McCaw reminded of Lions series mentality

Richie McCaw

CHRISTCHURCH - The occasion isn't on the same scale but captain Richie McCaw says the All Blacks are as pumped for tonight's Tri-Nations rugby opener against Australia as they were for last year's first Lions test.

The Wallabies are likely to provide a greater threat at Jade Stadium than the Lions did in damp conditions at the same venue. The British and Irish bubble was well and truly burst in a 3-21 loss.

While the Lions series was one the All Blacks had built themselves up to for some time, tonight's test comes in the wake of fractured, split-squad start to the season and just a week of proper preparation.

However, McCaw could see similarities in terms of the switched-on nature of his teammates and they didn't need glimpses out their hotel window of thousands of Lions fans gathering in the Cathedral Square to help.

"The Lions was quite a unique sort of a tournament and something we'd been building up for a while but in terms of having limited time to get ready for test, it's pretty similar," McCaw said.

"This week we've only had six days to get ready for a test we think will be a big challenge.

"That brings that excitement, that edge that you've got to get ready. Every test that I've played against Australia is a real battle. That brings that edge."

Lock Jason Eaton and winger Joe Rokocoko are the only All Blacks starters tonight who weren't involved in the Christchurch triumph last year.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry has spent too much time improving some early-season frailties to worry about comparisons with the Lions series.

At the forefront of his thinking are the lineout and the All Blacks' recent predilection for being hammered in the penalty count.

Australia have been particularly impressive at lineout time, something that was nothing new in Henry's eyes.

"They've got more height than we do so we have to be smart. I don't think that's changed over the last 20 years has it?" he said.

"We just have to be a bit smarter than we have in recent test matches, which haven't been great.

"I'm sure the boys are quite a way down the track in implementing that."

Henry's counterpart John Connolly has been eager this week to play down any area where it is conceived Australia may have the advantage.

Chinks in the All Blacks would be hard to find he said, particularly because they had ended their experimental phase and named the side he reckoned just about every New Zealander would have plumped for.

"The All Blacks do everything well, to be ranked No 1 in the world you've got to," he said.

"Their lineout's good, their scrum's good, their breakdown work is ferocious.

"They've got a 10 (Daniel Carter) and 12 (Aaron Mauger) who get them around the field really well and they're great on turnover ball."

Wallabies captain George Gregan said both teams would be well aware that this match was several steps above their June tests, where both teams won their three tests.

Gregan's men looked more impressive in two wins over England and once over twice while the All Blacks scraped home twice against the Irish and then battled to beat Argentina.

"We're probably both saying the same thing that this is our first really big test of the winter season," Gregan said.

"These matches are a step up in terms of intensity. The ball's in play a lot longer, both teams have a pretty similar attitude towards playing.

"There's a quiet confidence that if we can do our jobs individually and collectively we can get a good result but it's going to take a really strong effort."

An All Blacks win would be their 300th in all tests.

They currently have a record of 299 wins, 17 draw and 91 losses for a 73.5 per cent test match record.

Teams:

New Zealand: Leon MacDonald, Rico Gear, Mils Muliaina, Aaron Mauger, Joe Rokocoko, Daniel Carter, Byron Kelleher, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerry Collins, Jason Eaton, Chris Jack, Carl Hayman, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Isaia Toeava, Luke McAlister, Piri Weepu, Chris Masoe, Ali Williams, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore.

Australia: Australia: Chris Latham, Mark Gerrard, Stirling Mortlock, Mat Rogers, Lote Tuqiri, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (captain), Rocky Elsom, George Smith, Mark Chisholm, Dan Vickerman, Nathan Sharpe, Guy Shepherdson, Tai McIsaac, Greg Holmes. Reserves: Jeremy Paul, Al Baxter, Scott Fava, Phil Waugh, Sam Cordingley, Matt Giteau, Ben Tune.

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

Kickoff: 7.35pm.

- NZPA