McCaw: I need to seriously step up against Boks‏

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/3883269/McCaw-I-need-to-seriously-step-up-against-Boks
Sunday News
04/07/2010

Richie McCaw admits he has to step up his game against the Springboks.
The world champion South Africans open the defence of their Tri-Nations title at Eden Park on Saturday.

The Boks have been a persistent problem for All Blacks captain McCaw, touted as the world's best No7.

He has played them 15 times for 10 wins and five losses. He was frequently outplayed by the Springboks in last year's whitewash that saw the Boks win in Bloemfontein, Durban and Hamilton.

South Africa have brought Francois Louw, Schalk Burger, Ryan Kankowski and Pierre Spies – all hugely physical and athletic loose forwards – here to negate McCaw's skills at the breakdowns.
Asked if it was time to deliver personally, McCaw said: "Myself and the guys who have been around a little while have to do that."

He conceded it was a tough time for him last year and he and his team needed to rectify that.

"I think as a whole we were frustrated we never got our game going," he said of last year's struggles with the Boks.
"We got beaten to the punch and out-muscled and were caught at the wrong end of the field a lot, so that makes it pretty tough on everyone. So I guess I got a little frustrated. Hopefully, it will be better this year."

McCaw felt the All Blacks needed to produce the sort of effort they showed against Wales in the second half of the first test in Dunedin.

"The senior players really stood up and played well in that half and we have to make sure we do that and show the young fellas the way and I am certainly a big part of that."

McCaw said if the All Blacks were to win back the Tri-Nations trophy they had to win these two tests in New Zealand.