Rugby World Cup 2015: Brit firm kicks in with twist to tasty classic for pie-loving All Blacks

Specially designed pies by British firm Pork Farms. Photo / Supplied

If you thought the All Blacks would be saying goodbye to their beloved pork pies ahead of Sunday's big game, you'd be mistaken.

A British firm has delivered a load of the traditional English savouries for the team at their fancy digs, the Oatlands Park Hotel in Weybridge.

The Kiwi team's love of the pies is no secret, with spokesman Joe Locke telling British newspaper the Mirror they were a big hit in the camp.

"We have had traditional pork pies, it has been classic English food, sometimes with a contemporary twist, and it has been brilliant.

"We have a dietitian who comes with us, but basically the chefs at each of the hotels have been taking care of everything. We loved the pork pies," he said.

But this new batch of the savoury snack has a special twist - the pies are shaped like rugby balls and they're topped with a silver fern.

Chefs from company Pork Farms have specially designed the pies - with layers of pork, chicken and honey-roasted ham - and they were presented in a box complete with artificial grass.

British pork pies differ from Kiwi pies in that they are traditionally eaten cold and are made with cured, chopped meat and jelly.

And though it is of course the thought that counts, our national team's nutritionist may have something to say about the gift after the World Health Organisation released a report this week suggesting processed meats - such as ham - were a cancer risk ranked alongside asbestos, alcohol, arsenic and tobacco.

-NZ Herald