New Zealand lock Brodie Retallick has admitted that he is surprised to be preparing for the World Cup with the defending champions.

Retallick has won 41 caps for the All Blacks since his debut in 2012, but the Chiefs lock claims that he never expected to make an impact at international level when he watched the side lift the Webb Ellis Cup four years ago.

"I watched the 2011 final in a fire station - friends of ours were in the fire brigade and set up a grandstand and a big screen, so it seemed like the best place to go," Retallick, who was named World Rugby Player of the Year in 2014, told Sky Sports News.

"It was pretty nerve wracking and pretty special to experience the World Cup in our country, but I had no idea that I would be part of one four years later.

"At the time, I had a contract to play for the Chiefs and I did not think playing for the All Blacks was ever going to be a possibility. It's pretty special to be here now."

New Zealand start their campaign against Argentina at Wembley on Sunday.