Labelling it a "different beast", Brad Thorn has warned northern hemisphere nations lead-up form counts for little ahead of next year's World Cup.
The cross-code great was on hand in Brisbane to mark 500 days until the Australian showpiece, relishing the chance to hold the Webb Ellis Cup again.
Thorn's World Cup win with the All Blacks in 2011, as a 36-year-old, was his final Test and followed NRL and Super Rugby titles, a European Cup and appearances for Queensland and Australia in rugby league.
"We had a 24-year drought and it was just something we had to get; personally, I just had to get that job done," Thorn said of New Zealand's breakthrough on home soil.
"It was almost that then I could get on with my life. That's sort of how we are with rugby in New Zealand."
