Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'Part of you would like to be out there' - McCaw gives verdict on Crusaders

Former All Blacks and Crusaders captain Richie McCaw

Former All Blacks and Crusaders captain Richie McCaw says his new watching brief is difficult at times, but gave coach Scott Robertson his thoughts on what the Crusaders must do to win their Super Rugby semi-final against the Hurricanes.

ADVERTISEMENT

The defending champions put themselves under unnecessary pressure in their last-eight clash against the Sharks before clinching an ultimately comfortable 40-10 victory in Christchurch.

Former Crusaders captain McCaw won four Super Rugby titles with the franchise and offered his former team-mate Robertson some advice ahead of Saturday’s meeting at AMI Stadium.

“I was just talking about it to Razor [Robertson]. It’s the little mistakes, back-to-back mistakes or penalties allowing the momentum to go against you, it can just be one or two things like that,” McCaw told 1 News.

“You can go from being on the front foot to all of a sudden with the guys that the Hurricanes have got, they are good enough to build that pressure and all of sudden it can cost you seven points.

“It will be just those little opportunities.”

Video Spacer

New Zealand’s most-capped player McCaw, who turns 38 this year, admits he misses taking part in play-off matches but is trying to enjoy simply being a spectator.

“I was sitting in the stands last week and you sort of remember back to the times that you were lucky enough to do that,” he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

“There is a little bit that sits there, but you get past that. I am just really enjoying seeing the guys carrying on keeping the Crusaders at the top of the list.

“That is pretty cool to watch, but part of you would like to be out there, but you know can’t do that anymore, just got to try and enjoy it like everybody else.”

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

N
Nickers 31 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

41 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ The joy, spirit and obstacles of the rugby pilgrim The joy, spirit and obstacles of the rugby pilgrim
Search