Rugby: McCaw wants breakdown certainty

Crusaders captain Richie McCaw (centre) finds himself in a new battle of tactics with referees Glen Jackson and Chris Pollock in the bumper boats at Rainbows End. Photo / Brett Phibbs

As Crusaders skipper Richie McCaw approaches his 12th year of top-flight rugby he admits there are a few unknowns niggling at his experienced core.

First up, he has to recover fully from a repeat operation on bones in his foot, then he will have to cope with an expanded Super 15 series and deal with an All Black itinerary which is wedged in between.

McCaw has played 110 times for New Zealand's most successful franchise but is unlikely to strap his boots on in earnest until April. Only then will he feel the pace of the contest and the nuances of referees concentrating more on details at the breakdown. Like many, he felt they eased up last year after taking a tougher approach in 2010.

"I think it is critical they get it right from the word go because that sets the habits for the year," McCaw said at yesterday's official Super 15 launch.

"If you decide two or three weeks into it, it is tough to get it back so that's good."

Breakdowns should be a contest and teams under pressure needed to hold their discipline or risk penalties.

The Crusaders had begun steadily but the key was to maintain that throughout the season, deal with injuries, use the depth in squads while also accommodating the needs and fitness of those who would also break to play for the All Blacks. That was an unknown.

It would be tough playing three tests against Ireland in June and then returning to the business end of the Super 15 series.

"They are critical games in the competition and the ability to switch straight back into Super rugby will be a challenge. Both sets of coaches will be thinking about how best to do it," McCaw added.

Teams in the Northern Hemisphere were used to switching between different competitions with international and club demands. But for the All Blacks, it would be novel to finish a test series with Ireland and return to the latest stages of Super 15.

The 31-year-old has just started running again but was wary about returning to action too soon. That might be early April to coincide with the Crusaders game against the Stormers, after their two-game trip to South Africa.

"I've been on three runs, I've been ultra cautious and have not pushed it. I want to make sure it is right. I spent longer in a moon boot and now, instead of rushing I just want to progress it."

The Crusaders had looked at different ways to play the game and while not much difference will be spotted from the stands, teams gained an edge from those little areas of fine-tuning.

Someone who will find everything has a new edge is Chiefs five-eighths Andrew Horrell, an ex-Cantab who put his science degree on hold when he moved to Hawkes Bay and subsequent Super 15 selection.

"I never thought about rugby as a job, I never thought I was quick enough but you have just got to put your mind to it," he said.

Now he is soaking up the tuition from Chiefs coach Dave Rennie and former All Blacks coach Wayne Smith as he sits in behind Aaron Cruden, waiting for a chance at this level of rugby.

Another player waiting for some work is the Highlanders Siale Piutau. That might occur about six weeks into the competition after the outside back fractured a bone and tore tendons in his right foot in a training ground accident before Christmas. For now, his training regime is working on the grinder and rowing machine although he hopes to get back into swimming next week.

His Counties teammate Sherwin Stowers has twisted an ankle which will eliminate him from the Blues last trial with the Highlanders on Friday. He hopes his pre-season form will help in his bid to fill the Blues wing vacancy left by the departure of Joe Rokocoko.

"There are probably six of us who can play on the wing so the competition is there," Stowers said yesterday.

"But it is a long season and everyone has to make sure they are right before they can play."