New Zealand have to channel their emotions into the right areas as their Tri-Nations title goes on the line and the Bledisloe Cup beckons as well.
But McCaw also senses a bit of confidence surfacing in his camp and that might be the most crucial ingredient for a side eager to atone for their twin losses to the Springboks.
It’s been a long two and a half weeks since then with McCaw’s men brooding on things.
“We had some time away and it’s nice to be able to get back and put in place the things we want to get right for Saturday. I think the guys are pretty excited about it,” McCaw said, adding that there was also “a little bit” of impatience.
“We have to make sure that we don’t play the game today or tomorrow. We just have to make sure that we leave it right for Saturday.
“I think the guys understand that. Certainly the guys are pretty excited about getting out there. We’ve just got to make sure we hold them back a wee bit. But that’s a good thing.”
McCaw said that adding to his team’s challenge was the fact that the Wallabies were also smarting after getting their butts spanked twice in a row in a Tri-Nations tournament that has been upended by the Boks.
“We have to remember that we are up against a team that’s in exactly the same boat so that’s going to make for a pretty good test if you get two desperate teams,” he said.
“The thing is you have to make sure that you don’t let that get on top of you. You have to go out and execute what you are after. If you do that you give yourself a chance.
“It’s not the nicest situation to be in but you will see how good guys are at being able to get themselves back up and performing.”
From experience – the All Blacks have twice been on the end of two losses in a row under Graham Henry’s reign – McCaw said there wasn’t a massive need for motivation. The results tended to do that themselves.
“Last year the guys were pretty desperate to get it right and that’s the same this year. You don’t have to do a whole lot. Most of the guys understand that we didn’t play as well we could have and they are pretty desperate to get that right. They are pretty proud sort of guys.”
While the All Blacks might enjoy a mental edge over Robbie Deans’ Wallabies, having won three tight encounters against them in their last tests, the New Zealanders had shown similar vulnerability against the Boks this year.
McCaw believed this weekend’s test would be a lot about composure.
“We got under pressure in Bloemfontein and Durban and they (the Springboks) capitalised on that. We had an opportunity and we let it slip.
“It would be nice to take advantage of that but the way some games go, you get put under pressure and you make mistakes. That’s what disappointed us and I’m sure the Wallabies will be the same.
“So you aim to make sure that when you get your critical periods – and there’s probably a couple in each test match – you have to make the most of it or you come second.”
29 @Snoek – Said earlier in the week the hometeam by a few…but only because of the home advantage. I think on Saturday we will see if the ABs’ are really in trouble or just slow starters this year…very slow mind you!
30@superBul –
now why do the sa 2nd team only have 99 ranking points? 😀
Last bit on the Cricket Rankings and why i want ENG to win, imagine AUS 4th, eish call it a hammer blow.
As Sri Lanka prepares to host New Zealand for the first of their two-match Test series in Galle and Colombo, Kumar Sangakkara’s men will want to keep a close eye on the result of the final Ashes Test match in England.
If Sri Lanka wins its series against the Black Caps 2-0 it has the opportunity to go second in the Reliance Mobile Test Championship. This can only happen if Australia loses the final Ashes Test at the Oval.
If Australia wins the final Test match to England it will stay on top but defeat at the Oval could mean it slips to fourth in the Test Championship. This would make South Africa top, Sri Lanka second and India third in the rankings and even a draw will mean Australia’s long reign at the top will come to an end.
However, Sri Lanka could fall to fourth should it only secure a 1-0 victory over New Zealand and Australia beats England.
On the other hand, if Sri Lanka wins the series by 1-0 and Australia loses to England then India would rise above Sri Lanka to assume second place. So there are several permutations that could play out, indicating just how close it is at the top of the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship at present.
31 @ Koos – Môre Koos, die auzzies moes al die eerte game gewen het in NZ, maar hulle het hom weggegooi. Dit behoort ‘n interesante game te wees, sien nogal uit daarna.
31@Koos –
think the ab will take this one
a lot will depend on that carter/mcallister combo though
but
should those 2 fire
a bonus point for tries scored might not be such a farfetched idea!!
gut feeling? ab by 10+
34 @Snoek – Yip, ek ook. Lekker om bietjie te kyk hoe die ander twee honde oor die been baklei…wel, tot ons weer speel in elk geval!
35 @ashley – Weetie so mooi nie asbak, the wobbly defence is pretty good.
@ashley – @Snoek –
Hello Snoek, ek het jou gister geantwoord oor die streng t+C’s hier, jy gesien?
Morning Arthur, howzit?
Agree with you, AB’s will take this one.
And the next.
@Pietman –
T+C’s, ek meen.
@ashley –
AB’s by 11, so says my superbru.
Koos,
We have never seen an AB team not bounce back, so if they lose on Sat, it’s a bad sign of things to come for them, but I’ll happily hold onto that No 1 ranking like it never left home.
38 @ Pietman – Môre Pietman, ja ek het gesien. He he he, Ons moet onself in toom hou hier.
Julle is seker bly oor daai Golfspeler van julle geweste wat vir tiger geklop het. YE Yang ek dink. Dit was baie goed.
41 @Manlybok – 1998, did not win a game in the 3N…I think its the right year!
40 @ Pietman – Jinne, dit sal gedoen wees as die blacks daai score mee wen. Persoonlik hoop ek hulle verloor, ‘n weg wen vir hulle sal ons weer onder druk sit.
href=’#comment-10430′>@Snoek – @Snoek –
Ek was laasweek op Yang se tuisdorp.
Hy woon op Jeju-eiland, sy vrou was al die jare die pro golf coach daar.
Dit vind ek eers uit na ek daar was!
Nog nooit vantevore van hom gehoor nie.
@Koos –
Jy seker Koos?
Ek glo nie die AB’s het al ooit 3 toetse back-to-back verloor in die geskiedenis van hulle rugby nie…..
Manne ek groet eers, werk wag. Gesels later.
@Snoek –
Tjorts, vang jou later weer.
Ek is ook so n wyle uit eers, moet bietjie drank uitpak en koud maak 🙂
46 @Pietman – Ek check gou maar ek is seker, was onder Hart gewees.
Pete, check die…5 in a ry!
24 Sep 1949 New Zealand 9 – 16 Australia
17 Sep 1949 South Africa 11 – 8 New Zealand
03 Sep 1949 South Africa 9 – 3 New Zealand
03 Sep 1949 New Zealand 6 – 11 Australia
13 Aug 1949 South Africa 12 – 6 New Zealand
en 1998…
29 Aug 1998 Australia 19 – 14 New Zealand
15 Aug 1998 South Africa 24 – 23 New Zealand
01 Aug 1998 New Zealand 23 – 27 Australia
25 Jul 1998 New Zealand 3 – 13 South Africa
11 Jul 1998 Australia 24 – 16 New Zealand
must say i appreciate the intenational views of different websites/media that are posted here as a thread……much appreciated….
@Koos –
Dankie.
Praat later, hier is fout my kant, net so n maergat kolommetjie aan die linkerkant van die skerm… :-0
o hel…nou chaos oppie site….
Alles nou weer normaal?
@Koos – @superBul –
Ja, thx.
Weet nie wat pas gebeur het nie.
Koos, ongelooflik!
Man raak nooit te oud om te leer nie, wys jou, ek sou dit nooit kon dink nie.
Dagse manne. Ek loer so elke wyle in,al is ek heeltyd opgelog.
Die Oztralianers gaan gatskop Saterdag. NZ se 10/12 sal eers oor so 3 games mooi inskop.
Ek sien daars n moerse ge hoo ha oral oor Brian Habana, soos met WO al die geraas en vir wie het hy geteken. Hulle probeer ook oral die Bulle se Unie diskrediteer, die manne is PROs hulle sal die regte ding besluit.
More manne,
Ek weet dis van die onderwerp af. Maar ek is lekker bly daai polisielede het hulle saak oor regstellende aksie gewen!
@Supa Die Bloubul –
Waar kan ek daaroor lees?
@superBul –
Ek dink gisteraand. Dis net Habana wat moontlik gaan. Die res van die s14 span(behalwe Rayno), kan net so speel volgende jaar.
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