All Blacks: McCaw's look sets the tone

Dan Carter and Israel Dagg show of the training strips they designed using adidas' online customisation tool. Photo / Getty Images

One look from Richie McCaw was all it took to ensure no members of his forward pack would be spotted wearing pink at All Blacks training today.

As part of a promotion from team kit sponsor adidas, Israel Dagg and Dan Carter each had the opportunity to design a one-off training strip for the All Blacks to wear ahead of their test against Argentina in Wellington on Saturday night.

Players had the choice of grabbing the blue-based ensemble designed by Carter or the more flamboyant pink and yellow number Dagg put together.

Liam Messam said he and fellow flanker Victor Vito were set to have a gallop in the Westpac Stadium sun in pink before McCaw put a stop to that without even saying a word.

"He didn't say, but he looked at me and Vic," Messam said. "Obviously pink looks good on the brown brothers and Richie sort of looked at us, so we knew better.

"Just the look ... it was enough."

The Chiefs loose forward also joked that he had reservations about Dagg's colour choices.

"Pink and yellow don't match. I thought Izzy Dagg would've known that. He said he's got dress style but obviously he hasn't because pink and yellow don't match."

The pink gear got better support from the backs with Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith and Cory Jane all choosing to wear Dagg's creation.

Dagg, who shared a few laughs with Carter as they discussed their designs with media, defended his choice of colours.

"Pink's a beautiful colour. Express yourself, that's what the All Blacks are about," he smiled.

Carter, who has dabbled in fashion retail, wasn't sold but said he was surprised a few more players didn't take on Dagg's kit.

"I actually thought there might be a couple more. Victor Vito, Adam Thomson - I thought they might have indulged in a bit of pink but there was no surprise in the guys that went for the pink outfit.

"There was just too much pink going on for me. If I was to change anything it'd be the shorts and socks. Get rid of the yellow as well."

Halfback Piri Weepu had a simple explanation for why he grabbed Carter's two-tone blue jersey that had red and white trim.

"DC's my roomy."