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CARDIFF - The All Blacks received an unexpected boost on the eve of their World Cup quarterfinal against France here when captain Richie McCaw revealed he had re-signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union.
McCaw, 26, said he had verbally agreed to terms today with the national union for a two-year contract.
"It's still subject to things but I've agreed to terms and I think there will be an announcement next week," the world class openside flanker said at a pre-test press conference this morning (NZ time).
The NZRU deadline for player signatures is Friday next week but McCaw said he hadn't felt any pressure to put pen to paper leading into the knockout phase of the competition.
He repeated his long-held position that he had never considered shifting overseas.
"It obviously hasn't been a big focus this week, with this game," he said.
"People at home have handled it and I think we're pretty happy.
"We'll talk about it more later."
Further questions to either McCaw or coach Graham Henry on the subject were blocked by team media management, who said more details would be announced next week.
McCaw will play his 59th test tomorrow, moving past Zinzan Brooke as the most capped All Blacks loose forward of all time.
- NZPA
