Gerry Thornley talks to All Black Richie McCaw, who will be keen to prove he is still the best openside in the world
The breakdown has been king and nobody rules the roost there quite like Richie McCaw. Yet the oldest gunslinger is back in town and for McCaw to put any lingering doubts to rest he is the world's best openside, he has to make his 12 years' advantage in age pay against Neil Back.
The oul' Leicester warhorse could defy the years and pull out a performance from his vintage best, as he did two years ago when the English backrow of Hill-Back-Dallaglio eclipsed their younger New Zealand counterparts in an epic, spoiling, defensive performance that at one point saw them reduced to 13 men.
"He's a smart player when it comes to what he does at the breakdown," admits McCaw. "I've only played against him once and he certainly made his presence felt that day, so I expect nothing else at the weekend. He knows how to get in there and get his hands on the ball when you don't want it so it's something we have to stop."
Aside from the World Cup semi-final defeat to Australia, one reckons no defeat rankles with McCaw and Rodney So'oialo like the aforementioned 15-13 loss to England. Not that he'd let on. But with Martin Corry coming in for the injured Dallaglio, the combined age of the English backrow is 100, as against the 73 years the All Blacks trio share.
"You've got to back yourself and you've got to go out there as a trio looking to outplay them but even though they're a bit older they're still playing good rugby and they've got a lot of experience and a lot of know-how so we realise it's going to be one of the biggest challenges that we'll face."
The Lions have been taken aback by the ferocity of the breakdown exchanges on this tour and have adapted pretty well. But this is the ultimate challenge for them, given the physicality of the All Blacks in the one-on-one collisions and then the radar-like arrival of McCaw as third man.
"It's not too much different to normal if you ask me. There's been a lot of media hype but in the rugby I've played for the last wee while it's always been the area that means whether you're going to do well in a game or not, so this week is no different.
"There may be a bit more intensity this week, which will probably make it a little bit more physical or whatever, but still the goal is to get clean ball and stop them slowing our ball and for us to try and slow their ball down. That's always the way."
Nobody plays closer to the edge of the laws than McCaw. He can slide into the contact area and quickly get to his feet, and his role on Saturday is given added intrigue by his capacity to concede a penalty or two every match. McCaw's reading of how far he can go in the eyes of Joël Jutge, who has a reputation for allowing a contest at the breakdown, will be fascinating.
Asked whether the presence of a French referee might have an effect on the breakdown, McCaw said: "It could a little bit. I'm not totally sure. We had him last November against Italy and we had no problems with him and I don't see it being a problem."
McCaw admits the game in the Northern Hemisphere has placed greater importance on the set-pieces, "although I must say in the last 12 months we've recognised that in New Zealand and we've really put a lot of work into it."
Most of all though, McCaw thinks the difference will be intensity. "Apart from that it's hard to know but we're expecting anything. We want to play rugby. There's nothing worse than coming off the field thinking 'shit, we didn't do much' - so that's the key and I guess that's the big task."
Marty Holah has been rerouted from the Junior All Blacks in Australia to join the squad as "a precaution" because of McCaw's "minor back strain". "My experience is that I can play and train with this niggle and it usually comes right after a few days," said McCaw. New Zealand coach Graham Henry said: "We fully expect Richie to play."
