McCaw warns plenty left in All Blacks' gas tank

BY DUNCAN JOHNSTONE

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has warned the rugby world that his side have plenty of improvement in them ahead of the game's showpiece in New Zealand next year.

The All Blacks have been in red-hot form this season, taking their winning streak to 14 tests as they have wrapped up the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cups.

McCaw was speaking on an international phone hookup to promote the All Blacks' clash with Australia in Hong Kong on October 30 and their Grand Slam tour of Britain and Ireland that will follow that match.

They still have one more match against the Wallabies before then, playing their final Tri-Nations match in Sydney on September 11.

The All Blacks' blistering form and pace-setting performances under the new law interpretations have raised speculation that they may have peaked too soon for the World Cup – again.

The talk hasn't been lost on McCaw but he dismissed any complacency in his camp as they build towards next year's tournament.

"We've got to be confident, people talk about peaking and all that sort of stuff but you only peak when you don't think you can get any better," McCaw said.

"Sure we've been happy with what we've done this year but we'd be kidding ourselves if we thought we were playing good enough for 12 month's time.

"We've got to still look at ways of improving and I think there's still a lot of potential to do that."

McCaw, a veteran of failed World Cup campaigns in 2003 and 2007, says it's important for his side to live in the present rather than get consumed by Cup pressures this far out from the tournament.

He knows those pressure will mount next year when the All Blacks try to be just the second New Zealand team to win the trophy after their success at home in the inaugural tournament in 1987.

''I'd love to win it but I don't get hung up to the point that it ruins my life. As you get closer you put more and more energy into it (but) I also want to enjoy the rugby now."

McCaw says the team's focus will be on completing a sweep of the Tri-Nations in Sydney and believes there will be no lack of motivation for the Hong Kong test either as they look to march towards a world record run of consecutive test victories.

"It's a test match against Australia, and the last thing you want to do is lose one. I'd be really disappointed if that changed the intensity. When the guys pull on the black jerseys, they want to go out and play well. I don't think that will change at all."

While the All Blacks have played a largely settled team during the Tri-Nations, the coaches are expected to sift through more options during the Grand Slam tour where McCaw says an opportunity to replicate some of their World Cup planning.

"I doubt 15 guys will play all five tests, it's about keeping the guys fresh and still putting the best team out on the field," he said of the Hong Kong clash with Australia followed by tests against England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

"And that's what happens at a World Cup... you've got to make sure everybody has played enough rugby but still has plenty of gas in the tank. That's always a fine line to get right."

The All Blacks get their first real test of their depth in the key No 10 position in Sydney where they will have to operate without star first five-eighths Dan carter who is recovering from ankle surgery.

Aaron Cruden has been his backup this season but has had limited game time and the selectors are clearly eyeing Luke McAlister as an alternative.

Carter is expected to be fit to tour at the end of the year.

- © Fairfax NZ News