McCaw to 'guide' So'oialo against Boks
Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:12
Long-serving All Black captain Richie McCaw may not be available to play for the first four rounds of the Tri-Nations, but his influence on the New Zealand team will not be lost.
Stand-in captain Rodney So'oialo, who is hoping for a seamless transition after taking over from the injured McCaw for the first half of the season, said he will lean heavily on the team's regular captain when they face South Africa in the opening match of the Tri-Nations series in Wellington on Saturday.
Since coach Graham Henry broke the news to him over the phone last week, So'oialo had spoken to McCaw, who offered some help on how to handle the post.
No doubt tactics aimed at the World Cup holders, the Springboks, were dropped into the conversation.
"Even though he's not physically with the team he's still a big part," So'oialo told NZPA.
"He's still got a knowledge of the game and can certainly help out with the team," added So'oialo, who reckoned he took the same approach to captaincy as his predecessor.
"We both get out there and obviously do our job firstly and if we have to talk to the ref then [we do]."
The 28-year-old cut a relaxed, smiling figure in his first training as skipper in Wellington on Monday, although the task of leading New Zealand against great rivals South Africa in the tournament opener on Saturday brings a steely resolve that will only harden as this week progresses.
"We're playing the best team in the world," So'oialo said.
"They certainly showed that in their World Cup campaign and then coming into the games they've had in the last few weeks, they've been great and they're certainly the benchmark that we need to reach."
Samoan-born So'oialo will be the All Blacks' 61st Test captain and he should keep the role for at least four tests, with McCaw's ankle injury expected to sideline him until the mid-August Test against the Springboks in Cape Town.
So'oialo was delighted to welcome friend and fellow Hurricanes loose forward Chris Masoe back into the mix.
Masoe is cover for McCaw for at least the next two Tests - in Wellington this week and Dunedin next Saturday - while Chiefs lock Kevin O'Neill also joined the squad as Ali Williams continues to recover from an ankle sprain.
Williams was the only player to sit out a light training session on Monday.
After a month of club rugby and pre-season training with Wellington, 20-Test veteran Masoe spoke of relief at his recall and the pain of missing selection for coach Graham Henry's initial squad.
"It was pretty tough, it takes a couple of days or a week to get over it," Masoe told NZPA.
"I guess that's how rugby goes, it's the job you're in. I was really disappointed but I've got another opportunity now."
It is unlikely Masoe will start against South Africa, even though he is the only All Blacks squad member with genuine experience on the openside flank.
Adam Thomson will probably join So'oialo in a left-right combination, with Jerome Kaino restored at No.8.
