McCaw shapes up for Wallabies clash

WELLINGTON – All Blacks captain Richie McCaw could defy medical predictions and play in the Tri-Nations rugby Test against Australia on Saturday, after running freely at training yesterday.

There was no official word from team management on his availability but the 62-Test veteran played an active role in most of yesterday’s practice and showed no discomfort. McCaw’s ball-winning skills were missed by the All Blacks in their two Tri-Nations Tests against South Africa and will be urgently required against Australia whose 16-9 win over the Springboks last weekend was built around pressure at the breakdown.When the 27-year-old McCaw injured his ankle in the second Test against England last month the initial diagnosis had him sidelined until the Test against South Africa in Cape Town on August 16.Even after the All Blacks lost to the Springboks in Dunedin nine days ago, assistant coach Steve Hansen described the star flanker’s recovery as steady and there was little chance of an early return.Daniel Braid, recalled to the All Blacks squad as cover for McCaw after five years in the wilderness, would not speculate on the team’s line up, which will be named Tuesday.”We’ll just have to wait and see,” he said.Nampa-AFPMcCaw’s ball-winning skills were missed by the All Blacks in their two Tri-Nations Tests against South Africa and will be urgently required against Australia whose 16-9 win over the Springboks last weekend was built around pressure at the breakdown.When the 27-year-old McCaw injured his ankle in the second Test against England last month the initial diagnosis had him sidelined until the Test against South Africa in Cape Town on August 16.Even after the All Blacks lost to the Springboks in Dunedin nine days ago, assistant coach Steve Hansen described the star flanker’s recovery as steady and there was little chance of an early return.Daniel Braid, recalled to the All Blacks squad as cover for McCaw after five years in the wilderness, would not speculate on the team’s line up, which will be named Tuesday.”We’ll just have to wait and see,” he said.Nampa-AFP