All Blacks say they are going for a hat trick

The dust has hardly settled on the 2010 World Rugby Classic and already nine-time

champions New Zealand All Blacks have their sights on adding to their remarkable legacy.

If all goes accordingly next year, the reigning champions hope to make it three World Rugby Classic wins on the trot, a feat no other team has yet to achieve.

New Zealand has done it twice before — winning four in a row from 1989 to ’92 and after the Classic Barbarians interrupted their streak in 1993, they won three more from 1994 to ’96.

Legendary All Blacks scrumhalf Justin Marshall said: “We will definitely be looking to try and do it — but it won’t be easy. We always come here to win it, but it’s just not an easy tournament to win because of the quality of players the opposition brings.”

This year was Marshall’s first appearance in the World Rugby Classic — and he hopes it won’t be his last.

He added: “If I’m selected I will be here with bells on because I absolutely loved it — I’m not ready to go home yet.”

Marshall is his country’s most capped scrumhalf as well as a former All Blacks captain.

He made his international debut against France at age 22 and last week made his World Rugby Classic debut against the same opposition.

The defending champions edged France 7-5 in their opening match to advance to the Classic semi-final where they beat perennial rivals Australia 19-17.

A much-anticipated close battle in the final with South Africa never materialized as the All Blacks cruised to a 28-5 victory.

While the final score line would suggest a blowout, Marshall begs to differ.

He said: “It was a bit flattering for us. We did dominate a lot of possession for about a good 40 to 50 minutes of the game, but then they got all the ball late in the second-half and we had to hang in there and defend well.”

Reflecting on the entire tournament, Marshall said: “It wasn’t easy. Every single game was tough — and pretty tough off the field as well socially.

“The boys like to have a few beers and enjoy each other’s company, but we do go out and guts it out on the field and work really hard. We had to do that all week and so we are really pleased.”