Heyneke Meyer's lavish praise heaped on the All Blacks this week has been described as mind games by his opposite Steve Hansen, who has told his team to take no notice. Springboks coach Meyer has called the All Blacks the best team to ever play the game, adding his players would have to play the match of their lives if they were to be successful in Sunday's World Cup semifinal at Twickenham.
Effusive praise form the Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer towards an All Black team that has been beaten only three times in the last four years. He knows the challenge ahead of his team, and they welcome it.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer wants to buy his All Blacks opposite Steve Hansen a beer, that's because it would mean he has knocked the AB's out of the Rugby World Cup. Meyer revealed today in a packed media conference the tradition the two coaches have started of the winning coach buying the post match beers.
All Blacks supporters from all around the world say why they are behind the 'Men in Black' and how they love what the All Blacks do and represent.
The All Blacks have supporters from all around the world and New Zealand and at the Rugby World Cup, see where are they from?.
The All Black midfield general Conrad Smith talks about the mutual respect between the AB's and the Springboks and how “They are a special opponent and it’s a very special rivalry. I grew up during the apartheid era, when Australia were the traditional foes, but now South Africa have come back into it and I think it’s got back to where it was and they are our ultimate rival."
The All Blacks are back in London with their feet firmly back on the ground after thrashing France, they know what is needed to defeat the Springboks and say they will 'rise to the occasion' on Sunday ( NZ time).
Gregor Paul and Patrick McKendry give their opinions on refereeing at the Rugby World Cup and of course the Scottish debacle, and look ahead to what the Springbok team will throw at the All Blacks in the 'do or die' semi-final Sunday morning.
Watch the All Balcks tackle the 'standing jump' in the gym, Sonny Bill, Julian Savea and Ma'a Nonu along with Beauden Barrett and Ben Smith all complete this vertical leap. Footage: allblacks.com
The most unlikely of friends off the field will try and knock each other out of the Rugby World Cup in the semifinal, Springboks versus All Blacks is a match up anywhere, but at Twickenham the winner takes all.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says the teams of 1999 and 2007 can rest easy as the 2015 AB's have avenged and laid to rest the ghosts of those defeats.
Hear what the All Black players think about destroying the French in the quarter-finals, and looking forward to the old Springbok foe. Dan Cater and Julian Savea join Dane Coles and try scoring lock Brodie Retallick to reflect on the stunning victory.
A stunning win was met with a muted response by the All Blacks this morning. Their brilliant rugby pleased them, allowed them satisfaction, but it didn't have coach Steve Hansen believing anything other than they are now in the semifinal. That was it as far as he and captain Richie McCaw were concerned: they are a game closer to what they came to do but it all starts again this week.
All Blacks fans in Auckland react to New Zealand's massive knockout win over France in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal.
Gregor Paul and Patrick McKendry are in Cardiff with the All Blacks who blew away France in a match that mixed brutality with beauty. The rest of the world will be quite terrified by how good the All Blacks were. They obliterated France. It was stunning rugby.
Spontaneous outbursts of the French National Anthem La Marseillaise are happening on the streets of Cardiff before the knockout quarterfinal match between France and the All Blacks.
Images of the 2015 Rugby World Cup quarter-final between New Zealand and France in Cardiff.
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw is relaxed and confident before the knockout quarterfinal against France in Cardiff, he has learnt the lessons from 2007 and believe the last eight years is testament to that fact.
Gregor Paul and Patrick McKendry are with the All Blacks at the traditional captains run in Cardiff and say it's time for Dan Carter to fulfill his Rugby World Cup dreams.
'Richie MaCaw' predicts the first two World Cup quarter-finals - South Africa v Wales and New Zealand v France.
Nigel Yalden gives the latest update on the Rugby World Cup from Swansea.
In a packed press conference at the Swansea Rugby Club today, Hansen felt moved to reassure an anxious public back home. Hansen effectively said - don't worry, everything is going to plan.
The All Blacks are pacing themselves and planning and plotting ahead of the quarterfinal knockout match against France in Cardiff, Ma'a Nonu, Aaron Smith and Nehe Milner-Skudder are 'excited and on edge'.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has had the luxury of being able to name a predictable and strong team, a settled line-up which includes the return of skipper Richie McCaw and left wing Julian Savea to the starting XV. Hansen also made a dig at France, when he referred to their traditional flair being played and coached out of them by their domestic competition and a succession of coaches
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen was asked about French rugby and the relationship between France and New Zealand. It is one which has seen many ups and downs on and off the pitch, while talking about flair and being unpredictable he mentions the low point of the fatal bombing of Greenpeace ship the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland in 1985 by two French agents.
Gregor Paul and Patrick McKendry are with the All Blacks in Swansea and review the team to play France in the quarterfinals. Pound for pound, the All Blacks are going to put a better team on the park than France. It won't matter who the French pick, the reality for them is that in most positions, their individuals won't be as good. That's the objective, clinical assessment, but one the French will try to ignore. But it will be hard.
Nigel Yalden updates the latest news from the Rugby World Cup as the Springboks become the first team to name their side for the quarters.
The sun is shining on the All Blacks in Swansea as they await the 'do or die' match against France in Cardiff, Beauden Barrett updates the excitement and desire inside the camp.
The All Blacks loose forwards don't need reminding this is finals rugby with the loser going home, Jerome Kaino and Kieran Read are looking forward to the challenge while Sam Cane explains why the All Blacks don't always compete for the ball at every breakdown.
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has made an appearance at an exclusive reception hosted by the Queen and Prince Harry at Buckingham Palace. Coach Steve Hansen and Tony Woodcock describe what it was like and update on preparations to tackle the old for France in Cardiff.
The All Blacks captain Richie McCaw might be 'superman' in the opinion of his long time friend Dan Carter, but the sooner he stops being the 'water-boy' and gets back playing the better.