READY TO ROLL: Victor Vito says All Blacks will take nothing for granted in early stages

 

LONDON, 12 Sept - New Zealand utility back-row forward Victor Vito believes the key to the All Blacks winning the Rugby World Cup on home soil four years ago was learning lessons from every game and not taking anything for granted.

"The World Cup scenario is unique. Being an All Black, we put pressure on ourselves week to week. If we are good enough to win, we just have to make sure we take the learnings and move on," Vito said at the All Blacks' central London hotel on Saturday.

"We can't get too carried away. Especially in World Cups gone, we have learned that lesson. That helped us in 2011, making sure that every game is taken on its own merits and not trying to think too far ahead."

The All Blacks, who take on Argentina in their opening Pool C game at Wembley on 20 September, are well aware they have never won a World Cup away from home despite raising the trophy at the inaugural tournament in 1987 and last time around in New Zealand.

But Vito regards that as a challenge, rather than a burden, for the current squad.

Big challenge

"A lot of people say we have never won a World Cup away from home," the 28-year-old said.

"At the same time, it is a big challenge which hugely excites us, especially in England which is very proud of their own rugby roots and has a really good rugby team as well. So it is more exciting than anything else."

Many of the All Blacks spent Saturday on duty for the team's sponsors as they recovered from jet lag following the flight to London, but scrum-half TJ Perenara said he enjoyed meeting up with fellow Kiwis at the event.

"We saw some of the New Zealand fans here to support us. We saw how much it does mean to them for us to be here as well. They were excited about the challenge. They take it on their shoulders and feel as much a part of it as we do."

Vito said: "You can definitely hear the buzz in London and people are talking about it. They know the teams are in town. I find that interesting that a place as big as London can still soak up the atmosphere of something like the Rugby World Cup."

RNS aw/js/pg/mr