Senior All Blacks eye World Cup redemption

Their careers have scaled grand heights but in 2010 Mils Muliaina and Richie McCaw are keeping things simple, stupid.

Both men have set modest goals for the season.

Muliaina's aim for the year is to make it back in the All Blacks. A few years ago his selection would have been a given, and let's face it, it probably still is.

But such is New Zealand's depth in outside backs, Muliaina's mood is cautious.

Some of that is due in part to his famous modesty. But we can also attribute his reluctance to his current frame of mind.

Rugby's big dance - next year's rugby world cup - is still 18 months away. Potentially, 2010 could be a tiresome season as he waits for the phony war of this year to end, and the his shot at redemption next year to begin.

Muliaina has learnt to stay in the here and now.

"The only time I have thought about next year was when I was not with the Chiefs [during his three-week sabbatical]," he said.

"My break was so I can last through to next year.

"That was the whole purpose of it, and, to be honest, the world cup is in the back of your mind.

"But now is about being the best I can be so I can get there."

There are several reasons behind Muliaina's wariness.

One is the competition.

Another is age.

The third is 2009 in the black jersey.

It wasn't one of Muliaina's best.

"It is fair to say I was probably mentally buggered during the Tri Nations last year," he said.

"It effected the way I played and the enthusiasm I took into those games. You are always excited about the big games and the All Blacks stuff and I went out excited.

"But when times are tough, that's when you expect a little more, and perhaps that was playing on my mind.

"I was a little down. I got to stage last year when I hit the wall and did not know how to come out of it."

After some soul searching Muliaina "bounced back" and was back to his best on the end of year tour of Europe. His performance against France in Marseilles was one of his best.

McCAW, too, came into some fine form on the tour.

His goals this year are even more understated than Muliaina's.

"My goal is to be better as a captain, be better as a player, and build a team around that. That's a challenge and what I get enjoyment out of."

The consummate professional, McCaw says there's no secret about how to improve as a player - he just needs to work harder.

Ever the stickler for detail, he continually works on his conditioning, and parts of his game, which others take for granted.

"Things like my balls skills for example," he said. "You always have to work on those things.

"Just because I have been around a while doesn't mean I don't want to be better at those things than what I have been."

It's nice to hear also that McCaw is enthused about his rugby and how it is being played this year.

There was a great deal of uncertainty about how this year's rule interpretations would impact on the contest for possession at the break down.

McCaw as the master at snaffling possession in this area. "I am enjoying the way the game is going. It has had a good change in focus.

"They have made sure they are clear and they have done what they said they were going to do. There is a good contest and you have to reward good rugby and that is what they are doing. If you get it right you get the reward. If you don't, you lose the ball. That is what I am enjoying the most."

McCaw will, of course, be involved in making one of the most vital decisions of the rugby year in the coming weeks.

There's considerable interest in what roles the All Black coaches will fill in 2010.

Change is again in the wind.

McCaw is typically laidback about head coach Graham Henry moving into a more strategic role with the team.

"To be quite honest, whatever they decide to do, you saw at the end of last year the effectiveness a change can bring. Another would not be a problem. I think the big thing that has to happen regardless of who is coaching the forwards, for example, is the senior players really have to take responsibility. We have to lead the way there so whoever coaches us is not going to matter much. They all have input."

- © Fairfax NZ News