All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and stand-in skipper Kieran Read address the media after Saturday's World Cup win over Tonga.

There's no second chances for the All Blacks. D-Day has arrived in the form of another Rugby World Cup quarterfinal in Cardiff.

Behind closed doors Steve Hansen's men realise a performance equal to that of their four pool wins won't be enough to see them progress.

They were superb at times in the latter stages of their 47-9 victory over Tonga in Newcastle on Saturday morning (NZT), but they can't turn up at Millennium Stadium and wait 50 minutes to kick into gear.

REUTERS All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is sticking with the team plan as they head to a Rugby World Cup quarterfinal in Cardiff.

They can't continue to fumble the high ball or concede yellow cards and they'll need to nail all those rabbit-from-the-hat tricks up their sleeve to overcome France or Ireland.

As three of the current squad - Dan Carter, Richie McCaw and Tony Woodcock - experienced in 2007, knockout rugby is a totally different beast. Don't cope with the pressure; don't turn up expecting a dog fight and you will go home.

"There's no guaranteed games after this quarterfinal so it's a final for us," Carter said. "We need to step up and improve. This group, there wasn't many guys that were there in 2007, so it's not something we're thinking about too much."

1 of 25 Phil Walter/ Getty Images All Blacks wing Nehe Milner Skudder celebrates scoring his second try in the Rugby World Cup pool match against Tonga at St James' Park, Newcastle. 2 of 25 Andrew Yates/ Reuters All Blacks second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu dives in for a try against Tonga in his 100th test. 3 of 25 Russell Cheyne/ Reuters All Blacks wing Nehe Milner Skudder dives over for the try against Tonga. 4 of 25 GETTY IMAGES All Blacks fullback Ben Smith runs against Tonga. 5 of 25 Mark Runnacles/ Getty Images All Blacks wing Nehe Milner Skudder scores a try in the corner against Tonga. 6 of 25 PHOTOSPORT All Blacks flanker Sam Cane on a scything run against Tonga. 7 of 25 Jan Kruger/ Getty Images All Blacks midfielder Ma'a Nonu on the burst in his 100th test. 8 of 25 Andrew Yates/ Reuters All Blacks first five-eighth Dan Carter gets tackled. 9 of 25 Russell Cheyne/ Reuters The St James' Park pitch struggled to hold up to the rigour of rugby with grounds staff forced to try and mend it at halftime. 10 of 25 Phil Walter/ Getty Images All Blacks Kieran Read takes in the sights from the sin bin after being awarded a yellow card late in the first half of the Rugby World Cup pool game against Tonga. 11 of 25 Andrew Yates/ Reuters All Blacks prop Tony Woodcock dives over for the team's second try in their Rugby World Cup pool match with Tonga. 12 of 25 RUSSELL CHEYNE/REUTERS The All Blacks old firm in their Rugby World Cup clash with Tonga; Dan Carter kicking for goal and Richie McCaw on water duties. 13 of 25 Andrew Yates/ Reuters All Blacks fullback Ben Smith braces for impact with Tonga's Fetu'u Vainikolo in the teams' Rugby World Cup clash at St James' Park, Newcastle. 14 of 25 Russell Cheyne/ Reuters Injured All Blacks captain Richie McCaw is on water boy duties for the team's Rugby World Cup clash with Tonga. 15 of 25 Jan Kruger/ Getty Images All Blacks fullback Ben Smith dives in for the first try of their Rugby World Cup clash with Tonga. 16 of 25 Jan Kruger/ Getty Images All Blacks flanker Sam Cane takes the ball into contact. 17 of 25 Mark Runnacles/ Getty Images All Blacks hooker Dane Coles looks for the tackle on a charging Elvis Taione of Tonga. 18 of 25 Jan Kruger/ Getty Images All Blacks wing Nehe Milner-Skudder challenges Tonga's Joseph Tuineau for the ball. 19 of 25 Lee Smith/ Reuters The All Blacks perform the haka ahead of their Rugby World Cup clash with Tonga. 20 of 25 Phil Walter/ Getty Images All Blacks second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu performs the haka in his 100th test. 21 of 25 Andrew Yates/ Reuters Tonga perform the sipi tau ahead of their Rugby World Cup clash with the All Blacks at St James' Park, Newcastle. 22 of 25 Russell Cheyne/ Reuters All Blacks players sing the New Zealand national anthem ahead of their Rugby World Cup clash with Tonga. 23 of 25 Phil Walter/ Getty Images All Blacks second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu leads the team out onto St James' Park for his 100th test. 24 of 25 Mark Runnacles/ Getty Images An All Blacks fan cheers on the team in their Rugby World Cup pool match against Tonga at St James' Park. 25 of 25 PHIL WALTER/GETTY IMAGES All Blacks midfielder Sonny Bill Williams takes some pre-match photos at St James' Park, London.

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* Player ratings: All Blacks vs Tonga

* Nonu marks 100th test with trademark humour

* Woodcock may be out of RWC injured

This year's squad are far more grounded, better prepared and have endured much sterner tests in the group phase than their '07 predecessors. On paper they are a better side than both possible opponents. But it won't mean anything unless the fear and desperation that accompanies a trip home cajoles them into fifth gear.

"Whatever has happened in the last month or so is irrelevant now," Hansen said, attempting to draw a line in the sand and deliver a stern message of intent.

"What we turn up with at Millennium Stadium next weekend will determine how much further we go.

"I don't know if we're a halftime team. Over the years we've proven to be a full-time team. I know we're a handy team and we'll have to be handy next week regardless of who we play and 80 minutes will be required; we might even have to play 81.



"We've had to work hard through the pool stages and that hasn't been a bad thing for us. We've had a plan and we've stuck to that plan and we'll have to wait and see now if it works."

MORE MATCH STATS: All Blacks vs Tonga

The victory over Tonga was a step in the right direction in many areas. Carter produced his best performance of the tournament, igniting his running game to expose holes around the rucks and slotting six-from-seven. That, in turn, lifted the execution of the backline, who scored five of the team's seven tries.

"It's my fourth World Cup and I haven't played a lot of playoff footy so the fact the body is feeling really good I can't wait to continue," Carter said.



The defence was outstanding - getting off the line and only conceding three points with Kieran Read in the bin hints at a composure that will be crucial next week.



On the whole, confidence levels will be boosted by marking Ma'a Nonu's 100th test on the right note.



Still, there are concerns. Tony Woodcock's potentially career-ending hamstring injury may shine the spotlight once again on Wyatt Crockett's technique and could open the door for Joe Moody's call up.

After another classy two-try haul which again proved how comfortable he is at test level, Nehe Milner-Skudder must surely have locked in the right wing role ahead of Waisake Naholo, who bombed one first half try.

RUGBY WORLD CUP ZONE:

* RWC 2015 Match Centre

* Tournament history

* Best RWC moments

* RWC team profiles

* All Blacks squad

* RWC Fantasy league

* Printable wallchart

Elsewhere the starting team picks itself. Now the most important task of the last four years looms.



"It's always important to play well because it gives you confidence. It doesn't matter who you are confidence is a massive thing," Hansen said.

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"We'll have to build even more but that's the nature of the competition we're in.

"I can remember All Black teams in the past... we beat Italy by a lot and got knocked out in the quarterfinal. It's about maintaining performances from here on in and winning. All you need is one more point than the opposition."

Simple and effective. That's all it will take.

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