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.”
@Pietman –
http://www.news24.com/Content/SouthAfrica/News/1059/f99a18ebda444ca285209275bf896a08/19-08-2009-09-28/Blow_for_affirmative_action
@superBul – 57
Ek het vanaf ‘n ander spelersagent gehoor dat Habs NIE by die Bulle gaan bly nie. Hy wou nie uitbrei oor die redes nie, maar die inisiatief kom nie van hulle kant af nie.
@Pietman –
I cant believe they would rather leave the positions VACANT, than give it to white applicants that are more than qualified.
@Cosa –
I really hope he stays. He can go to Europe after 2011 and make more than enough money. Its not like he is starving at the moment…
@Supa Die Bloubul –
Ek hoop ook hy bly. Jy of Super het gister ‘n post van die Bulle site hier gepost, wat baie my gevoel uiteensit. Blykbaar is dinge al so ‘n jaar of wat nie lekker nie.
@Supa Die Bloubul –
Post-graduate qualifications, on top of it.
And they were denied promotion!
Now wonder the gangsters are running riot, while the police struggle to contain the crime situation.
Eishhhh…..
I hope this judgment will set a much needed new precedent in the ‘struggle’ against nepotism and incompetency, I really do.
@Cosa –
Ja ek weet nie meer nie. Aan die een kant kan ek nie sien hoe hy nou skielik TEEN Bakkies, Matfield, FDP, Wynand en al sy groot “familie tjomme” skielik kan speel nie.
Aan die ander kant weet ek sy pa is vrek geldgierig en hy het destyds die Leeus gelos, so hoekom nie weer nie?
@Pietman –
Ja Pietman. They all had qualification and between 7 and 12 years experience. More than qualified. But the positions remained vacant, because no blacks applied. Just wrong.
They are getting back pay since 2004, so they will have a lot of extra money now!
I see that the DuP brothers are also talking to WP about moving down to Slaapstad.
@Loosehead –
Really? Where did you read this?
This is becoming a joke. Rassie has already bought 17 players and tried quite a few others.
WP probably told him, you have one year – get a trophy or you are gone!
@Supa Die Bloubul – #67 Hy was nie lank by die leeus gewees nie…maar die ander ding is mens moet ook onthou dat sy meisie/vrou ook ‘n redelike sê in alles het so wonder of sy miskien nie kaap toe wil gaan nie?
@Loosehead – #69 Just wondering why the Dup brothers would leave the tjarks for WP, only thing I can think is bcos they are all stoere vrystaat boere 🙂
@Loosehead –
If all this happens, then WP will become a team of mercenaries, while their own homebred boys will be moving elsewhere.
I don’t get it.
@Supa Die Bloubul – On Sharksworld.
Rassie has done nothing with the Stormers or WP. He took a bunch of nobodies at Freestate and won the CC a few times, but can’t get a star studded WP outfit to do anything.
@Tripples –
Ek ken sy meisie, moes haar n slag n lift gee van n 21st in Alberton af ook, en ek vind dit effe moeilik om te glo, maar n ou weet nooit. Meeste van haar vriende is in Gauteng. Syt by RAU (Skoonveld) geswot. Hy het ook by RAU (Bastion) geswot. Maar enigiets is seker moontlik. Dink dismaar die geld jong…
@Pietman – #73
Sharks = Vrystaat A
WP = Vrystaat B
Vrystaat = Vrystaat C
hehehehehe
@Pietman – I still like to see the provinces develop their own players.
@Supa Die Bloubul – ja jong….Blerrie Mamon!!!!
@Loosehead –
I dont rate Rassie as a coach. Yes he won the CC, but twice when the Bulls and Sharks were missing about 10 players. In 2005 he won with all the best players available, but they werent dominating. The Bulls dominated the whole CC up until the last 12min of the game. And we all know what happened then! It still hurts! 😉
The Cheetahs won, yes, and you can only play who is against you, and thats why they deserve those trophies. Fair enough. But, I doesnt mean I rate Rassie.
@Tripples –
😆
@Loosehead –
for sure.
That is one of my gripes with WPRU, the lack of development of their youngsters.
Where is the WP academy, btw, is that the one run by Dawie Snyman at Coetzenburg, or is that the Maties’ own?
Supa,
Wie se meisie, Habs?
@Pietman –
Ja, Janine.
@Supa Die Bloubul – Ek dink hulle trou ook binnekort of het onlangs getrou, nie seker nie
@Tripples –
Ja jys reg. Alles en alles hoop ek hy bly. Ek wil hom en Shadow op vleuel sien volgende jaar. Ek dink regtig ons span kan nog beter wees volgende jaar.
@Supa Die Bloubul – Ek stem 100% saam, dink net dat hy al so lank by die bulle is dat dit sy familie is, is net weer daai blooming pa van hom wat krap waar dit nie jeuk nie….
Supa @82, so gedink.
Loosehead@77.
That is one thing one must give the BBRU credit for, their rugby develoment programme.
lat ime i checked they had something like 90 contracted players, from the Bulls Academy right through to CC level!
Take Dewald Potgieter for instance (whose family Supa knows well). This boy grew up in PE, passed matric with 8 distinctions, captained EP Cravens.
He should have been at Maties, but the BBRU grabbed him immediately, the day after he finished school.
Deon Stegman from Grey College is another case in point, why isn’t he at the Cheetahs?
Same with Morne Steyn, born in Cape Town.
Nokwe sat in Darling for how long, without any game time, etc and so forth.
WPRU would rather buy than develop.
@Tripples –
Ja, sy pa maak al die twak. Hyt destyds by die Sharks gaan shop, toe in Frankryk en nou in die Kaap. Jammer hy kan nie sy familie kies nie!
Richardt Strauss gaan waai by Cheetahs, praat van oorsee gaan.
Die Bulle moet hom gryp, vinnig!
Terloops, is Andries sy neef/broer?
En daai Strauss by die Sharks, die senter, ook familie?
Wat is sy naam tog nou weer?
@Supa Die Bloubul – maar hy kan sy agent kies hehehehe seker is hy bang vir pappie 😆
@Pietman –
Just met them once or twice Pieta but you are dead right. But Dewald proved himself from school level and his still only 21/22.
I see he is captaining our side this weekend and has been Emerging Bok captain.He might be Bok-captain one day. Good player.
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