Kiwis to 'lean on' Rugby World Cup skipper Richie McCaw for inspiration in CWC

New Zealand rugby team captain Richie McCaw got an appeal from the nation's cricket team skipper Brendon McCullum that the Rugby World Cup winner should stay close to his phone in coming weeks as he might be needed as a cricket mentor.

The talismanic McCaw refused to be weighed down by the intense expectation of an enthusiastic public when New Zealand hosted rugby's showpiece tournament in 2011 and led the All Blacks to an 8-7 win against France in the final to end a 24-year nightmare for the rugby-obsessed country after the world's top-ranked side had failed in every World Cup since their one previous victory in 1987.

Four years later McCullum has found himself under similar pressure with the New Zealand media lifting the cricket team from World Cup underdogs to favourites on the back of a string of successes over the past year, Sport24 reported.

McCullum does not shy away from this tag, as he believes that this is New Zealand's best chance to win since they co-hosted the tournament with Australia 23 years ago.

McCullum claims that it's a team he is really comfortable taking into a World Cup and they give themselves a good chance.

Their World Cup campaign started on a winning note, as McCullum's men beat Sri Lanka by 98 runs on Saturday in their opener at the Hagley Oval.

However, while New Zealand have been regular semi-finalists they have never made the ultimate showdown and McCullum claims that he might have to call on McCaw for advice when they get close to the final.

McCullum claimed that what the All Blacks were able to achieve, winning a Rugby World Cup at home after being without the trophy for so long, and the expectations that they dealt with, especially in rugby in their country, was amazing.

The skipper said that he is in awe with how the rugby dealt with that and the result that they were able to achieve, adding that there would come a time when the cricket squad would lean on those sorts of people when they get the opportunity.