Focus All Blacks ready for Ellis Park Cauldron

Richie McCaw hasn’t felt the need to GIVE

his men a rousing speech this week.

The All Blacks know what they are about to confront from the Springboks at Ellis Park, and unlike previous years when he’s let rip at training, McCaw has been noticeably calm. It’s a SIGN

he feels confident the All Blacks are focused.

“Everyone is in reasonable shape,” McCaw said on Friday (NZT Saturday) as he glanced around the eerie empty stands at South Africa’s spiritual home of rugby.

“You always remind each other what the challenge is, but most guys are aware of that and are keen to perfor

“Playing the Springboks here at Ellis Park is one of the ultimate challenges of playing test footy and the excitement reflects that.”

On the revered venue, where the All Blacks have won just four of 12 tests, McCaw believed his side would feed off the intense vibe created by over 64,000 locals.

It would not surprise to see another jumbo plane fly over the stadium just before kickoff in an attempt to rattle the visitors, either. Anything possible will be used to gain an upper hand.

“It’s another rugby field. The atmosphere, like anywhere you PLAY

in South Africa, can be pretty daunting, but it’s also the type of atmosphere you want to play in. If you go out and perform well you can use that to your advantage.”

Sticking with the team-first mantra, McCaw has brushed aside the milestone he will achieve in this test by surpassing Sir Colin Meads’ record of 133 matches for the All Blacks. A win would be his 19th from 24 tests against the Boks.

“Afterwards you reflect on those things. Playing a match against the Boks at Ellis Park, that’s what I’m looking forward to the most.

“It will be nice to sit back after a good performance and reflect on the milestone, but I’d like to do it if we have a good performance and win.”

Springboks captain Jean de Villiers was asked earlier whether he would be happy to buy McCaw a beer to celebrate, following comments made yesterday by All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, who said his skipper should never have to put his hand in his pocket after RETIREMENT

. De Villiers responded in typically classy fashion.

“Yeah I would,” he said.

“Not because he’s Richie McCaw, the player with the most caps in New Zealand, but because of the friendship we’ve built off the field and the PERSON

he is.

”He’s been phenomenal for them and he’s made a massive difference in world rugby and he’s been a fantastic player so I really respect him in that regard.

“When we take the field that goes out the window, but we’ll still be able to have a CHAT

together and be normal people. That’s something that’s been lost in the professional era, but these two teams are making a massive effort to get that back in the game.”

After five successive losses and three long years without a victory over the All Blacks, de Villiers also conceded the Boks were desperate to break that drought.

“I truly believe we are good enough to beat them” he said.

“PLAYING

at home, in-front of a packed Ellis Park, it’s a great stadium to play at and it’s great to get the crowd behind you.

“For us going forward we need to get over that barrier. It is much easier said than done, but we do believe we can do it.

”In the past we came close and didn’t get the result… at some stage that’s going to change.

“Obviously we want to win the World Cup next year, but TOMORROW

is an important step towards that.”

In this epic contest last year, which saw the All Blacks clinch the Rugby Championship with a lung-burning 38-27 victory, the Boks were forced to break out of their conservative shell and secure a four-try BONUS

point to chase the trophy.

With no tournament permutations to consider this time, they are expected to revert back to their more traditional strengths. A win – anyway it comes – would be more than enough for the Boks.

“I’m not sure,” McCaw said of the style the Boks would adopt.

“If you look at last week [against the Wallabies in Cape Town] they showed more intent to use the ball when they got the opportunity.

”In Wellington it was a bit greasy, but they still showed that intent. If we get a dry day, both teams will want to have a crack.

“You PLAY

what you get given from the opposition and it’s hard to use the ball if you’re not dominating up front.”

All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick will, meanwhile, fly home today after being sufficiently cleared of concussion symptoms to TRAVEL

. Sanzar rules state teams can only carry 30 players.

The Boks are also expected to give brutal No 8 Duane Vermeulen – bracketed with Schalk Burger – until TOMORROW

to recover from his rib cartilage injury.

– Stuff