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Weepu gets his shot

Halfback Piri Weepu hasn't made a start for the All Blacks since the 2008 season but is determined to use Jimmy Cowan's example when replacing him for the second Test against South Africa, in Wellington, on Saturday.

Friday, 16 July 2010

Sportal.co.nz

Halfback Piri Weepu hasn't made a start for the All Blacks since the 2008 season but is determined to use Jimmy Cowan's example when replacing him for the second Test against South Africa, in Wellington, on Saturday.

Being regarded as an impact player was not something that sat especially easy with him but it was a case of biting the bullet, he said, and getting on with the job. It was an opportunity and you had to make sure you were in the right form to deal with it.

"Every opportunity I get for game time I am going to take my chances and try and play as well as I can for the team," he said.

After all, he added, every halfback in the country wanted to be in the side, and he was honoured to be there and it was up to him to take his chances.

Weepu said there would not be a lot of change on the field in the way he approached the match when starting, as opposed to coming off the bench.

The change would be in his preparation, he said. Instead of helping the starters he would be getting warmed up and ensuring that come kick-off he is ready for action.

"Jimmy's set the benchmark and I had better hope I stay at those standards and I'm pretty sure if I'm not playing at those standards he'll let me know," he quipped.

Benchmark has been something of an in-term for the side as Weepu said captain Richie McCaw had mentioned it to the players.

"We want to try and raise the bar and better our performances. Every team is looking to better their performances and I'm pretty sure after the Springboks played last week they'll definitely want to better their performance," he said.

But there was also a realisation that last week's game didn't get to the side and that the players were capable of fronting up with a similar attitude but able to play a different type of game if it was required.

Weepu also felt the nine-week suspension dished out to lock Bakkies Botha for his head-butting of Cowan would be used as motivation for the South Africans.

If the South Africans looked to niggle them to upset them, it was up to the All Blacks to stay clear-headed to perform their own duties, he said.

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