at first five-eighths admitted this week that he is still hurting after missing out on the action at the 2003 World Cup.
And that has been a significant feature in his preparation for the 2007 event.
"We're at an awkward stage at the moment with all this training. We just want to get on the plane and get over there and get stuck in," he said in an interview published on allblacks.com.
"At this stage I'm feeling refreshed and ready to go. I haven't played much rugby this year but my body is feeling fresh and mentally I'm good.
"I guess the loss in 2003 [semifinal to Australia] didn't hit me as hard as some of the older guys. But it gave me real motivation for this year's event and it has been in the back of my mind for some time, and that is why I'm really excited to get there."
All Black captain Richie McCaw told Rugbyheaven all the accolades and trophies the All Blacks had won over the past four years would count for nothing if they didn't lift the Web Ellis Cup in Paris on October 20.
"It's definitely going to [define me], it's going to define this team," he said. "What happens in the next six weeks will be how you remember what this team is about."
Centre Isaia Toeava reckons training has been going pretty well - and says he has been learning from his more experienced teammates.
"Training by yourself it doesn't link in, but coming together today I can feel the buzz already," he said.
Lock Ali Williams yesterday signed a new two-year deal with the New Zealand Rugby Union, which confirms he will play in this country until at least the end of 2009.
Meanwhile, Williams' locking partner Keith Robinson accepts the selectors are gambling in taking him to the World Cup.
The 1.98cm, 115kg Robinson is battling a calf injury although he insists it is minor and he'll be fine. Robinson, Reuben Thorne with a hamstring injury and halfback Andy Ellis, who is recovering from concussion, sat out the All Blacks final hit out against Auckland Barbarians on Thursday.
The team came out comfortable 79-0 and 69-0 winners in the two 50-minute matches, scoring 24 tries.
The selectors have touted their rotation policy but it is hoped that Anton Oliver's run at blindside flanker and Carl Hayman and Jerry Collins are a one-off.
The All Blacks arrive in Corsica on Thursday and depart for Marseille on September 2.
