INSIDE: Need for speed Sport B13 Sports Editor: Greg Ford Contact: [email protected] 03 943 2752 THE PRESS, CHRISTCHURCH Friday, January 13, 2012 B16 RUGBY McCaw is still ‘I don’t want to make on the easy list Matt Richens The most famous foot in New Zealand is on the mend but Richie McCaw will miss ‘‘at least the first few’’ Super Rugby games. any mistakes again’ McCaw was walking with no sign of pain at Crusaders’ Matt Richens training yesterday and the All Black skipper said he should Zac Guildford says staying be running again next month. sober for a year is going to be ‘‘I’ve had a few weeks off hard, but he knows it’s a must crutches now and been back after hitting ‘‘rock bottom’’. doing some cross-training and When the 22-year-old it seems to be going all right.’’ should have been enjoying the He’s been spotted at a afterglow of the All Blacks’ number of different pools Rugby World Cup win, late around the South Island doing last year he was in the lengths over the holiday headlines for all the wrong period and has spent plenty of Richie McCaw reasons after a booze-fuelled time on the bike. night in Rarotonga where he He’s itching to get back, that were involved and every walked naked and bleeding but just when McCaw will other guy is worried about the into a bar before getting into a return to the field for what Crusaders and this side doing stoush with patrons. will be his 12th Super well. His public fall from grace campaign remains up in the So we have to make sure led Crusaders coach Todd air. we’re worried about that and Blackadder to warn the Super The Crusaders have a bye not focusing on the past. We Rugby campaign was ‘‘no Stretching in the fourth round and have to move on because the second-chance saloon’’ for the out: Crusaders McCaw hinted that extra teams from South Africa and talented wing who was sus- wing Zac week off might be necessary Australia sure won’t care pended for three pre-season Guildford and that he’d return for the about it.’’ games and one Super match. trains with the side’s week five clash against While the side talked down Clearly nervous about Crusaders at the Cheetahs at Rugby League the impact of having to leave speaking to the media Rugby Park in Park. Christchurch for every game yesterday at Rugby Park, Christchurch. ‘‘We’ll just have to wait last season, following the Guildford said he’d ‘‘definite- He is and see,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m February 22 earthquake and ly’’ learnt his lesson and that recovering reluctant to put a time on it the damage that caused to it was time to grow up. from a groin but things are progressing AMI Stadium, McCaw said he ‘‘I think I have’’ he said. injury. how they should.’’ was rapt to have a home ‘‘It’s a pretty tough lesson Photo: JOSEPH McCaw was one of several venue sorted for 2012. to learn but I think you have JOHNSON/ injured returning All Blacks He said the side had to to hit rock bottom to bounce FAIRFAX NZ who sat out part of Crusaders ignore it last year because back up. I don’t want to make training yesterday. they had no choice, but any mistakes again.’’ While McCaw and his doubted even his side could He said the end of 2011 had Guildford’s new catchphrase, ‘‘I don’t want to make the ‘‘I didn’t realise how high groin injury and took only a And he’s still got his sense fellow All Blacks are no doubt have done it again. been a dreadful time for him, but one that must please same mistakes I’ve made in profile I was and that I was in limited part in the Crusaders’ of humour. still getting pats on the back ‘‘I don’t think you could do but he was looking forward to Blackadder and the NZRU. the past. the spotlight so much,’’ training yesterday but When asked what his non- and the odd free pint from the it two years in a row and it’s playing with the Crusaders. He’s promised to lay off the ‘‘I just want to be a good Guildford said. expects to be fit before his alcoholic drink of choice was, general public, the second nice to know we’re going to ‘‘I was right down in the booze completely for the rugby player and a good ‘‘I just thought I could do suspension ends, and be he replied: ‘‘If I’ve had a feed World Cup-winning All Black have games at home.’’ dumps and I didn’t know Crusaders’ campaign. person.’’ the things my mates did and available for the Crusaders’ then I like to drink Coke Zero skipper said the memories of McCaw was joined on the where I was going or what I However, because of his He knows how much he what I’d always done at second-round game against but if I’m just kicking about that win had to be shelved sidelines yesterday by Zac was doing there for a while,’’ history of drinking, it would has to lose and knows a slip- school. the Highlanders in Dunedin then I’m happy with the old within the Crusaders’ Guildford, Corey Flynn and he said. be difficult, he said. up would likely lead to the ‘‘I now know it’s time for on March 3. Pump [water] bottle. environment. Israel Dagg who were all on ‘‘[But] I think being in this ‘‘I think it’ll be pretty NZRU ripping up his contract. me to grow up.’’ He’d been nervous of his ‘‘Actually, I’d better say ‘‘You have to realise that limited workloads but environment will improve me tough because I haven’t gone But the eight-test All Black ‘‘I’m turning into a big boy treatment from the public, but the Richie McCaw water that’s done,’’ he said. Crudasers coach Todd Black- as a person.’’ a whole year without said he’d learnt his lesson and now, I’m 23 in a month.’’ said it had been largely because he’s my captain and I ‘‘You come back here and adder said none were major Improving as a person is drinking before but we’ll see. changed his ways. Guildford is nursing a positive. want to play this season.’’ there’s only half a dozen guys concerns. CRICKET AT A GLANCE CANTERBURY: Peter Fulton Broom, Craig Cumming, Jimmy Wizards import knows it’s time to deliver (c), Yasir Arafat, Dean Neesham, Dimitri Brownlie, Mitchell Claydon, Mascarenhas, Nathan Brendon Diamanti, Andrew McCullum, Aaron Redmond, Matt Richens bowling average of 41.75 and against one of the most times and not taken wickets, Arafat said there was no Ellis, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Hamish Rutherford, Craig an economy – his supposed intimidating batting line-ups but in Twenty20 economy rate secret to bowling to the Volts’ Rob Nicol, Shanan Stewart, Smith, Neil Wagner. Yasir Arafat knows he has a strength – of 8.94 hardlyjustify in the competition, his old is the most important and skipper. George Worker, Reece Young. TAB: Canterbury $1.82, Otago maximum of four Twenty20 leaving out a local lad or Otago team. that’s where I want to do ‘‘You just have to hope you OTAGO: Brendon McCullum $1.92. games to prove his worth. forking out a hefty chunk of The Wizards play the Volts well,’’ he said. get him out early,’’ he said. (c), Nick Beard, Derek de Start: 5pm, on Sky Sport. The former Pakistani change for his services. in Dunedin this afternoon and ‘‘But I want to have some Two wins in the final three Boorder, Darren Broom, Neil international was the Canter- The import has shown Arafat hopes to be a major big games, there are three games would secure a final bury Wizards’ marquee signs of brilliance, but sadly contributor with the ball. games left and I want to win spot, three would likely mean signing for this season’s HRV not often enough and he’s He wants to try and two of them with my they get to host the event. With just one loss in their and a chance to appear in Cup, but the 29-year-old has been overshadowed by Aust- strangle the Volts’ batting performances.’’ Arafat said his side were last six games, the Wizards the lucrative Champions yet to demonstrate the ability ralian Mitchell Claydon. line-up – no easy feat on the The easiest way to beat the making sure they didn’t drop are looming as the only team League. he’s shown for other teams. Arafat knows he needs to small University Oval Volts would be to knock over their intensity or com- likely of being able to The Wizards speak highly do better. ground. Black Caps powerhouse placency going into today’s challenge the defending ❯❯ Yasir Arafat ofhimasateamman,buta He gets a chance today ‘‘I have bowled well some- Brendon McCullum, and game. champion Aces for the title Protea power B14 LSL1758/CP Here’s to a couple VODKA CRUISER PurchasePurchase aa 1212 packpack RANGE of tasty shots ofof CruiserCruiser andand gogo 12 X 275ML inin thethe drawdraw toto BOTTLES winwin anan umbrellaumbrella 5% ALC/VOL chillychilly binbin SeeSee in-storein-store forfor detailsdetails $ 99 19 pack Toast the Summer Valid until 15th January 2012.