McCaw gives McKenzie food for thought

Editor

Having shut down Will Genia and Quade Cooper with the Crusaders, Richie McCaw wants to repeat that feat with the All Blacks.

Having successfully caged Will Genia and Quade Cooper with the Crusaders, Richie McCaw wants to repeat that feat with the All Blacks when they face Australia in the Rugby Championship.

Neither Reds player was able to make their mark during their Super Rugby play-off clash, with the Crusaders putting the half-backs under intense pressure. It was certainly no fluke either, with the men from Canterbury implementing a systematic plan.

“No matter how good your No.9 and No.10 are,” McCaw told Fox Sports.

“If you can't get go-forward ball or ball they can play with, it's pretty hard for them to show their skills.

“That's where we dictated. We shut down any good ball they got and eliminated their effect.”

McCaw admits that heading into the opening Rugby Championship encounter between the All Blacks and Australia on August 17, new Wallaby coach Ewen McKenzie will need to find a way to stop this from happening again.

“I don't know what he'd be thinking but he's got more time to worry about that now,” said the flanker.