McCaw heading for a 'breakdown'

'There were a lot of little things we didn't do right'

The words breakdown and All Black captain Richie McCaw are synonymous with rugby. Whether you think his actions are illegally or not, McCaw is generally regarded as the premier openside flank in the world and will again be in the thick of things when the All Blacks face Ireland in a rematch at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.

Ireland coped very well with New Zealand's twin – McCaw and Marty Holah – threat in the 34-23 All Black win in Hamilton last week.

But with Jerome Kaino – in the place of Holah – teaming up with McCaw this week there is an entirely new challenge for the Irish at the breakdown.

McCaw also hinted that the Kiwis will step it up in this crucial aspect of the game at Eden Park.

McCaw, in an interview on the All Blacks' official website, said he wasn't surprised that Ireland did so well at the breakdown, not so much because of the skills on display, rather because of things they (the Kiwis) did not execute properly.

"There were a lot of little things we didn't do right, and it gave them a chance to slow our ball down," McCaw told allblacks.com.

"We didn't cross the gain line and stuff like that, a lot of things compounded," he said.

McCaw said he is looking for Kaino's physicality to make a difference in the contest.