Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Exhausted McCaw won't worry about foot for now



All Blacks captain Richie McCaw is not thinking about his foot ‘injury’ for now, still admitting he is recovering from the emotional highs and lows of winning the Rugby World Cup.

McCaw post match said that the 8-7 final was one of the most intense matches he had ever played in, saying he was “shattered” after the French scare.

The 103-test flanker, who became the first All Black this tournament to become an international centurion, sat out more and more training sessions as the World Cup progressed.

As the tournament continued, so did the rumours.

The screw that was inserted into his foot earlier this year was rumoured to have shifted, McCaw’s absence from the training field had many fearing he was about to withdraw, while the appearance of Matt Todd only heightened the fact that the World Cup hosts could have lost their captain.

Perish the thought!

McCaw made it through the French game, but he did say afterwards it was a tough encounter.

"I don't think I've been as shattered as that to be honest," he said.

"I don't know if it was the emotional stuff as well that goes into that game.

There was no rest for the wicked, as McCaw led his battle-weary All Blacks through street parades, with turnouts that surprised the captain.

"I'm blown away,” he said.

“It just shows the amount of support for the All Blacks and rugby in New Zealand. We'd never really underestimated that but to see people come out and show that support was awesome.”

“Kiwis sometimes don't show their emotions too much but there was plenty of that there. The last six weeks everyone has got behind the tournament so that's been a success so this has perhaps topped it off."

As it was throughout the World Cup, McCaw downplayed any suggestions his foot was still causing him serious problems, saying that he hadn’t even looked at what would happen next (such as surgery).

“(I’ll get it) looked at in the next couple of weeks,” he said.

“But I'm not worried about it to be honest".

No comments: