McCaw running scared

McCaw running scared

3 May 2006

The Bulls can already claim a moral victory over the Crusaders after the defending champions left captain Richie McCaw out of the match 22 altogether.

McCaw does not have fond memories of Loftus Versfeld, or perhaps much memory of it at all after he was smacked unconcious in the opening minutes of the corresponding fixture last year by prop Richard Bands. The Bulls went on to record an emphatic 35-20 win.

Coach Robbie Deans goes into the must-win – for both teams – match with something of a second-string pack, which could prove suicidal against the vaunted Bulls forwards.

The Crusaders camp confirmed McCaw had no serious health issues other than Deans describing him as still being “flat”. But the Bulls will be forgiven for thinking that McCaw – one of the outstanding looseforwards in the world – is just scared of what awaits him in the rarefied atmosphere at Loftus.

Australian players voted Loftus the worst place to visit, and it would be surprising if the New Zealanders actually found a trip to Pretoria appealing. McCaw certainly seems content to sit on the sidelines and avoid any nasty clashes with the big Bulls pack.

One wonders just how he is going to cope when he returns for the All Blacks in the Tri-Nations with the match also set to take place at Fortress Loftus. The second Tri-Nations Test between the two is also at altitude, with the Boks and All Blacks clashing at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium a week later.

Deans, however, believed McCaw would be ready to front the Brumbies in Christchurch next weekend where there was a need to have fresh players.

It’s a huge gamble with the Crusaders’ playoffs chances on the line over the final two weeks of round-robin action.

Crusaders team: 15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Rico Gear, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Aaron Mauger, 11 Caleb Ralph, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Andrew Ellis; 8 Mose Tuiali’i, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Johnny Leo’o, 5 Reuben Thorne (c), 4 Chris Jack, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett. Replacements: 16 Tone Kopelani, 17 Campbell Johnstone, 18 Craig Clarke, 19 Brad Mika, 20 Kevin Senio, 21 Cameron McIntyre, 22 Stephen Brett/Scott Hamilton.

By Andrew Hollely


573 Comments

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  • 201.munkiboi: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:29 pm

    if the bulls win this match and get 5 points, whilst denying the crusaders any points, then the loser of the brumbies/crusaders match is likely to miss to semi’s. unless they can pick up enough bonus points.

    that is provided the bulls take 5 against the stormers next weekend.

    only problem would then be travelling to their semi-final for the undoubted hiding.

  • 202.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:29 pm

    Yoda – exactly, a total windup….

  • 203.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:32 pm

    I pick the Sharks to take the CC this year.

  • 204.johnnyb: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:32 pm

    Stan at 162 etc.

    I would like to know if you would have the guts to tell the likes of Schalk Burger or Andries Bekker to their faces that they are *** (and to their dads Schalk senior and Hennie). Maximum respect to you if you would actually do that. Until such time I would suggest you not make all your *** jibes about the Stormers/ WP team. Your *** obsession is very revealing.

  • 205.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:32 pm

    Hey, it worked didn’t it??

  • 206.Anvil: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:32 pm

    Yip Frazer.Guess Andrew is still earning his stripes at Keo and Co.

  • 207.bluebarb: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:32 pm

    kitty,
    why do you know so much about rugby?

  • 208.yoda: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:32 pm

    TigerShark

    Agree, bakkies is the man, bulls are not the same without the guy. pedrie also had a huge game. And JP played his best game of the year, i think he may be finding a bit of form at last.

  • 209.Anvil: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:33 pm

    Kitty you got to take some of the credit there.

  • 210.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:33 pm

    hey everybody, it’s johnnyb!

  • 211.Blouste: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:34 pm

    Johnnyb

    Not wanting to tell a big *** guy his *** doesnt make him any less ***, now does it??

  • 212.Loafer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:34 pm

    Bakkies sal selfs die carver kon opfok

  • 213.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:34 pm

    Bulle het drie van hul vier wedstryde wat verloor is op n vrydagaand verloor. Ons kon net 1 vrydagaand game wen die seisoen, teen die Cheetahs

  • 214.Andrew: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:35 pm

    Kitty works at Teazers. She only starts at 10pm…

  • 215.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:35 pm

    Thanks Anvil! But i must say that Andrew is clearly doing a good job at revving us up! Keo’s probably grinning about this one…

    Bluebarb: it’s called PASSION!!! If you’re passionate about something, it’ll show! Now if we had an F1 website, then i’d be in heaven!!

  • 216.bluebarb: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:36 pm

    Kitty,
    strictly on learning curve and sheer desire to win, i actually fancy a 2nd cheetah win. My heart says Bulls, and anything can happen, but having looked at the Cheetahs, they play with more passion than anyone else, and their coach is on the sharp side of shrewd.

  • 217.Loafer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:36 pm

    Chuck fears Bakkies

  • 218.TigerShark: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:38 pm

    Andrew… which Teazers?

    COme on son, dont do half a job!

  • 219.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:41 pm

    Loafer – I too have a morbid fear of Tupperwareâ„¢

  • 220.Andrew: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:41 pm

    Tiger,

    Teazers in Rivonia. Promise. She is there tonight….

  • 221.londonshark: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:44 pm

    Forget the Bones, I got the picks spot on last week (except I said the Force would pip the Cats which they should have). Here my picks for this week (on the games that matter).

    Bulls vs Saders: Saders by 1-5 (more a gut feel though,Dan Carter will be the diff).
    Stormers vs Sharks: Sharks by 1-5 (I am worried though).
    Brumbies vs Highlander: Brumbies by 10-15.

  • 222.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:44 pm

    Bluebarb: not bad! I must say that I loved the Cheetahs win last year! Rassie is a good guy! Chatted to him a few times and he’s down to earth about his team and his abilities! None of this Big Talk ****! The guys were humble but ecstatic about their win over the Bulls!

    I love the Bulls too, but it’s always good to see the underdog team getting a chance at glory! I think they’ll do well again this year.

    I just hope my little lion cubs can shape up…. sigh…

  • 223.Loafer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:46 pm

    LOL Frazer

    I think that ‘Bakkies’ in this case refers to 1-toners rather than the stuff you pack your lunch in.

    Speaking of lunch – It’s become awfully quiet in here suddenly. It seems that people don’t like jabbering on their own time.

  • 224.Blouste: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:48 pm

    Tickles
    Yes so wtf. You are stil 2nd by the skin of your teeth. The rest is in the past. I’m not going on about last years win over the Crusaders by the Bulls. We wil leave thet for now, this coming friday, I’m talking about those two games you plonker

  • 225.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 12:53 pm

    Blouste, wat is n plonker?

  • 226.Richie_7: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:00 pm

    Wow, must be a great feeling to have one foot in a home semi final and have the luxury of resting the world’s best flanker.

    Too bad the Bulls can’t say the same. They’re still hoping the Brumbies slip up

  • 227.kiwi: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:04 pm

    Good spot of stirring Andrew.

    Don’t worry Bulls fans. You’ll get your chance to have a crack at him in the final.

    Hmmmm, actually probably not…

    Never mind, you’ll get your chance in the semi’s.

    Hmmmm, probably not there either…

    I suppose there’s always the TriNations???

  • 228.Blouste: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:04 pm

    Kitty

    Iets tussen ‘n wanker, ‘n poephol en ‘n drol.
    Als opgesom plonker – TheTackler

    Tackler
    Doen ons bietjie ‘n guns en vertel ons wie het jy ondersteun toe jy nog in jou tuisland gebly het?

  • 229.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:05 pm

    Shut up Kiwi!

  • 230.londonshark: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:06 pm

    Mmmm,I’m not sure if you can call McCaw the worlds best flanker.No one is really setting the world alight at the moment.

  • 231.kiwi: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:06 pm

    That was quick!!! :-)

  • 232.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:12 pm

    Kiwi – All jokes aside though, we all know that McCaw is a class act. The best loosie in world rugby by a long way…. So why is he such a *****?

  • 233.bluebarb: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:13 pm

    bakkies is either a reference to his ears, “hy’t ore soos handjies wat sweets vra..” or it is a slang term for a face that is less than pretty.

  • 234.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:14 pm

    Richie_7 – that the best you got? You can’t run with the big dogs here if you’re still pissing like a puppy…

  • 235.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:15 pm

    Bluebarb – so it’s not becuase his mom loves Tupperwareâ„¢?

  • 236.londonshark: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:15 pm

    Frazer, what about that Njanga (spelling) bloke from France. Diff type of flanker to Richie but isa real bolter.

  • 237.bluebarb: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:17 pm

    mccaw is a great player. if he played for SA though, we would have heard things like “penalty waiting to happen” 3N is going to be very interesting, esp. now that our loosies are getting into some sort of form too..

  • 238.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:18 pm

    Bluebarb: somehow i think it’s a reference to his ears….

    or maybe not…. Ya right! hehe!

  • 239.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:18 pm

    Londonshark – Yep, he’s really good. The advantage with him is also that he’s not a ***** like McCaw and wont beg his coach to bench him when he’s scared witless of the opposition.

  • 240.Richie_7: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:19 pm

    Hey Frazer,

    Thanks for the movie line quotes sparky.

    Unfortunately my “best” sees me tied for 1st at the top of the log. How about you?

  • 241.Spook: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:20 pm

    Thats true londonshark isnt Nyanga keeping Besten out of the French team?

  • 242.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:21 pm

    Richie – What movie is it from? My best is still one from the bottom – suck on that, fancy boy….

  • 243.Loafer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:23 pm

    As long as we can all agree that Rugby was the loser when the Cats and the Force drew last weekend.

  • 244.Richie_7: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:23 pm

    Guys, haven’t you learnt? You can’t say somebody is the best in the world unless he wears a Blue Jersey, has an Afrikaans surname, and runs out onto the park with Steve Hoffmeyr ringing in his ears?

  • 245.Jester: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:24 pm

    Blue Bull Logo on the way to you Andre WP…

  • 246.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:25 pm

    Loafer – Rugby and me… I bet a mate of mine 100 bucks that the Force would klap the pussies, and he took the draw – lucky *******!

  • 247.bluebarb: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:26 pm

    London, did you say Ninja? a rugby ninja- now that is something to think about!

  • 248.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:26 pm

    Richie – Thanks for pointing that out. I always knew you Kiwis had a fondness for the Bulls…

  • 249.Loafer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:26 pm

    Matfield’s not an Afrikaans surname, and he’s the best in the world.

  • 250.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 13:27 pm

    You got him there Loafer….

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