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.”
@Tripples – Sy was dieselfde tyd as Werner Stals daar of bietjie voor?
@Pietman – 109,
Jong ou moenie n gegewe perd in die bek kyk nie maar hulle het ons klaar gedrop, dink oor Chilly, en ons sal ongelukkig of dalk nog gelukkig met hom sit vir n lang tydjie. Hy is immers n man van die Noorde.
@K9-MonsterLeeu – #115
You must be joking!!!! Heidi was mooi maar Karin…..
Ek hoor dit sneeu in die Kaap…Ceres area…
@Tripples – het haar bene gelaaik.
@Supa Die Bloubul – moenie dat Habana dit hoor nie want dan gaan hy nie kaap toe wil gaan nie 😉
Sorry maters, dat julle in my lelike bakkies moet vaskyk, wou net kyk hoe werk ‘n Foto daar an wat die RELEFANTE GROOTTE VAN DIE IMAGE moet wees in sy wydte….
@K9-MonsterLeeu –
Rassie gaan die sneeu gebruik om n paar engelse en Kanadese te lok Kaap toe. 😆
@K9-MonsterLeeu – #121 Werner Stals was saam ons daar
@grootblousmile –
Het jy nie eerder n foto van Luke of Tana Umaga nie?
@Supa Die Bloubul – ‘n slot uit Groenland.
@grootblousmile – as jy bekommerd is oor die wydte…probeer ‘n foto van die mechanic inpas.
@K9-MonsterLeeu –
hehehe dan gana Rassie se span n WP, Haaie, Bul, Cheetah, Leeu, Fijiaan, All Black, Zimbabwier, Groenlander en n nuwe haker van antartika bevat.
@Tripples – was op ‘n stadium maatjies met Werner en ook Johan Marais en sy boetie Wikus. Nou het ek geen maatjies meer wat in Menlo was nie 🙄
@Supa Die Bloubul – hy kan die Groenland slot sommer ook in charge sit van die yspakkies.
@Tripples –
Sy het van Ermelo Hoerskool af gekom, as my geheue hou.
Moet se, ou GBS se foto lyk darem bietjie beter as Ig sin.
Karen Kruger het 2 jaar na my en Trippels Matriek geskryf… vra, ek ken haar nogal goed…. hehehe
Haar ouer suster, Lizette (Bynaam = Krugerblad as gevolg van haar ewigdurende geskinner oor almal) was een van my Stiefsuster se Vriine.
By the way Trippels, weetie of jy vir Anton Lamprecht kan onthou nie, saam met ons in Matriek gewees…. wel hy is getroud met my Stiefsussie, An-Marie wat die jaar voor ons in Matriek was.
@Pietman –
Weet nie hoe kyk Ig nie, maar hy kan nie mooi wees nie.
Pietman,
Waar is Ntabathemba?
Het iemand dalk al Naas en Karen se kinners gesien? Hulle haar kakebeen en sy tanne?
@grootblousmile –
Is Anton Leonard al so oud? 😆
@K9-MonsterLeeu –
Wat van Henning of Tallies, van Menlopark.?
Jy ken hulle mos ook.
Kan nie glo daai bekende skool MPH) het so min Springbok rugbyspelers opgelewer nie (slegs 3), minder as Upington selfs!
@Supa Die Bloubul – Ja nee. As Ig daai lees gaan pleeg hy selfmoord.
@K9-MonsterLeeu –
Drie Springnase.
Hy het mos net dogters.
140@K9-MonsterLeeu –
Ek het al Naas se seun gesien. Maar iets van hom lyk soos Steve. 😆
@Pietman – Henning ja. Menlo was met atletiek soos Grey met rugby is. Nooit rerig ‘n rugbykrag nie.
@Pietman –
en n seun
@Supa Die Bloubul –
Kyk Ig op Rats Gallery, RW.
Mens kan kinders bang maak met daai bakkies.
Nthabathemba, wat is dit?
@Pietman – hahaha…springnase
@Supa Die Bloubul –
O ja, seun ook, by sy cherrie daar in K9 se gemeente.
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