McCaw backs room-mate to see off Lions

Richie McCaw would have no concerns about laying a fistful of dollars on South Africa to beat the Lions next summer having led New Zealand on a Grand Slam tour of the British Isles.

McCaw is in a unique position to judge the strengths – or otherwise – of the British game with the 2009 Lions tour looming large at the end of the season.

And he admitted: “I suppose if you go on what has happened in the autumn you could pick the result pretty easily.

“We played them back in 2005 and I am sure there are a few lessons learned from that trip. It is not easy for those guys to come and play at the end of a long, hard season.

“And given that John Smit is my room-mate with the Barbarians I have no choice but to say South Africa!”

McCaw and Smit – rival international and Super 14 captains – will both make their Barbarians debuts in tonight’s Olympic centenary celebration match against Australia at Wembley.

The Barbarians side has drawn from the cream of the southern hemisphere and the starting XV includes six of Smit’s 2007 World Cup-winning colleagues.

With Bryan Habana and Joe Rokocoko on the wings, world player of the year Shane Williams has to settle for a place on the bench.

“This is one of the better Barbarians side there has been for a while and I am really chuffed to get this group of players together,” said Jake White, who coached that victorious 2007 Springboks and is in charge of the Barbarians.

“We aim to play it in the traditional Baa-Baas’ spirit and it should be a memorable occasion.

“It has been nice for me to be with the (players I coached at the World Cup) but it has also been nice to coach players like Richie and Joe Rokocoko.”

McCaw is relishing the chance to end a high-pressure season by playing alongside many of the big names he spent the last nine months bashing from Christchurch to kingdom come.

New Zealand spent the year rebuilding their aura after the crushing disappointment of defeat to France in the World Cup quarter-finals last autumn.

“Normally we don’t see each other after games, we have to just move on, so being able to sit and have a beer and a yarn without worrying about the pressures of next week is unique,” he said.

“Rooming with guys you normally beat the hell out of – or vice versa – is pretty good. And John is a good roomie. His snoring was all right last night!”

The Wallabies have included 18-year-old James O’Connor at full-back while winger Lote Tuqiri returns from knee surgery.

The match has been organised as part of the British Olympic Association’s celebrations of the first London Olympics.

Australia won the rugby gold medal in 1908 with a 32-3 victory over Great Britain, who were represented by Cornwall.