Call him a party pooper but All Blacks coach Graham Henry has warned the triumphant Wallabies a Tri-Nations title does not guarantee World Cup success.

And he would know.

Perennial favourites New Zealand will once again look to ditch their "chokers" tag when they host the World Cup, starting in less than a fortnight.

But the early signs aren't good for the Kiwis after Australia won 25-20 at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night to seal their first Tri-Nations crown in 10 years.

Yet Henry could only find positives from the loss - but not before offering some sobering advice to old foes Australia.

"There's no blueprint that winning a Tri-Nations is the recipe for winning a World Cup," Henry warned.

"And if there was any complacency in this (All Blacks) group it is well gone now - that will be an advantage going forward I think."

New Zealand tasted Tri-Nations success in 2003 and 2007 - yet added to their well documented World Cup frustrations each year with premature exits.

Indeed the All Blacks thrashed the Wallabies 50-21 in the 2003 Tri-Nations tournament - yet barely four months later Australia downed the Kiwis 22-10 in the World Cup semi-final.

And in 2007 the All Blacks once again collected the Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations double - only to be sensationally knocked out in the World Cup quarter-finals the same year.

However, Henry felt the rare loss to Australia would put them in good stead for yet another World Cup crack.

"I think it is a good learning experience," Henry said of the Tri-Nations loss.

"It is certainly something we will be talking about and will analyse."

While Henry looks set to immerse himself in data, Kiwi assistant Wayne Smith hinted that New Zealand could snap their World Cup drought by using something not measured by statistics.

"The game is about (mental) edge, isn't it?" he said.

"This will be an incredibly important game for us.

"This will give us some real edge to go forward (to the World Cup) - I think it will turn out to be a real good experience for us."

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw was also compiling notes ahead of a potential World Cup final clash with Australia.

"The two games we have had against the Wallabies this year show that there is very little between these teams," he said.

"It is how you turn up. The mental state - our first half reflected that."

Henry will be sweating on the fitness of Adam Thomson (elbow) and Kieran Read (ankle) who will undergo scans upon their arrival in New Zealand on Sunday.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP