Rugby World Cup: Time for All Blacks to go to work at last

All Blacks halfback TJ Perenara during the Force of Black promotional day, for training young local rugby players, at Twickenham Stoop Stadium. Photo / Brett Phibbs.

The All Blacks today completed the first phase of their long hello at the World Cup, with several of the squad holding a coaching session with a group of black-shirted teenagers at The Stoop, Harlequins' home ground a long punt from Twickenham.

The players, including Sonny Bill Williams, Beauden Barrett, Colin Slade, Sam Cane, Victor Vito, Luke Romano and Wyatt Crockett, clearly enjoyed themselves but the next stage for them - actually putting the boots on and getting into some serious training rather than talking, smiling and signing autographs - is one they are looking forward to immensely.

It will come after they move base from Tower Bridge to Teddington in the south west of the city. A change of pace from the hustle and bustle of the central city will also probably be welcome but the bigger attraction will be the chance to start building the foundations of their preparation for their opening match against Argentina at Wembley on Monday morning NZT.

Notebooks are the All Blacks' constant companions at their current hotel, the reception of which resembled a train station today such was the coming and going of guests. The planning and study will continue throughout but there's nothing like physical training between the white lines to ease the nerves and release the pressure.

Brett Phibbs - Top images of the All Blacks - Day Three

First-five Barrett, who admitted to having to hold himself back once he got the ball in his hands today, said: "We've been keeping ourselves busy with promotions and going to the gym, but we're just really looking forward to doing some training now.

"The first few days [of training] are going to be exciting because the last few weeks have all been about preparation. Now that we've arrived everyone just wants to get into it."

Loose forward Liam Messam later told the assembled media about the need to view the week as a whole rather than peak too early. It is a message that could equally be applied to the tournament. If they reach the final, the All Blacks will be here in the United Kingdom for seven weeks.

Messam said: "The game's not till Sunday so you don't want to bring all the excitement and energy to Monday's training. You still want it to be what an All Black training should be but we have to hold the reins a bit and unleash come Sunday."

What the two days of promotional activities have shown the All Blacks is the support they will receive from New Zealanders here. They hope to win a few converts with their charm offensive on arrival but it is their solid base of core support which will make the biggest impact.

"To see all the New Zealanders in their All Blacks jerseys has been unreal," Messam said. "I think the Lord Mayor [at the opening ceremony] said there were 60,000 New Zealanders in the UK - that's a high number - and we have probably met a couple of thousand of them already. It's been good - especially away from home - to see all the support. You always hear a 'kiaora' from the expats which is nice."

Barrett at The Stoop meanwhile enjoyed some banter with a youngster with a Welsh background who gave him a hard time about his part in putting Wales to the sword in Cardiff last November. Barrett was mesmerising in the final quarter - scoring two tries and setting up one to overpower the Welsh - and the young fellow hasn't forgiven him.

"He wasn't too happy about a certain test last year. He reminded me about that. That was quite hard case."

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