Richie McCaw's side snatches narrow win

Former All Black captain Richie McCaw is not used to potentially being the weakest link in a sports team.

But in Queenstown on Saturday, lining up with his "All Stars'' touch rugby side - featuring six present or former New Zealand touch representatives, he said that was a "real possibility''.

Ahead of Mastercard's "Tap for your Town'' touch competition, McCaw told the Otago Daily Times the selection of his side, dubbed the "Tap Blacks'', was tactical.

It featured World Cup-winning Black Fern Chelsea Alley, former rugby halfback Scott Cowan, national touch representatives Kate Day, Taylor Haugh, Mackenzie Haugh and Josh Duff and women's U20 touch player Kiana Pelasio.

"You've got to try and rig it somehow, don't you? We don't want to look stupid, do we?'' McCaw said, laughing.

"I didn't actually pick it (the team), but I got it run past me and I gave it the thumbs up, real fast.

"I don't usually like to throw myself under the bus too much, but that (being the weakest link) is a real possibility.''

McCaw said touch was never his strong suit because he "wasn't that fast'' and "didn't have that much of a step''.

"We played a wee bit when we were obviously playing rugby ... and I was probably better when everyone got tired and the fitness started to come into it.

"So that's what I'm hoping today - they'll wear themselves out in the first game and we'll be there to pounce.''

His hope was ill-founded.

The competition started with a "Battle of the Basin'' touch game between Wakatipu and Arrowtown, both sides featured players from their respective premier rugby teams, members of the Upper Clutha premier rugby team, social touch rugby players and Touch Southland players.

While Arrowtown's training had reportedly taken place at the Fork'n Tap pub, in true grudge match style, it was neck-and-neck the entire game. Wakatipu was up by one point - 6-5 - at the end of the first 20-minute half.

Arrowtown dug deep, determined to get one over on its arch rival, partly in payback for the side's rugby defeat in the final of this year's Central Otago Premier competition.

And that it did, winning 12-11 thanks to a touch by Scott Eade in the dying seconds of the game.

After some half-time entertainment, including a performance by Queenstown Primary School's kapa haka group, the horn sounded to signal the beginning of the main event.

While the Tap Blacks took an early lead, Arrowtown fought back, with just one point in it, 5-4, at halftime.

Early in the second half, the Arrowtown side took the lead, before it was the Tap Blacks' turn to fight back.

With about two and a-half minutes left in the game, Arrowtown's Millie Eaton touched down, putting her side in the lead, 10-9.

But, just on fulltime, Alley showed her skills to even the score, putting the game into overtime, with the first team to score, the winner.

After just over four minutes of overtime, the Tap Blacks struck again, walking away victorious with the score at 11-10.

It also ensured McCaw emerged dignity intact after his new fitness regime, which includes mountain biking and training for next weekend's 21km Tough Mudder in Auckland, paid dividends.