McCaw fires up Crusaders
February 09 2010
Richie McCaw may be sitting out the first three weeks of the season, but he's not being shy of making his presence felt in the build-up.
With the Crusaders coming off a season that was - by their own high standards - short of the mark (only a semi-final spot), their opening match against the Highlanders, one of the teams that inflicted a painful defeat upon them last year, is the perfect platform to make a statement.
"That's why you play the regular season isn't it, to have a crack at that (final)," said McCaw to the Sydney Morning Herald.
"You don't play the season to get second or third, you go to win it and that's always been the attitude.
"The first thing is to get yourself in that position, so you have to start the season off pretty well and get those weeks right. Otherwise you are chasing all the way."
It was the Highlanders who gave the Crusaders arguably the most painful defeat last season, a dreadful game won 6-0, which was the team's third defeat in a row at the time and dropped them out of the top four.
A strong finish got them into fourth place, but that meant a semi-final in Pretoria, a step too far.
"Last year we got close in a lot of games and didn't quite get there," continued McCaw.
"We improved from that and got to the point where we did win some of those games but you can't afford to have to travel to South Africa for a semifinal. That's tough.
"If we can nail those close opportunities they can be quite significant at the end."
The team looks a little stronger than last year. Dan Carter is back along with Chris Jack, young All Black starlet Zac Guildford is on board and a host of other young fringe All Blacks - think the Franks brothers, Wyatt Crockett, Isaac Ross, Kieran Read - are in the mix.
Then you've got the experienced spine - McCaw, Brad Thorn, Andy Ellis - and you have the makings of a near-perfect squad.
"I think we've got a stronger group than we had last year," noted McCaw.
"A lot of the guys are the same but they have been through that experience.
"Then we have a guy like Zac Guildford who comes in, and Robbie Fruean, and they have got some real potential and will add a fair bit to the team. It's going to be quite exciting.
"Dan Carter is a big part of it too. He's excited, having been out for a year. From our point of view we have to allow him to do what he can do by winning the battle up front.
"There is a good competition for places and that provides depth with injuries and keeping guys fresh. From where we are at the minute, we're pretty happy."
"AMI Stadium is finished now, and people have got the familiar side of the ground back, so hopefully they'll want to come and watch."