The All Blacks were given a traditional Maori farewell before flying out of New Zealand yesterday to the World Cup in France.

Thousands of people crammed into an Auckland shopping plaza to wish the squad luck before they boarded their flight to Europe.

A group of schoolboys performed an impromptu haka and all 30 players were presented with a capsule containing particles of soil from each of New Zealand's international stadiums.

"Our earth ties all New Zealand cultures together," New Zealand skipper Richie McCaw said.

"Whether you are Fijian, Maori, Samoan, Tongan or European, we are all from New Zealand and the earth we stand on is special to us all."

The All Blacks are favourites to win the tournament but will be taking nothing for granted after enduring 20 years of frustration since they last won the inaugural World Cup in 1987.

N. Zealand are the only country to have made the semis at every World Cup but failed to make the final in 1991, 1999 and 2003 and lost the decider in 1995.

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