Richie McCaw might be playing with only one foot this weekend

OPINION: Richie McCaw might be playing with only one foot this weekend but he can count on an extra hand in the World Cup semifinal against the Wallabies.

That help might come from South African referee Craig Joubert.

It seems all the fuss over Kiwi referee Bryce Lawrence’s handling of the Wallabies’ scratchy quarterfinal win over the Springboks will ensure the breakdowns on Sunday will be the microscope.

Lawrence has been criticised – in South African circles anyway – for allowing this crucial area to be a free-for-all that allowed the Wallabies’ outstanding No 7 David Pocock to reign there.

As a consequence Joubert, who like the teams is vying for a spot in the final, will surely keep an eagle eye on Pocock.

Of course he will be watching the crafty McCaw just as closely. But anything to even this battle right now is going to help the All Blacks skipper who, not surprisingly, doesn’t seem to be operating at the peak of his powers.

But you have to admire McCaw’s tenacity. The humble skipper has a real “she’ll be right, let’s get on with it attitude”.

McCaw’s been a bit grumpy lately and his irritation isn’t limited to the actual pain in that right foot.

He is hating the public inspection of his on-going injury and the daily debate over the sense of playing him.

But the simple truth is that McCaw operating at 80% is still far better than the next best No 7 in the country, whoever that may be.

McCaw’s value to the All Blacks goes way beyond Pocock’s worth to the Wallabies.

McCaw isn’t there just to hit double figures in the tackle count or steal the odd turnover which seem to be increasingly rare these days anyway.

He is there to be Richie McCaw.

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His attitude to this whole distraction will be as inspiring to his team mates as any one of his countless man of the match performances in his 101 tests.

His determination to lace up his right boot and run out at Eden Park is the sort of grit the All Blacks legend is built on.

McCaw is there to lead, to show the depth of knowledge that comes with that century of internationals and, importantly, to prove that lessons have been learned from that disaster in Cardiff four years ago.

If McCaw can engineer victories over the next two weeks despite the handicap of his injury his standing in the game might be unrivalled and that’s saying something given the long list of All Blacks heroes that have gone before him.

source :Stuff