All Blacks talisman Richie McCaw is foxing and not missing in action at the breakdown, according to the New Zealand camp.
The New Zealand skipper’s performance has come under the microscope as they prepared for their quarter-final clash against France with the most-capped player in rugby history barely firing a shot during pool games.
The one time he was clearly visible was when acting as a waterboy in the All Blacks v Tonga match, and fly-half Dan Carter quipped he could not even do that properly.
But the most telling statistic from the All Blacks clean sweep in pool play was the low number of turnovers won — a total of 27 in four matches.
Eight against the powerful Argentina pack was a fair effort but low numbers against Namibia, Georgia and Tonga begged questions.
Among other quarter-finalists, Wales lead the way with 38 turnovers followed by Ireland (31), Australia (29) and France (28) leaving New Zealand fifth equal with Argentina on a list they usually dominate.
McCaw has a reputation as a tackler and ball winner in the dark arts of the breakdown but in the tournament statistics he has barely registered apart from 12 tackles against Argentina.
Sam Cane, McCaw’s understudy in the seven jersey, explained the reason for the skipper’s absence on the turnover list was the All Blacks not trying for turnovers in the first place.
Coach Steve Hansen has said throughout the tournament the All Blacks were using the first four matches to rehearse scenarios they will likely face when the tournament is into the knockout phase.
Hansen put a curb on kicking for territory as one way of putting pressure on themselves and Cane revealed they were also testing new defensive strategies.
“We can vary how we want to defend,” he said.
“You will see in a lot of pool play we’re not contesting rucks a lot but were putting teams under pressure through our line speed and physicality that way forcing teams into errors and trying to cut down their time and space.
“We can change that because obviously we’ve got guys who are good (at the breakdown) as well so it’s just depending on the opposition that we’re playing as to how often we try and contest the breakdown.”
With the four-match rehearsal over, the defending champions have declared themselves ready for the sudden-death matches, starting with France at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
“We’ve been waiting a long time for and planning a long time for this game after pool play,” assistant coach Ian Foster said.
But one thing the All Blacks will not be planning on is having McCaw reprise the role of waterboy he performed when resting a sore leg in the Tonga match.
Carter who alo relied on McCaw delivering his kicking tee for shots at goal said he was “pretty poor at it, to be honest. He dropped the tee a couple of times.
“I asked him to tell me a joke but he couldn’t think of a joke. He was actually squashing my tee but he didn’t know.
“What else did he do wrong? Oh, he started talking rugby before I was kicking, so I’m pretty keen to get him back in the team rather than running water.
“It’s probably the only thing he can’t do, to be honest, being an incredible Superman that he is.”
Coconut
Guest
That's the one part of AB play that gives me the sh!ts.. not protecting their ball runners and/or securing their own ball at the breakdown because they don't wont to commit to many players... they have turned over a lot of ball because of this seeming reluctance or lack of speed to the breakdown. You have to shut Pocock out of this early on in the game, which I thought Wales did fairly well, at least initially. Once he is contained, Australia lose a significant counter attack facet of their game, and/or penalties at the other end.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
Aust stress testing against Wales playing with 13 against 15?
harry
Guest
pococks calf wont stand up to the heat
harry
Guest
Yeah the only panic seems to be coming from foreign press trying to grab a headline here and there. From what I can gather from the outside looking in Steve Hansen & co have a plan and they are backing it. We have got the depth of talent to not be in panic mode if we lose a player here and there , They can concentrate on playing a certain way instead of worrying about depth in a certain position. I still feel the all blacks have got the inside running , If I was Australia I would be more concerned about running out of legs they would have played 4 or 5 tough tests in as many weeks by the time of the final and no team in world rugby can play 6 tests in 6 weeks at full tit , they might suffer in the fatigue area.
apelu
Guest
Yeah; very true. He was also foxing in Sydney. Fact is, MaCaw is old, slow and can no longer cheat without punishment. The French have the opponent they wanted and the ABs will buckle once again against the men in blue.
Riccardo
Guest
Pointless vagaries like this article just amplify the need for it to start already...
Disneychilly
Roar Rookie
I don't think they'll drop Kaino. Wouldn't want to either-Picamoles is massive and with Basteraud having such a low centre of gravity we'll need to keep the gainline in check. Fofana's a brilliant player but we have to cut ball to him off at source i.e. Parra and Michalak. Cane was decidedly cynical against Tonga and none too subtle-we can't afford people to be that loose. I'd like Vito to be the impact sub as his physicality has improved tremendously and his sevens skills will be really useful when the game opens up after 60. Dusautoir for me isn't on McCaw's Pocock's nor Warburton's level of pilfering-he's just got an engine the equal of McCaw and doesn't stop tackling. There are better threats over the ball and we need to get our support there to clean out. Owen Franks needs to get angry.
Taylorman
Guest
Re Dussatoir I reckon we should be playing Cane, Read and McCaw. Much more presence around the field and I think cane offers much more than Kaino these days. The enforcer type role can come from either of the locks. Perhaps a bit lost a lineout time but we've still got three and McCaw at a pinch and I think it's better than going the Vito role who makes a good impact player. Kaino could be the casualty this week.
Taylorman
Guest
Been watching Basteraud a bit lately Disney, hard to miss really but he's been largely non committal at times. Can't see him having a lot of impact looking at how he went against Ireland.
Taylorman
Guest
Me too!
Disneychilly
Roar Rookie
When a French team gets inspired I've never seen an issue with fitness. Sometimes they looked so disinterested on Sunday that they were using the Irish for tackling practice.
Yogi
Guest
Turnovers won is not an issue for these ABs. Turnovers conceded maybe. The scrum is the worry. Tonga and georgia destroyed them.
Larry_Parallelogram
Guest
The Ireland vs France game was a very intense and physical game. Probably the most physical game of RWC 2015 so far IMHO. The ball seemed to be in play so much longer than other games. From memory at least three players left on stretchers. I think France will be physically drained after that game while the ABs are still relatively fresh. While the French can beat anyone on their day, they will struggle to stay with the ABs for 80 minutes.
wardad
Guest
Really ? do they have the same teams playing then ?
wardad
Guest
One of thosed teams in the opposed training runs beat the Boks in SA and the Wallabies last year so....
wardad
Guest
It sure as hell stressed some of our saffa friends !
wardad
Guest
We are being ware .
wardad
Guest
Ah we have a quorum and consensus ,now for karmic alignment and a prayer or two !
Batdown
Roar Rookie
I'm expecting the french forward pack to go hell for leather the first 25 minutes with the AB forwards matching them and the AB forward pack dominating last 55+ minutes. If the french pack don't front up from the very first minute, the All Blacks will wipe the floor with them.
DC NZ
Guest
I think we will play it tight up through the forwards and kick for territory. A lot of line out set moves, first phase ruck ball to the wingers and inside channel running off the scrum, and some bombs to test the frogs. We will be all over Michalak and the backrow will cut down Picamoles and Dusatoir. the French apart from Fofana are pretty stolid this time around and don't have the magic to ambush us. And because NZ would fall into deep depression if we lose !