New Zealand v Australia, Bledisloe Cup, October 31
McCaw hails All Black fightback
Scrum.com
October 31, 2009
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All Blacks captain Richie McCaw leads the players as they perform the Haka, New Zealand v Australia, Bledisloe Cup, National Stadium, Tokyo, October 31, 2009
Richie McCaw was pleased with his side's effort in Tokyo © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Robbie Deans | Richie McCaw

All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw praised his side's second-half effort after they overturned Australia for the fourth time this season. The National Stadium in Tokyo saw the Wallabies surrender a 16-13 half-time lead to slip to their seventh consecutive defeat against their Trans-Tasman rivals.

McCaw admitted that his side had been out-fought on the floor in the first-half but was pleased with the manner in which they were able to claw themselves back in to contention. The skipper played a vital role in setting up Sitiveni Sivivatu for their opening try in a strong display.

"We had to win the breakdown. We were getting beaten there. They were a bit more eager there and had the muscle on us in the first half and we couldn't get our game going," McCaw Told AFP.

"So that was the key for the forwards to get a bit of go forward there and we did that and played at the right end of the field and put some pressure on. And defence. We forced some errors. The guys put some big hits in around the fringes and you've got to do that to get some critical turnovers and we got the points we required."

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans believes that his squad will be all the better for their performance despite falling short again. His men kick off a Grand Slam tour attempt against England at Twickenham on November 7.

"It was a better effort in terms of intensity and physicality," he told Reuters. "We threatened a lot more but we came up short with our finishing touch. We'll be better for this performance. It will be a launch pad."

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