All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw believes their shock exit in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup four years ago will give them an edge when they face Australia in their semi-final.
McCaw has been on light training duties all week, nursing his injured right foot, ahead of the trans-Tasman showdown in Auckland on Sunday night.
But he declared himself fit for a match that will give some of the survivors from 2007, including McCaw who led the team that lost 20-18 to France, a shot at redemption.
“You don’t take anything for granted. I think this team, with a lot of guys having been through that experience, that’s the sort of lessons you learn.
“There hasn’t been any thought past nine o’clock on Sunday night and that’s the way it should be,” he told media.
McCaw, 30, will feature in one of the key match-ups at Eden Park – a ball-pilfering duel with Wallaby David Pocock at the breakdown.
Pocock’s ability to secure crucial turnovers in Australia’s gutsy 11-9 quarter-final victory over South Africa last week led to questions about the legality of 23-year-old’s tactics.
McCaw’s own ball-winning talents have come under the spotlight in the past and he had no complaints about Pocock’s performance against the Springboks.
“You get away with what you can and you push it to wherever you can and he’s pretty good at it.”
Pocock was looking forward to the battle which could help determine who is the world’s premier No.7.
“Whoever wins goes a long way in deciding who is better at number seven on the night,” Pocock said.
The All Blacks have not been beaten at Eden Park since 1994 but McCaw says the 26-Test unbeaten run was not something that they could count on.
“Every time you go out there you’ve got to start from the start. It really means nothing, to be honest.”
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