Monkley relishing classic flanker showdown

1.00pm

Duane Monkley, like other rugby followers, is eagerly anticipating Friday night's NPC showdown between All Blacks No 7s Marty Holah and Richie McCaw when Waikato host Ranfurly Shield holders Canterbury.

As assistant coach of this year's Waikato NPC team, Monkley has a closer interest than usual in the clash of the open-siders and did not want to say too much about McCaw before Friday's match.

But he can relate to both of them, having played 135 matches for Waikato -- most of them at No 7, and said there was little doubt the pair were easily the best in the country.

Considered the best tearaway flanker never to make the All Blacks, Monkley played in the red, yellow and black from 1985-96 in a different era of openside play.

"I guess as the rules have changed the position has evolved too," Monkley said.

"The biggest change now is that we have quite a few more rucks in the game than we used to and the game is a lot more structured than it used to be."

The primary role was now being very strong and accurate over the ball at the breakdown to ensure it kept coming back as quickly as possible on attack and to create turnovers on defence.

That often required an ability for players to get quickly back on their feet after a tackle and walk a fine line with the law book.

"Guys like Marty and Richie are the best exponents of that area in the game."

Monkley said Holah was a player who required regular game time to play at his best and felt he was working his way into that best form now.

He had two NPC games after a three-week break following the Tri-Nations, where he was the starting No 7 in the absence of McCaw who took a long break due to the after-effects of a concussion.

"Marty has really grown in his leadership role in this team. He's definitely our go-to guy when it comes to solving problems in the breakdown area.

"He's also really good in organising the defensive line because he reads so well what the opposition are doing and where the threats are coming from. It's a key role."

For the All Blacks Holah had done his job well but had suffered in the latter Tri-Nations matches by the lack of flow in the New Zealand game, Monkley said.

Holah and McCaw were different body shapes, with McCaw using his extra size to his advantage to throw himself about in the forward exchanges, while he was a skilful ball runner out wide.

But both had similar strengths at the breakdown and were both "magnificent", well-developed athletes with outstanding leg strength and aerobic capacity.

"Marty has obviously developed his ball running a lot and is a really balanced athlete, who has no physical weaknesses from top to bottom.

"He always makes those extra couple of yards with the ball when they are needed. He's come a long way in that area."

McCaw, who is skipper of the red and blacks this season, will be making his second appearance for Canterbury in this year's NPC since coming back to rugby after his long break via Canterbury B.

- NZPA

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