All Blacks: Recovering McCaw on par with Fitzpatrick

Richie McCaw is carving out his own place in history. Photo / Richard Robinson

On the same ground where Richie McCaw once brought a drunk South African rugby supporter into line, expectant eyes turn again to the All Blacks captain this weekend.

There was a widespread belief that New Zealand's best forward this decade would hit the ground running when he returned from a two-month injury break for the Tri-Nations.

By his own admission, he hasn't.

A rusty outing in the six-point defeat of the Wallabies in Auckland was followed by improvement in the nine-point loss to South Africa in Bloemfontein last weekend.

The test at Durban tomorrow morning (NZT) is another chance to get the timing and handling of old further into sync.

"To expect to come back in and carry on where you left off, it doesn't happen like that," said McCaw.

"I know that last week, in places, I was better than the week before.

"You've got to be careful you don't keep trying harder."

There is little wrong with the McCaw aggression quota, which has been part of his game since the early stages of his career.

That includes the 2002 test here where he was first to react when boorish home supporter Pieter van Zyl invaded the field to attack Irish referee David McHugh.

McCaw wrestled Van Zyl to the ABSA Stadium turf before McHugh was stretchered off with a dislocated shoulder.

Forward coach Steve Hansen said McCaw and No 8 Rodney So'oialo had shown better signs every week since joining the squad after the June home tests.

"It's a big ask to come back and be out for the period they were out for. In Richie's case, he hasn't played much rugby at all," Hansen said.

"I think he's coming to it, he's been training well, Rodney's a lot sharper this week too."

The test will see both players reach multiple milestones.

McCaw will match the 44 overseas tests played by another former captain, Sean Fitzpatrick, which is an All Black record. The advent of the World Cup means the modern All Blacks play more tests overseas while McCaw's injury absences have often coincided with home tests.

He has played just 29 of his tests on home soil, where hooking great Fitzpatrick played 48.

Mils Muliaina will join the retired Tana Umaga as the most capped All Black outside back, on 74 tests.

PLAYING AWAY

All Blacks to have contested the most rugby tests overseas:

44 - Sean Fitzpatrick
43 - Richie McCaw
40 - Ian Jones, Justin Marshall
39 - Andrew Mehrtens
37 - Ali Williams, Mils Muliaina
35 - Daniel Carter, Chris Jack

World record:

65 - Philippe Sella (France)
64 - George Gregan (Australia)
60 - Jason Leonard (England)

- NZPA