If the All Blacks are looking to their big name players to set a tone for this World Cup, then the words of Dan Carter as he fronted the world's media must have been music to their ears.

Rugby's most marketable player set down a marker for the event when he fronted for his first tournament press conference yesterday and admitted he'd already caught a dose of World Cup fever.

Carter said that it is something he has learnt playing for the All Blacks in the last nine years that every time you put on the All Blacks jersey there's always pressure and expectation from the people of New Zealand because they are such a proud nation with such a successful history.

The World Cup kicks off this Friday with NZ taking on Tonga at 8.30pm and You can catch the exclusive live radio commentary of the match on Viti FM with the new voice of rugby, Malakai Veisamasama and 2007 World Cup coach, Ilivasi Tabua.

Story by: Dreu Vukailagi
Source: stuff.co