IRELAND v NEW ZEALAND: Gavin Cummiskeytalks to All Black Richie McCaw about the pressures and responsibilities of captaincy and the prospects of facing Ireland tomorrow
THE BURDEN Richie McCaw must carry was best exemplified by the front of every New Zealand daily the morning after France magically dumped the All Blacks out of the 2007 World Cup. As national captain, McCaw's head-in-hands picture dominated with one banner headline reading: "What a black night, Richie."
Undaunted, the reformed tourists have risen again and their leader continues to wear the crown of world's best player with some ease.
"I think there is pressure in being an All Black, really, but I think if you thought you had all the responsibility on yourself then it could be quite a lonely position. But a lot of guys around help, they have played a lot of rugby, and when you talk to them and get them to help out then it's not so bad at all. At the end of the day you have to perform as a player first and I guess the only real pressure is to perform.
"I guess that's the same for all the All Blacks but you look at that as exciting as well, and having the chance to do that every week is cool."
McCaw is devoid of Machiavellian leadership tendencies, an openly cunning number seven following a remarkable Kiwi tradition. You see, in this far flung rugby outpost the openside wing forward is king and McCaw is first among equals.
Let's get down to basics, because have no doubt that's what McCaw will be doing tomorrow evening. The breakdown is where most issues get sorted and the number seven (or six in South Africa) is responsible for arriving ahead of the posse to secure possession. From a defensive perspective he must pilfer prone subjects of the ball or when he becomes overly stubborn, wrap him up and await the penalty.
Michael Jones seemed like the best we would ever see but then Josh Kronfeld came along to muddy the debate. The professional game gave us Australia's George Smith and then McCaw made an astonishing Test bow at Lansdowne Road in 2001.
"I was pretty nervous before that game but I remember the Irish scoring quite a few points just after half-time and that's how I remember my first Test. But it was really special, to play your first game," says McCaw, who neglects to mention the Jonah Lomu-inspired revival resulting in a 40-29 victory or his man-of-the-match accolade.
McCaw was at the zenith of his powers in the atrocious Wellington night last June as Ireland again came up short, 21-11.
"Oh I suppose, yeah, I was pretty happy. The conditions probably played into my hands a little bit - the ball doesn't get too far away from me and I can get amongst it.
"They were some of the worst conditions we ever played in but it was a hard-fought win and I guess at the end of it we were pretty happy that things came off for us with pretty limited preparation."
McCaw's game thrives on the brink of illegality and, depending on one's perspective, he constantly leans over that borderline. Still, when he gets it right, feats of near impossibility unfold. Not that you can see him as his salary is earned beneath a pile of opposing bodies, desperately trying to remove the 106kg nuisance.
However, it is his all round contribution that separates him from other opensides. He carries ball and has the size to make an impact in other areas. Tomorrow he will attempt to make Alan Quinlan, Jamie Heaslip and particularly, David Wallace look ordinary.
Irish rugby doesn't have the same tradition at seven. Sure, there has been Fergus Slattery and Nigel Carr, but the present backrow doesn't have an openside in the strictest sense - Wallace's main trait being a ball carrier. So much so that he could be mistaken for a number eight.
This is not a slight as the Springboks don't hold much weight in a tearaway either. England ignored Neil Back for years. And yet, Declan Kidney kept Leinster's natural seven Shane Jennings in the match 22 this week along with blindside flanker Stephen Ferris (who will also cover secondrow).
What does McCaw make of the direct opposition? "They obviously have quite a bit of experience. A lot of how we operate is based on what is in front of us and I'm sure Saturday will be no different.
"But the challenge I've had in the past has certainly been a pretty good one from those guys, pretty physical, and if you allow them go forward they can be a real menace. So I'm expecting the same, I suppose."
The challenge for the Irish backrow triumvirate is to reach the breakdown before the Maori cavalry, Rodney So'oialo and Jerome Kaino, can lend a hand.
"If the Irish get on top then anything can happen. That's the way we have to approach the game, we have to start well and with intensity."
