We’re ready for battle of the breakdown, says Richie McCaw
All Blacks captain is relishing confrontation with Australia’s Michael Hooper and David Pocock
Richie McCaw has declared New Zealand ready for the battle of the breakdown, as the World Cup final has been billed, when they will front Australia's twin threat of Michael Hooper and David Pocock.
The Wallaby pair, working with the forceful tackling of Scott Fardy, have established Australian dominance at the crucial breakdown area.
We realise we need to be on the job and limit [Hooper and Pocock’s] influence as much as possible and hopefully our back row can impose itself
Pocock leads the turnover count with 14, six more than New Zealand's best, Kieran Read.
The battle between Hooper, Pocock and Fardy against McCaw, Read and Jerome Kaino is where the World Cup is likely to be won or lost at Twickenham and McCaw said he was relishing the confrontation.
"Absolutely. We've had some good challenges over the years, a couple of games this year were a good challenge. It's the type of game you want to be involved in," he said.
"We realise we need to be on the job and limit their influence as much as possible and hopefully our back row can impose itself.
"There's no doubt that give the Wallabies quick ball, front-foot ball, and a loose forward trio with those two in it, can make your day a pretty tough one."