Author: krstking2
Post subject: After four long years, Richie McCaw is counting down
Posted: Today, 10:27
AUCKLAND, New Zealand - After four long years, Richie McCaw is counting down the hours before he can start trying to fully atone for New Zealands disastrous finish to the last World Cup. cheap nfl jerseys from china . The All Blacks captain and coaching staff have answered more questions than theyd care to remember regarding New Zealands failures at every World Cup since it won the inaugural tournament in 1987. With the World Cup back on home soil for the first time since then, McCaw is desperate to end the drought. New Zealands host cities and towns have been scrubbed and polished. Theres flags for the 20 competing countries hanging all over the place, as is the sense of anticipation. The All Blacks open against Tonga on Friday night at a revamped Eden Park stadium in what looms as a bruising, highly intense clash. Catch the opening ceremonies ahead of the first game of the tournament between New Zealand and Tonga. All the action gets underway live on TSN2 tonight beginning at 3:30am et/12:30am pt. "Its a stage where everyone is at their peak and if you want success youve got to be," McCaw told a news conference Thursday. "Thats what motivates me - to test yourself in the toughest environment and, when you do that and succeed, thats when you can be satisfied. "A World Cup is the biggest stage and you want to prove yourself on that." McCaw and star flyhalf Daniel Carter were replaced during the 2007 quarterfinal in Cardiff before France staged a magnificent comeback to send the New Zealanders to their earliest exit ever in the tournament. That came after the All Blacks had walloped the French in a warmup match. "Youd be a mug if you hadnt learned in the four years since then," McCaw said. The lead-up has been different this time. The top-ranked New Zealanders lost away tests to World Cup champion South Africa and Australia to surrender the Tri-Nations title and come into the World Cup on consecutive losses for the first time. "History has shown that what has happened previously - good or bad - means nothing come kickoff," McCaw said. "Therell be no complacency this time." Thats important for the All Blacks, as the Tongans arent likely to be ruffled by reputations. Ever since arriving on Monday, captain Finau Maka and his squad have been shadowed by thousands of resident Tongans. The welcoming committee was so large that Auckland airport became gridlocked for hours with cars and their red-and-white flags. Theyre treating it like a neighbourhood game. "Theres no pressure on us, the pressure is on them," said Maka, who passed a fitness test Thursday and is certain to take his place in the backrow against New Zealand. "Were just going to go out there and give it to them and see if they can handle it. "We just dont want to turn up and make up the numbers," he added. "We want to go out there and show the world that Tonga does exist." The Tongans won the right to start their war dance, the Sipi Tau, first. Organizers have said its up to the All Blacks to decide when they respond. If its anything like the encounters in 2003 and 1999, its likely to be instantaneous. Organizers have planned a fireworks extravaganza across this harbour city and celebrations across the rugby-mad country of 4.5 million on Friday night in the official opening for the tournament, which features 48 matches across six weeks - including eight in the first three days. All the heavyweights are in action on the first weekend, with the most anticipated clash between 2007 finalist England and third-place finisher Argentina at Dunedin on Saturday night - under the covered roof of a brand new stadium that has replaced the citys famous "House of Pain." Jonny Wilkinson, who kicked England to victory in extra time against Australia in the 2003 final to secure the first title for a northern hemisphere team, is back in the driving seat at flyhalf. England team manager Martin Johnson, the captain of that 2003 squad, unveiled his starting team on Thursday, taking no chances against an Argentina squad that will be a handful in the forwards and capably marshalled in the backs by veteran captain Felipe Contepomi. In earlier matches Saturday, Chris Paterson will set a Scotland record when he lines up in his fourth World Cup at fullback against Romania at Invercargill, Fiji opens against Namibia at Rotorua in Pool C and two-time finalist France takes on John Kirwans Japan team. Defending champion South Africa gets underway Sunday night in a challenging Pool D encounter with Wales at Wellington. The No. 2-ranked Australians kick off Sundays action against Italy in Auckland, and the U.S. squad will attend an ecumenical church service in the morning to mark the 10th anniversary of the 9-11 terror attacks before taking on Ireland at New Plymouth. While Tongan flags were fluttering all over Auckland, the Russian flag was at half-mast in Blenheim where the national squad was coming to grips with news of the tragic air crash near Moscow, which killed 43 people, including 36 players, coaches and officials of the Yaroslavl Lokomotiv team that was heading to Minsk, Belarus, to play its opening game of the Kontinental Hockey League season. "Theres a very, very strong bond across all sports in Russia. Its hit hard," the Russian rugby teams media manager, Leon Addie, told local reporters. "Plane travel is an inherent part of playing sports in Russia because of the distances to cover. All of our players can empathize completely." The team observed a minutes silence during its official welcome in Blenheim, where it is in camp until its opening match against the United States at New Plymouth on Sept. 15. cheap nfl jerseys . -- Canadas swim team added three gold medals Sunday on the final day of the Missouri Grand Prix swimming competition. cheap nfl jerseys free shipping . -- The Memphis Grizzlies built their longest winning streak in six seasons with a flurry of fast starts.SURREY, B.C. -- Thomas DeMarco is grateful to get another chance to lead the B.C. Lions. Now its up to him to show he deserves it. The second-year quarterback has had his share of ups and downs since taking over from injured starter Travis Lulay five weeks ago. He led the Lions to back-to-back road wins in his first two CFL starts, but has struggled the last three games -- all losses to division rivals. Still, the Lions will go with DeMarco again when they host the Edmonton Eskimos on Friday night. "Youre going to have tough things youre going to push through and the fact that I got the nod, it means a lot to me," DeMarco said after Tuesdays practice. "I want to work through my difficulties, as any quarterback would like to, and Im happy that I got that opportunity." The product of Old Dominion University did a good job of managing the ball in his first two starts, completing 39-of-65 passes for 435 yards and four touchdowns against no interceptions. In B.C.s three straight losses -- including Saturdays 35-14 blowout in Regina at the hands of the Saskatchewan Roughriders -- DeMarco was a pedestrian 49-for-95 passing for 677 yards to go along with four TDs and eight picks. And while Lions head coach Mike Benevides agreed DeMarco hasnt been at his best of late, he added that the 24-year-old gives his team the best chance to win. "Right now Thomas is still the guy that takes the first snap because hes shown an ability to make those plays," said Benevides. "Theres been some regression, but any young guy is going to go through tough times, especially at the quarterback position. "If you ask any quarterback, theyre going to ask to fight through those things and appreciate the fact they were given the opportunity." Lulay, who has been out with an injury to his throwing shoulder since Sept. 15 and was originally expected to only miss two weeeks, performed a bit of soft toss on the sidelines during Tuesdays practice but nothing more. cheap nfl jerseys china. "Im kind of at the mercy of the symptoms," said Lulay. "I push it to where I know I need shut it down and hope to continue to progress." The Lions (9-7) host the Eskimos (3-13) on Friday in a game that means nothing in the standings, but a lot to the teams psyche. B.C. is locked into the West Divisions third seed with two games remaining, and will be on the road to face either Saskatchewan or the Calgary Stampeders when the post-season begins. If the Lions are going to make any noise in the playoffs, two strong outings to close out the regular season will be critical. "I want us to go out there and play like we know we can," said DeMarco, who threw four interceptions against the Roughriders. "Weve put quarters together, weve put halves together (but) we havent put a whole game together. Im sure if were able to do that well turn some heads." If they dont, its not like Benevides is out of options if DeMarco continues to struggle and Lulay remains on the shelf. Buck Pierce, a member of the Lions from 2005 to 2010, was acquired from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last month as an insurance policy. The 31-year-old has seen limited action in his return to B.C., but said he will be ready if called upon. Benevides doesnt want to have to make that move, but added the time is now for DeMarco to step up after a disappointing performance against Saskatchewan. "Its important and critical for us and for him to make sure that when he goes against the Edmonton Eskimos, he shows right off the top that hes learned from it, hes focused and he has the ability and the capability to understand where the offence asks him to put the ball -- thats his job," said Benevides. "Its vital, not only for us but for him, to get it right." ' ' '