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

Pages: « 1 … 2 3 4 5 6 7 [8] 9 10 11 12 » Show All

  • 351.londonshark: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 15:46 pm

    Frazer, funny you should say that. I was just saying yesterday how much I miss a real highveld thunder storm.

  • 352.bliksem: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 15:47 pm

    Frazer dont you find Yanks loud and obnoxious?

  • 353.londonshark: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 15:48 pm

    Anyway guys, I’m off (school ends at 3, nice).

    Cheers

  • 354.bliksem: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 15:49 pm

    Kitty dont you find it hard stripping while clutching to your walking frame?

  • 355.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 15:49 pm

    Kitty – Don’t be jealous, it’s going to cost me a fortune. But I guess you’ve got to do New Years in Times Square once in your life…

    LS – That’s a good plan. Keep on making that paper and then get yourself a sweet pad. Nothing wrong with that.

  • 356.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 15:49 pm

    Nice one LS – have a good one!

  • 357.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 15:50 pm

    cheers LS! be good!

  • 358.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 15:51 pm

    bliksem – Yep, they’re a bit loud and obnoxious, but they’re nowhere near as bad as Bulls supporters…

  • 359.Blouste: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 15:51 pm

    Kitty

    While your making so much there most propably wont be time to fit me in to,,,,what a pitty

  • 360.Blouste: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 15:52 pm

    Frazer, play nice now

  • 361.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 15:53 pm

    you never know blouste…. i’ll put some time aside especially for you, i promise!

    Frazer: New Years in Times Square sounds awesome! Doubt i will ever do that, but really cool idea!!

  • 362.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 15:54 pm

    Just having a little fish there to see if I get a bite, Blouste. Nothing but a nibble so far…

  • 363.Blouste: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 15:54 pm

    Frazer, just look out for Osama boeings hey

  • 364.bliksem: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 15:54 pm

    Good point Frazer.I reckon my New Years in Sydney will be more bearable than a New Years surrounded by drunk afrikaans blue bull supporters.They are bad winners an even worse losers.

  • 365.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 15:55 pm

    Kitty, you never know…. So Kitty, I guess you’re a long suffering Cats supporter, like me?

  • 366.Blouste: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 15:56 pm

    I’m off.

    Catch you guys later

  • 367.Blouste: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 15:57 pm

    O before I go

    Bliksem jou ou tosser

    Bulle bo

  • 368.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 15:57 pm

    Now, now Bliksem, be nice…. I’m not saying you’re wrong though…

  • 369.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 15:57 pm

    sadly, yes! i feel an overwhelming sense of loyalty towards them, though for the life of me i can’t think why! they don’t deserve it! but you have to stick by your team through thick and thin…

    As can be expected, my second team is the Bulls…. so careful with the comments there…

  • 370.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 15:58 pm

    Bye bliksem! see you tonight at 10.30, rivonia!

  • 371.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 15:58 pm

    Cheers Blouste – Good luck on the weekend. You going to Loftus?

  • 372.bliksem: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 15:58 pm

    Tipiese ****** Blou bull Afrikaner opmerking daai.Maar hey ek kon seker nie meer verwag het nie.

  • 373.Stormer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 15:59 pm

    PLease, they don’t need him for this game. rather rest him for the semis and finals. Those will be challenges

  • 374.bliksem: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:00 pm

    Kitty what the **** are you talking about?Rhetorical question dnt answer.I only go for chicks who has a full set of teeth(lovegap is acceptable if they are coloured) and who are no staring pension in the eyes.

  • 375.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:00 pm

    Bliksem, when is your birthday?

  • 376.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:01 pm

    Kitty – Don’t feel too bad. I am also a long suffering fan. I can’t support the Bulls though – my father would have something to say about that!

  • 377.bliksem: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:02 pm

    Kitty stop spewing your bile at me please.Thank you.

  • 378.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:03 pm

    This is why i just love this guy!

  • 379.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:03 pm

    Kitty – you going to take that kind of abuse from someone who calls himself ‘Bliksem’??

  • 380.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:03 pm

    Frazer: who’s your second team then? You could always be a closest bulls fan you know!

  • 381.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:06 pm

    Kitty – My second team is the Sharks. I can’t be a closet Bulls fan – I’d be in constant fear of someone outing me!

  • 382.bliksem: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:06 pm

    Cheers people I am off.Some advice before i leave.
    Bliksem’s spadind/background music for the weekend:
    Dice.-by Finley Quaye & William Orbit.
    Album:Ministry of Sound-Chillout Sessions 2.
    Geniet haar manne.

  • 383.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:07 pm

    Frazer, his name is bliksem. who intentionally names themselves bliksem?! ANd he can hurl whatever abuse he likes at me… it’s very entertaining! But i do feel that under all his blasphemous (spelling?) talk, no-one has ever really loved him the way he deserves….

    So bring it on bliksem…

  • 384.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:07 pm

    Geez, it’s already 4pm and I’ve hardly done any work today! Oh well, looks like another late one for me…

  • 385.bliksem: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:07 pm

    should read spading song/background music

  • 386.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:08 pm

    i share your sentiments…. another 12 hour day…

  • 387.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:10 pm

    Cheers Bliksem – I’ll check out the recommendation. I thought Finley Quaye was dead or something. He hasn’t done anything for a while now…

    Kitty – So what you’re saying is that you farking love it!?

  • 388.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:10 pm

    What do you do, Kitty?

  • 389.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:12 pm

    no Frazer! I don’t love it! But whatever blows his hair back. responding just fuels him… you should’ve checked out yesterdays banter! he was really on form!

  • 390.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:13 pm

    Frazer, i’m a dancer at Teazers apparently.

  • 391.Bluecap: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:15 pm

    Kitty, don’t stress about Bliksem, he’s still a 22yo virgin, at least he speaks like one.

    My first team, well that would be the Monster Bulls, my 2nd is Northerns, my third is the Blue Bulls and my fourth is the Blue Bulls womens team.

  • 392.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:15 pm

    what do you do?!?

  • 393.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:17 pm

    Bluecap, who would’ve guessed!! ;-)

  • 394.Andrew: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:19 pm

    Bluecap,

    My man!!

    I’m blue to the core….

  • 395.Andrew: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:20 pm

    Kitty, where do you live and can we meet sometime? Do you really live in Joburg na dsupport the Cats or is that your pretence to meet and shag guys?

  • 396.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:20 pm

    ah, the legendary journo joins us….
    welcome! to what do we owe the pleasure?

  • 397.Kitty: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:21 pm

    Well, cutting right to the chase i see Andrew. Yes, i live in Joburg and support the Cats.
    And no, we cannot meet… not ith an attitude like that!

  • 398.Staal: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:21 pm

    400

  • 399.Staal: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:22 pm

    amper

  • 400.Frazer: Reply to this comment
    3 May 2006, 16:22 pm

    Kitty – Graphic Designer apparently. Your job is a lot more interesting though.

    Andrew – aren’t you supposed to be impartial?

    Bluecap – at least you’ve got some variation in your alternative teams there.

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