ABs to rest and watch 3N unfold
Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:37
All Black captain Richie McCaw feels his side have earned a well-deserved break following their win in Cape Town, until they play off for Tri-Nations glory in Brisbane on September 13.
The All Blacks now look forward to a three-week break from Tri-Nations rugby, whilst the Wallabies battle it out in the Republic in back-to-back Tests against the Springboks - the Australians looking for their first win in South Africa since 2000.
The All Blacks will however play Samoa in a build-up Test on September 3 during their extended bye period.
Graham Henry's side will return to New Zealand in good spirits - after scoring 19 unanswered points against the Springboks at Newlands last Saturday - as they rest and watch on with interest to see how the Wallabies fare in South Africa over the next couple of weeks.
"We knew it was going to be tough," McCaw told Yahoo!Xtra Sport.
"In this Tri-Nations, there is nothing between the teams. We had a good performance two weeks ago and we had to go out and do it again.
"We will now witness the next couple of weeks. But this was a must-win game for us in the Tri-Nations.
"We can sit back for a couple of weeks now and it could an interesting one in a few weeks time," he added.
McCaw defied a rib injury in the latter stages of the game to lead his side to victory, in one of his most sterling performances yet for the All Blacks.
The captain displayed vast skills which included setting up the All Blacks' first try - putting through the grubber which centre Conrad Smith re-gathered to score.
"He can do it all. It is great to have him back in the side," said Smith.
"We don't practice things like that too much.
"But this is a special side and it is why I love playing in this jersey along guys like that. You make the most of your chances and that is what it takes to play in a Test match like this."
Again combining strongly with Hurricanes teammate Ma'a Nonu in the All Black midfield, Smith, like McCaw, said it was now time to sit back and watch on as the Wallabies and Springboks look to keep their tournament hopes alive.
"We are more than happy with a win like that," he said.
"Coming over here, they [the Boks] would have felt if they won their home games, the Tri-Nations could have been theirs.
"But we have managed to take one off them. We are still alive and have a game in Brisbane to go.
"There is no more we can do from here," Smith added.
