Nation's expectations inspire Muliaina

New Zealand's Rugby World Cup veteran Mils Muliaina came face to face with a crowd of hundreds of All Blacks fans during a trip to Gisborne on Friday.

Now Muliaina, who will be playing in his third RWC, will head into camp with his teammates and prepare to face the expectations of an entire nation.

"I think there's always that expectation when you pull on the All Blacks jersey, especially when it's the World Cup and we haven't been very successful at all," Muliaina said.

"We've got the whole country running behind us and it gives you that extra motivation."

After two consecutive Test match defeats, at the hands of fellow heavyweights South Africa and Australia, the All Blacks, who have not won the Webb Ellis Cup since the first tournament in 1987, are going to need that fan inspiration.

And the pressure will be on from the kick-off of their opening match, against Tonga in Auckland on 9 September.

"Everybody knows there's a handful of teams who could win this tournament," said Muliaina.

"It just comes down to who is better on the day, You have to have a good start and be right on the button. You have to be mentally up for the job every game you play."

The full back is confident the added pressure of hosting the tournament will benefit the team and give them extra motivation.

"Having the weight of the country on your shoulders is awesome," he said.

"The third-biggest sporting event in the world coming to a small country like ours is great. You just feel the buzz everywhere."