New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen has insisted that he will not allow complacency to become an issue for his squad at the World Cup.

The All Blacks will arrive in the UK as the favourites to become the first side to win back-to-back titles, but Hansen is reluctant to talk up his team's chances of triumphing after seeing previous squads pay the price for over-confidence.

"In 2007, I think we rocked up a little arrogant, like previous All Blacks teams over the years may have," Hansen, who has suffered just three defeats since becoming coach in 2011, told reporters. "We were too comfortable, having come off being the number one team for a long time and just expected it to happen.

"Rugby, or any sport, will tell you that if you rock up to a contest involving another person and expect it to happen then the other guy or athletes will have something to say about that.

"There is not an expectation that we should win it by right. We're not going to defend the World Cup because it's not ours to defend. It has already gone back."

New Zealand kick off their campaign against Argentina next Sunday.