McCaw fit for battle

Flanker Richie McCaw has pronounced himself fit for the opening test against the Lions tomorrow after a troublesome back niggle.

"It did not come right as quickly as it has in the past," he revealed yesterday.

"I was never really concerned about it, but I felt that if it did get worse I would feel terrible if I got to Friday and it had not improved.

"I did not want that on my conscience.

"It gave me enough worry to tell them about it. It was sore at the weekend and did not improve as it had in the past."

A sheepish McCaw told the selectors about his back strain on Tuesday and Marty Holah was contacted and flew on Wednesday to join the squad from the Junior All Blacks' trip to Australia.

McCaw said being involved in a home-town test was quite different. It was not like playing for the Crusaders. The All Blacks were in camp, in a hotel, and the preparation was different.

But the familiarity of the surroundings tomorrow would help soothe some of the pre-match anxiety about the series. The hype was building, as it did for every All Black test.

"All our efforts have to go into this weekend, because for one side in Wellington next week the pressure will intensify," McCaw said.

This test was up with the World Cup, but that was history, this was the present and it was unlikely he would face the Lions again. Not if they didn't return for 12 years.

"I would be the age of [English flanker] Neil Back," he chuckled. "I would be a battered old man by then."

McCaw marvelled at Back's longevity in the sport and that he obviously still enjoys the cut and thrust of international rugby.

"I saw him take his jersey off the other day and he is a ripped up sort of character. I do take my hat off to him to carry on. It seems a different mindset in England that they keep going. There are quite a few of them who play well into their 30s.

"In New Zealand it is a rarity."

An enormous amount of attention had been directed at the Lions' perceived defects at the breakdown. McCaw had noted the increased emphasis, but thought it reflected the weight New Zealanders attached to that aspect of the game.

"You know you come of the field and think it has been a shit game, and it is because you have had the ball slowed down and there has been someone there in the opposition being a menace," he said.

"We have got to make sure we do our things right. Perhaps they are a bit more niggly in that area of the game than we are.

"Up in the north they seem to go from set-phase to ruck to set-phase more than us. They are prepared to put more numbers in there to be a menace and slow the ball down.

"I think here we are more concerned to get back into line to defend, whereas they make a dogfight of it while we fan out in defence. We are getting better at it, though."

The All Blacks had changed their attitude and intensity at the breakdown, everyone was prepared to pitch in to buy time for the defence and the arrival of loose forwards.

Forget the weather, forget the ref, will the All Blacks win?

"I hope so,"McCaw said. "I believe if we can perform to our potential we can. That is the attitude we have to carry into this game. If we play to our potential then the result will take care of itself because that is all you can do.

"It will be a piss-off to come off the game not having performed and then looking at the result.

"If you have been beaten by a better team and played your best, there is not a lot more you can do.

"But I am pretty confident we can play our best. We have got the tools in the shed. Attitude will be the difference."