As New Zealand’s anxiety levels reach dangerously high over the fitness of the All Blacks captain ahead of Sunday’s Rugby World Cup semifinal against Australia, assistant coach Steve Hansen attempted to offer some encouraging words this morning.

Hansen said that Richie McCaw’s foot is fine and Matt Todd is training with the side as part of their wider training group.

Hansen added that Todd’s presence is not because of the concern over McCaw’s foot will persist as the focal point of 24 years of waiting for another World Cup win would be unthinkable if the All Blacks had to take on Australia on Sunday night without McCaw and Dan Carter.

McCaw won’t train fully ahead of the game, in the same way he didn’t for the quarterfinal against Argentina.

Hansen said that McCaw’s foot is clearly not right and it’s expected he will need surgery after the World Cup but it’s not enough to prevent him playing especially not a World Cup semifinal.

McCaw is mentally very strong and is prepared to play through the pain.

The first semifinal at 8pm Saturday will see France meet Wales and at 8pm Sunday the All Blacks meet the Wallabies and live commentaries of both matches can be heard on our sister station, Viti FM with Malakai Veisamasama and Ilivasi Tabua.


Story by: Dreu Vukailagi