England will bounce back – McCaw

McCaw will be hoping to end NZ’s World Cup hoodoo

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw has said that England will benefit from having missed out on the Grand Slam when they compete at the World Cup.

England won the recent Six Nations but missed out on a clean sweep after a 24-8 defeat by Ireland on Saturday.

“As long as you’re winning and learning your lessons I’m sure they will be better for those experiences,” he said.

“I’m sure that later on in the year England will take all the positives out of that.”

McCaw is also adamant that the teams from the northern hemisphere will provide a stiff test during the month-long World Cup which begins on 9 September.

Tri-Nations giants the All Blacks, Australia and South Africa are short prices for the tournament, with England fourth favourites at 9-1 with some bookmakers.

I don’t think there’s a mental block with the All Blacks

However, McCaw was part of the All Blacks team that was stunned by France in the 2007 World Cup quarter-final and the openside flanker said his side are not taking any team lightly.

“If you look at what happened before the last World Cup and then what happened at the wash-up, then yes I expect the northern hemisphere teams will be challenging,” said the 30-year-old.

“England tripped up against Ireland but they certainly showed they know how to win games.

“If you look at the personnel the French have and even the Welsh, they have some good players too, they can all be threats.

“Things will change between now and then, there’s lots of time for that in the build-up. Teams will go up a level.

“We won’t take anyone for granted, we’ve learnt those lessons I can tell you.”

New Zealand have been favourites going into every World Cup but have only managed one victory – the inaugural tournament in 1987.

McCaw said the current crop are desperate to shed the side’s “choker” tag.

“There’s a few of us in the team who have been through those experiences and you hope those experiences will hurt,” he said.

“You can’t hide from it, it’s there and we have to deal with it.

“The World Cup should be tough to win. That’s why people appreciate it.

“I don’t think there’s a mental block with the All Blacks. You know what you need to do, it’s just a matter of doing it.

“All teams will feel the pressure. You have to be excited about it, which is a subtle difference in the way you view it.”

All Black McCaw will miss the Crusaders match against the Sale Sharks at Twickenham on 27 March – £5 from each ticket sold will go to the Christchurch Red Cross Earthquake Appeal.