KEY POINTS:
Four times the All Blacks have set off for the World Cup carrying mega-expectations about success to partner their inaugural 1987 triumph. Each overseas venture has ended in tears, with the 1999 failure provoking some of the most lamentable reactions in New Zealand.
The fifth sortie leaves in 26 days with the New Zealand Rugby Union facing a $3 million payout in bonuses if the All Blacks win the Webb Ellis Cup in the October 20 final in Paris.
It is a reward which will inflict another wound on the NZRU finances but one they may assess as small beer if the All Blacks can be marketed as the world champions for the next four years before they defend their title at the 2011 tournament.
But we are getting ahead of ourselves here, just as history has shown in 1991 in Britain and France, the 1995 event in South Africa, 1999 in Britain and France and the 2003 World Cup in Australia.
No team has carried the favouritism the All Blacks have since the World Cups began life 20 years ago in a showery Friday afternoon at Eden Park. No side can match the All Blacks record of making the playoffs in each event.
But Australia have won the title twice, while the All Blacks are bracketed with England and South Africa as solitary inscriptions on the trophy. That 20-year hiatus has gnawed away at coach Graham Henry and his management team while the NZRU have admitted they have thrown everything at this campaign.
The squad has been chosen, with the final lineup to be certified in August 14 when a decision on prop Greg Somerville's fitness will be made after his recent surgery to repair a problem with the retina in his right eye.
Some of the squad are being brought up to speed in the national provincial championship but they will all gather in Christchurch next week for a three-day training camp with a second planned for Auckland before they jet away.
About 20 New Zealand journalists from newspapers, radio and television travelled to Europe in 1991 to report on the All Blacks fortunes in that year's World Cup. Perhaps three times that number will venture overseas next month to chronicle the exploits of Richie McCaw's men.
After a short jaunt to Corsica, the All Blacks will fly to Marseille for the first of their pool games, against Italy.
Matches to follow against Portugal, Scotland (who have said they will pick their second-string side) and Romania will not stretch the All Blacks before they reach their quarter-final in Cardiff against either France, Ireland or Argentina.
They are then three games from glory as the tournament really starts to bite in the first week in October.
Supersport has five copies of 101 Moments Of World Cup Rugby to be won.
Answer this to go into the draw: Name the captains of the All Blacks' World Cup campaigns since 1987.
You can enter by email to sportrac@nzherald.co.nz with "All Blacks 101 comp" in subject field or on the back of an envelope addressed to:
All Blacks 101 Comp c/- Supersport
NZ Herald
PO Box 32
Albert St
Auckland
Competition closes Wednesday, August 8 at 5pm.
All entries must include the sender's postal address.
