Richie McCaw eyes toughest of Sydney test
It couldn’t be a more familiar sight. The Crusaders, Super Rugby’s most successful team, arriving to play in another final and Richie McCaw, the most capped All Black ever, sporting a freshly stitched gash under his eye.
The team from Christchurch is after its eighth title and, even away from home, bookmakers are taking three times the money from punters on a Crusaders win.
The Crusaders have history on their side, having beaten the Waratahs in two previous Super Rugby finals.
But this time they are in Sydney, where they haven’t played all season, and McCaw is paying no attention to past records.
He believes the Waratahs, who won the minor premiership before overcoming fierce rivals the Brumbies in last weekend’s semi-final, have set the benchmark this season and won’t be thinking about their previous final defeats.
“People always make a lot about history, but each year it’s a different team,” he said.
“There might be some experiences you think about personally, but as a team it will be totally different. And it’s the same with us. From where we were a few years ago, when we tripped up, it’s a different team, so hopefully we can get a good performance.”
“I’ve seen enough of them on telly and realise they’re a good team. They’ve sort of set the standard for the year, so we’re just lucky we’re in the final to have a crack at them.”
While the Crusaders got through their semi against the Sharks with ease, the Waratahs worked hard for their win.
It was one of NSW’s best ever defensive performances and McCaw took note of giant enforcers Jacques Potgieter and Will Skelton. But he sees talent all across the park.
“Right across the board they’ve had a pretty settled line-up every week and those guys (Potgieter and Skelton) are certainly playing some good rugby,” he said. “That’s the reason they’ve allowed their backs to do what they’ve done.”
“So they’ve all contributed, but you look at guys like Israel Folau, one of the top try-scorers, and guys like Kurtley Beale and Adam Ashley-Cooper, they make a difference. And obviously Michael Hooper, he has been going pretty good, too.”
McCaw, Matt Todd and Kieran Read will face Hooper, Wycliffe Palu and Stephen Hoiles — virtually an All Black pack against a Wallabies one.
But McCaw only has the Crusaders on his mind. “When you’re with the Crusaders, there’s a history and you want to add to that,” McCaw said.