Tuesday, October 26, 2010

McCaw demands Grand Slam focus

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw says the prospect of a Grand Slam will stop the All Blacks from getting distracted by their upcoming home World Cup on their northern hemisphere tour.
The All Blacks could be forgiven for having one eye on the 2011 World Cup, which they are clear favourites to win for the first time in 24 years on home soil, given rugby's showpiece is now less than a year away. But McCaw insists his men will have their minds on the job as they tour Britain and Ireland in November.
The All Blacks underlined their status as the world's number one side with an unbeaten success in the Tri Nations earlier this year, with their impressive multi-phase game proving too much to handle for traditional rivals Australia and South Africa.
Graham Henry's men are currently in Hong Kong preparing to take on the Wallabies on Saturday, from there they will head to Britain and Ireland to face England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales as they seek a third clean sweep of the home nations in the last six seasons.
The men in black have not lost to England since 2003, Wales have to go back 57 years for their last success and Ireland and Scotland have yet to record victories against the Kiwis.
But Canterbury openside flanker McCaw, the world's leading exponent at the breakdown, is taking nothing for granted and does not believe his side can afford to look too far ahead.

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