The All Blacks certainly don’t need any extra motivation as they prepare for next week’s Bledisloe Cup opener against the Wallabies in Sydney.
Not only will the Kiwis be looking to continue their 11 year hold on the trophy but the long awaited contest offers the chance to complete a record 18th successive Test victory.
With Australian rugby desperate to regain some ascendancy over the New Zealanders, it seems unwise to hear our own camp questioning whether All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw is approaching his used by date.
But there on Fox Sport’s Rugby HQ last night viewers heard panellists and ex-Wallabies Nathan Sharpe, Greg Martin and Tim Horan raise questions about McCaw’s long term future and his current impact at the top level.
Sharpe suggested McCaw’s impact on the game at the moment “isn’t as great as it once was”.
Martin said McCaw had “slowed down” while Horan wondered if McCaw and fellow All Blacks great Dan Carter might be “bench players” at the next World Cup in England late in 2015.
Martin also chimed in with the comment that referees now had “the guts” to penalise McCaw following his indiscretion which cost the Crusaders victory in last weekend’s Super Rugby final against the NSW Waratahs.
Coupled with the video played on Rugby HQ of McCaw being brushed off trying to tackle fellow no. 7 and Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper in the same game, there’s plenty of fodder to stir up our friends from across the ditch.
Saturday week’s ANZ Stadium series opener is one of the most important games for Australian rugby since the 2003 World Cup final.
The Wallabies won’t be helped by any premature chest beating from this side of the Tasman.
Riccardo
Guest
Couldn't agree more mate. I trust the judgement of Shag and Foxy over the delusional ramblings of Marto and Kearnsy. They seemto kn ow what they're doing based on their recent record. I have respect for Sharpy and Horan but aren't they simply debating a current issuewith little gusto? The fact that the performances he is being judged on, England in particular, he was carrying injury or fresh back from it seem to have escaped most commentators' analyses. With his captaincy still pivotal I would like to see him carry the team through London and retire on his own terms, probably at the end of that tournament, would be my guess. Then Tood/Cane and Savea will vie for the role.
Magic Sponge
Guest
We did the same with ' 5 years too long Gregan"
WQ
Guest
See that's an Australian myth Zero Gain, the Kiwi commentators don't do that!
ben
Guest
Our haka!! Just because we are about inclusiveness for all cultures esp our tangata whenua.. dont be hating.
Daz
Guest
And your hubris and smugness and your haka god given right to win sir is simply amazing.
Jerry
Guest
They're not meant to be 'supporters' though.
ben
Guest
Why are we worried about what greg martin says anyway...heres a sample of his expertise...after cruden and vito debuted against aus he said they were both useless and wouldnt play for the abs again...and the abs won that day. Grant fox on talksport today talked about a 7 effecting turnovers and said that is not the abs number 7s primary job anymore with the evolution of the game midfielders are tending to effect more turnovers these days...so ritchies job description has changed and he suits what they want. Its funny how injuries suddenly mean ritchie or carter are now too old. I guess that means polata nau and palu should retire then....even cooper.
Graeme
Guest
Actually Giteau is still bing the besterest in the world at Toulon, he had a storming season.
Barge Arse
Guest
Sir Richie will be in the ABs as long as he likes. What commenters above have neglected to mention is his talismanic influence on the ABs, his leadership and his ability to inspire the rest of the team. So what if we all agree he is getting a bit slower, he will justify his selection in so many other ways.
Garth
Guest
And , recently, cycling.
Jerry
Guest
It's true to some degree but then they've been saying much the same thing (including the 'refs are no longer scared to penalise McCaw') every season since 2011. He's not as good as he was, but he's still good.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks for the article. I agree with commentators. McCaw is reaching his use by date. But he's not there yet. The challenge for others is to overcome the team, not just one man. The ABs especially their 7 is very good in identifying weakness on field and isolating it. No single WB or Boks player will overcome this capability. Only a high-performance and highly-skilled team can.
ben
Guest
Correct vman. Why are we worrying what idiots like greg martin are saying anyway. I remember when cruden and vito debuted against aus. Abs won and martin in his summary said cruden and vito were useless and wouldnt play for nz again. He reminds me of the ex racing car commentator murray walker.
linz22
Guest
So you still have not read either of my comments??? I don't know why I am bothering to respond to you. I am not getting in a huff about you Kiwis and certainly am not taking it to heart when you call our media rubbish. If you had bothered to read my comments you would have seen that i am completely agreeing WITH YOU, and only trying to explain the why of it. And yes, i may have made some over generalisations, but usually, NOT ALWAYS, when the Australian media do some "chest beating" Kiwis are all over them without even considering for a second why the media and players often have to take this approach in order to attempt to wrench some space back from every other sport in Aus. .
Xenomorph
Guest
Ditto. It appears you didnt read the bit where you question why Kiwis take things so deeply to heart. We dont but why do you take it so deeply to heart when we call your media rubbish? All I see on here are Kiwis collectively saying "pfffft" and you are like "Whoa, dont take it to heart" when nobody is, this article is not even written by a Kiwi is it? Please try to understand what Ive written first before replying. It would save you from trying to belittle my comprehension when its yours that seems to be lacking.
WQ
Guest
I guess we'll see in a weeks time! You know the Beaty of the game in a weeks time is that even if the Wallabies win that game and then the next game and then the next game and then the next game and so on for about 10 years they still would not have squared the ledger!
WQ
Guest
Depends if it is talking absolute dribble or not!
WQ
Guest
Here here Xenomorph, nothing like telling it as it is!
Linz22
Guest
Read what I wrote if you are going to make a response please because as it is you are just confirming what I said. Twice I accused the Australian media of being stupid and "full of hot air" but I tried to explain why. If you were not so busy typing after having just read the first sentence you may have saved us some time.
Alex
Guest
Yes Zero. He is wrong.