Sydney tests
When Richie met Casey
First impressions? Well, Casey Kopua was taller than Richie McCaw.
He’s quite a big bloke, the All Blacks captain. But, at 1.87 metres, he gives a centimetre away to his Silver Ferns counterpart and it showed.
The two New Zealand skippers had a brief media opportunity at the Silver Ferns’ hotel at Olympic Park on Friday, where they exchanged gifts and answered a handful of media questions.
McCaw got a miniature netball, complete with the Silver Ferns’ autographs, with the netballers getting an autographed All Blacks jumper. Kopua was pleased as punch afterwards, as she showed it off and discussed with Silver Ferns manager Esther Molloy the best place to hang the jersey.
The whole affair was very cordial but short and sharp, as you’d expect in the circumstances. The Silver Ferns began their World Cup campaign with a match against Barbados last night while the All Blacks play their highlyanticipated Bledisloe Cup clash with Australia tonight.
McCaw, a World Cup winner in 2011, a title the All Blacks will defend in a few weeks’ time, had some advice for Kopua.
‘‘I reckon when it comes to tournaments [that] it comes down to one or two moments at some points and you’ve got to be ready for that and excited by that,’’ McCaw said.
World Cups were to be embraced and enjoyed, not feared, he said, and he hoped the Silver Ferns would do that.
Luckily for McCaw, he wasn’t put on the spot to name his favourite Silver Fern. Kopua wasn’t so fortunate.
‘‘Who’s my favourite All Black? That’s an awkward one,’’ Kopua said.
‘‘It’s this guy standing here,’’ she said.
The Silver Ferns play Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday afternoon and, despite their match venue and hotel being within throwing distance of ANZ Stadium, that’ll be as close as they get to the Bledisloe.
However, with their own clash with Australia coming up on Sunday, Kopua said the Silver Ferns would take a keen interest in the rugby, particularly the demeanour of the All Blacks.
They have a nine-game losing streak against Australia to halt and any help would be appreciated.
When it comes to tournaments [that] it comes down to one or two moments at some points and you’ve got to be ready for that and excited by that. Richie McCaw’s advice to Casey Kopua