‘Focused’ All Blacks won’t be distracted by Australia in world record bid

New Zealand have warned Australia they won’t let any provocation stand in the way of Saturday’s date with destiny when they hope to break the 47-year-old record for consecutive test wins.

Victory to the world champions in Auckland would give them their 18th consecutive win, a new record for a top-tier nation, and see them acknowledged as the best side in rugby history.

The current record of 17 successive wins was set by the 1965-1969 All Blacks, equalled by South Africa in 1997-1998 and the All Blacks again in 2013-2014 before their current unbeaten run which began in August last year.

Coach Steve Hansen said that with both the Bledisloe Cup series against Australia and the Rugby Championship already in the bag, the All Blacks have set their sights on being crowned the best ever side.

“Once you embrace something like that it becomes a challenge and this group has shown they like challenges especially big ones like this one, like no one’s ever done it,” he said.

“This in an opportunity. It’s there right in front of us.”