The All Blacks have gone big budget with a striking video to promote sponsors, Air New Zealand’s safety message. Taking their cues from the Hollywood blockbuster Men in Black, the clear favourites for the Rugby World Cup, ham it up with full-back Israel Dagg game enough to rap alongside Kiwi artist and former Australian Idol winner Stan Walker.

Starting the video, are All Black captain Richie McCaw and record points scorer Dan Carter, who stride menacingly into a room full of attractive dancers before disappearing into the ether.

Also featuring in entertaining the five-minute video, which has a serious safety message at its heart, are lock Sam Whitelock, former IRB Player of the Year Kieran Read, and Test centurion Keven Mealamu. The big surprise comes when old foes David Campese, Martin Johnson and Agustin Pichot appear with horns sprouting from their foreheads – Johnno, who has a Kiwi wife Kay, even takes a chunk from some paper – all we can say is they must have taken alot of persuading to don that get-up.

There’s even a nod from All Black coach Steve Hansen, replete with black-out shades and Rip Torn, the actor who appeared in the original film. We’re unsure whether Will Smith or Tommy Lee Jones were approached, altough we’re sure the budget was already high enough.

It has certainly got the rugby world talking…