McCaw: All Blacks won't freeze

TOBY ROBSON in Marseille - Stuff.co.nz

Last updated 07:12 28/11/2009

All Blacks in France

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Fans gather as All Blacks Brad Thorn, Tony Woodcock, Luke McAlister, Ma'a Nonu, Jimmy Cowan and Dan Carter attend a shirt signing session at an adidas store in Marseille.

Brad Thorn The Man

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All Blacks captain Richie McCaw is promising his side won't be possums in the headlights against France this time around.

The atmosphere at Stade Velodrome for tomorrow's test is likely to be as loud and intense as when the All Blacks lost to France in the 2007 World Cup quarterfinal.

On that occasion the All Blacks froze, but McCaw said yesterday the side was prepared and equipped to handle the pressure and noise of the Marseille crowd.

"You learn to put that in the back ground... the big thing when it's noisy is you don't feel like you are alone out there and it can be like that when you can't hear the guy next to you," he said.

"Out on the field you have to make sure in broken play to get in and make sure everyone is on the same wavelength.

"If you just stand there and stare into space that's when you get into trouble."

McCaw said the side would not be caught off guard by what is shaping as the most passionate crowd of the season.

"It adds edge to this team, the experience we had earlier in the year and a bit of history to do with this place. It just steels our boys.

"I've heard all the stories about what it's like and the football matches there are something quite unreal.

"I guess it will be a similar sort of crowd experience and Smithy [defence coach Wayne Smith] has said what it was like when they played here in 2000.

"It's something to be excited about. The atmosphere we played in Italy was something a bit different, but it was pretty cool to play in.

"It's just the typical football crowd. Pretty passionate, loud and I think it will lift the French team."

McCaw said the All Blacks' experience of playing overseas meant they were no longer intimidated by the closeness of the European fans.

"New Zealand's pretty unique in that the crowd is a bit of a blur and a fare way away. When you are standing in the lineout [here] you can actually hear the odd voice coming out.

"I remember in South Africa on one of my first trips I could hear a guy yelling something at a few guys and I'm sure Saturday will be the same.

"[But] They are no different men to what you play anywhere else... so you just have to meet whatever they bring. To win this game that's the mentality we have to have. I don't get intimidated by it."

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McCaw said a good start would help quell the locals and had been part of the reason for the loss to France in Dunedin in June.

The All Blacks struck a reasonably relaxed squad at yesterday's captain's run. The players slept in and ate a late breakfast later to counter the late local kickoff time of 8.45pm.

There is little doubt they are determined to nail their last big assignment of a long season, but McCaw said it was "I think you have to be careful not to judge a season on just one game, but certainly this tour we feel we have made improvements from earlier in the year and it would be nice to finish with a good performance.

"We have to physically stand up. You can't afford to be bullied around and tomorrow that's certainly the case. The guys are aware of that."