New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen hailed the leadership skills of Richie McCaw as his side masterfully saw out a 20-18 victory over South Africa to reach the Rugby World Cup final.
The All Blacks dispatched France in impressive fashion in the quarter-finals but despite enjoying the majority of the possession, New Zealand were constantly frustrated at the breakdown by South Africa. Indeed that was where the first-half battle was won and lost, as though Jerome Kaino flew over for a converted All Blacks try, South Africa’s ferocious work set up four Handre Pollard penalties. After the break, Dan Carter drilled over a drop-goal before replacement Beauden Barrett crossed – Carter converted and in as quick as a flash New Zealand were five points up. Despite a Bryan Habana sin bin the Springboks held on and Pat Lambie nudged them to within two points, but the All Blacks masterfully saw the game out and will defend the Webb Ellis Cup against either Australia or Argentina next week.
And Hansen said: “As a young captain in 2007 he (McCaw) was criticised a lot,” said Hansen. “And I know that hurt him. But he’s grown, we’ve grown a leadership group that has a massive amount of self-belief. “Kieran Read, Conrad Smith, Dan Carter, Sam Cane, there’s a number of guys. “We’ve had moments where we had to keep that self-belief, then in those moments it’s just about that process. “What have we got to do right now? What do we do next? And then it becomes the norm.”
Click here to see the 2016 RBS 6 Nations fixtures
