The key to keeping the AB backs in check? Well if you want to attack their perceived lineout weakness, which is something that I`d suggest by kicking deep for the corners, FFS either kick the damn thing waaay into the stands, to take the option of the quick throw-in out of the equation, or else your chasers`ll have to get upfield at a rapid rate to stop the quick throw-ins. Something SA did effectively for 70 minutes in Durban this year, leading to a 21-12 lead. Only to stop chasing the long kicks effectively in the last 10, and that gave the AB backs the time and space to counter. Big mistake. So basically, if you`re gonna kick at them, make sure you kick it out, and take the quick throw-in out of the equation.
But the AB outside backs are even more dangerous from turnover ball than from the deep counter. So basically, if you want to take the likes of Mills, Sivivatu and Rokocoko out of the equation, you`ll need to find a way to neutralise a certain mr. McCaw. There are some theories about how to do this, some of which has worked in the past, the greater majority have failed abysmally. What you shouldn`t be doing, is putting a "fetcher" in the sole role of trying to match McCaw to the breakdown and on the ground. Because there`s nobody good enough to compete man for man with him.
I`ve basicaly got 3 theories on how to do this. You need to either get the whole side to focus on the 1st bloke to the breakdown cleaning him out at ruck time, like the Wallabies did very effectively in the tri-nations game this year. But because of his strong, low body position over the ball, this is pretty difficult.
Or you need to take his greatest strength of winning the turnover on the ground out of the equation, by simply stepping just before contact and then offloading in the tackle, thus reducing the number of rucks where he`s at his most dangerous. Easier said than done, but it`s the way the majority of NZ teams play their rugby. And McCaw has always been less effective in the S14 against other NZ sides. Coincidence?
And then, of course, the way to take him out of the game in terms of getting to the breakdown first, is by making sure he`s the bloke who has to make the most tackles. Once again, McCaw is at his most effective when one of his teammates executes the tackle, and he`s 1st to the breakdown. This allows him to get himself into a strong body position over the ball, with a low centre of gravity, thus making it extremely difficult to clean him out. And even though McCaw is pretty damn good at winning the ball in the tackle, he`s less likely to do this on a regular basis than to win turnovers by being 1st on the scene.
So basically, stop McCaw winning turnovers, and attack your kicks into touch, to take their broken play running out of the game. From there you`ve got a better chance than most. Easier said than done, but definately possible.