Hamilton - All Black captain Richie McCaw paid South African rugby a big compliment revealing that New Zealand would be employing Springbok-style tactics to win Saturday's Tri-Nations Test in Hamilton while chasing a bonus point for scoring four tries to boot.
New Zealand, trailing South Africa by nine log points, have to bank at least one, but probably two, bonus points from this game and their last Tri-Nations Test against Australia next week to retain the trophy. McCaw was asked how they aimed to accomplish this, considering the 2009 Tri-Nations has been one of the lowest scoring tournaments in history.
Only South Africa has clinched a bonus point for scoring four tries, against Australia in Perth.
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South African captain John Smit, by contrast, is bidding to become the first Springbok skipper to win consecutive Tri-Nations Tests in New Zealand, following last year's watershed win in Dunedin, and the first to regain the trophy.
New Zealand, at a 39-points for and against disadvantage, have to chase the game and South Africa hold many aces going wresting the cup from their big rivals.
McCaw revealed that he would be borrowing from the Springbok blueprint, which has made South Africa the number one team on the IRB rankings, to get the big win New Zealand need to stay alive a week longer.
Even if South Africa loses, they can still clinch the trophy for the third time by securing two bonus points (for losing by less than seven points and scoring four tries). But more realistically, a simple win will do the job.
Smit wants to clinch the cup and celebrate with his team-mates by leading them on a lap of honour around Waikato Stadium, as opposed to watching on the couch at home next weekend without them.
But that's the last thing McCaw and his All Blacks want to endure on home soil.
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