McCaw predicts taming of Lions

Published on Wednesday 3 December 2008 23:26

RICHIE McCaw would have no concerns about laying a fistful of dollars on South Africa to beat the British & Irish 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 (the Lions] 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 (South Africa captain] 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 – were set to make their Barbarians debuts in last night's Olympic centenary celebration match against Australia at Wembley.

Meanwhile, the Italian rugby federation is considering various options to overhaul the sport at club level after its national team lost all three of its recent Tests.

One possibility is offering economic support so teams in Italy's Super 10 can hold onto top Italian players. Another is creating one or two nationally funded super teams to compete in the Celtic League and European cups, the Gazzetta dello Sport reported. Italy lost to Australia, Argentina and the Pacific Islanders in Tests last month.

Federation president Giancarlo Dondi has called for a meeting with the presidents of all Super 10 teams next Wednesday.