ABs unfazed by advert snub

Napier - The All Blacks have kicked for touch at their snub from a promotional video advertising tickets for next year's Rugby World Cup.

VIDEO: RWC advert - Too big to miss!

The video, released on Monday, shows well-known British actor Charles Dance addressing several international players in a rousing pre-match speech encouraging them to ensure the 2015 World Cup in England is the best ever.

Several current and former players are shown in the video along with people wearing the rugby jerseys of most of the top-tier nations - Australia, South Africa* and France.

None, however, appeared to be from the world champion All Blacks and New Zealand media has seized on the perceived snub with the websites of all the major media organisations showing the video.

The All Blacks players who fronted the media on Tuesday ahead of their Rugby Championship clash with Argentina sidestepped the issue and assistant coach Ian Foster was not about to take offence.

"I haven't seen that to be honest. But I'm pretty sure that we have qualified for the World Cup so we'll probably be there," he grinned.

Tickets go on sale on September 12, just over a year before the tournament gets underway on September 18, 2015 when hosts England playing Fiji at Twickenham.

*The only South African player to appear in the video was, somewhat bizarrely, Ashley Johnson...