Rugby: McCaw sure to be in the firing line

The Bulls must shut down Richie McCaw to be in with a chance. Photo / Getty Images

"Subdue Richie McCaw" is a mantra chanted by every rugby side when they tangle with the Crusaders' captain.

Success rates are low because McCaw's wide range of skills, experience and knowledge of the laws allows him to outwit all but his most classy rivals. Usually they have to hunt in clumps to knock McCaw out of his rhythm.

It was a strategy the Cheetahs employed this season for one of their rare victories and a template they will have passed on to the Bulls, who host the Crusaders in the Super 14 playoffs on Sunday.

The Cheetahs aimed their skipper, Juan Smit, and his loose forward cronies, Heinrich Brussow and Hendro Scholtz, all at McCaw in that match, reasoning that if they eliminated him from much of the action they had a chance.

The theory worked - the Cheetahs had a rare victory and the pounding left McCaw wounded, concussed and unable to play in his side's final match in South Africa.

But a fortnight later McCaw is back in the Republic as one of the few survivors from the semifinal two years ago when the Bulls tipped over the Crusaders 27-12 before they went on to win the final in what remains the solitary title for any South African side.

This Crusaders side does not have the firepower of those predecessors - men like Daniel Carter, Aaron Mauger, Greg Somerville, Reuben Thorne, Mose Tuiali'i - but it carries the same conviction and drive which have marked almost every crusade.

They have also reclaimed lock Brad Thorn after his recent hamstring troubles to combat abrasive Bulls forwards like Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Pierre Spies and Deon Stegmann.

That combat will be brutal though Botha and combative centre JP Nel have to survive disciplinary hearings to be involved after they were cited for foul play in their final round victory against the Sharks. Botha has already been suspended for three weeks this season while midfielder Wynand Olivier is an unlikely starter because of a hip injury.

The sides met in pool play this year in Christchurch where the Crusaders, without the injured McCaw, beat the visitors 16-13 to maintain their push to defend their crown.

"The Crusaders are one of the toughest teams to play in a semifinal," said Matfield.

"They know how to win semifinals and finals. They have won the Super rugby title seven times and they have enough talent and experience to do it again. Obviously we are happy to be playing at Loftus but Loftus won't win the game for us. We have to go back to zero and work hard," he said.

The Bulls are the only side outside New Zealand in the playoffs but they were the top qualifiers and if they win this weekend will host either the Chiefs or Hurricanes in the Pretoria final the following weekend.

The Crusaders though will be looking to repeat their 1999 effort when they were the fourth qualifier but won the title against the Highlanders in Dunedin. That is the only time the last qualifier has claimed the honours.