New Zealand, desperate to end a 24-year World Cup drought, will have no hesitation in adapting their tactics if it means they can get hold of the Webb Ellis Cup.

Just a week out from the start of hosting the seventh edition of the global showpiece, and facing the usual bards of 'chokers', the All Blacks made it clear that they will do "whatever it takes" to win the tournament.

The All Blacks have not won the World Cup since the first was held in New Zealand in 1987 and despite entering the tournament as favourites, observers suggest their fast-paced style was not conducive to winning major tournaments.

Veteran scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan said they will be flexible in their tactical approach.

While the world's top-ranked team has managed an 85 percent success rate with their exciting and expansive game plan, they would be more than happy to also "win ugly".

"I don't think you will see too much different [from our normal playing style]," Cowan told the media at the All Blacks' team's media day in Auckland.

"We're all instinctive players and you don't want to inhibit that, [but] I'm sure we will take an ugly win to win the World Cup.

"I don't care how we win, as long as we do win.

"We all go out there to try and play the public game but it's not always going to happen because you have 15 players trying to stop you from doing that."

All Black coach Graham Henry also hinted at a possible change of heart.

"Hopefully we have learned from the past," Henry said.

"I think once we get into the round robin we have to set some goals there and obviously that is qualify and qualify well and then look at the sudden death games and there [could be] three of them.

"We haven't been good at sudden death football so we need to have a special mentality there.

"So, for the quarters, semifinals and Final it needs that special mentality."