RICHIE McCAW, the All Blacks captain, has backed the unsung members of the New Zealand squad to fit seamlessly into the world champions' side when they take on Scotland at BT Murrayfield this evening.
While some Scotland fans have accused All Blacks coach Steve Hansen of showing a lack of respect by picking a number of his more peripheral players for today's match - only two of the team were in the starting lineup that faced England at Twickenham a week ago - the 135-times capped McCaw made it clear that he trusted the incomers to deliver a performance worthy of the side's illustrious reputation.
"There are guys in the team who you maybe haven't seen a lot of at Test level," admitted McCaw. "But we play with and against them in Super Rugby all the time so we know they are all good players. I'm sure they will come in and do a good job and do it well.
"We've seen all year that when someone has been called upon they have come in and done the job. I'm confident that they will take their chance out there and do things well. From our point of view, it's business as usual.
"It's not as if we are going in with a team and wondering how they will go; we just expect them to perform to an All Black standard."
Second-string New Zealand teams have a history of delivering spectacular performances. With places to be played for in the full side at the 1995 World Cup, a team of secondary All Blacks beat Japan 145-17. With the 2015 World Cup now looming, McCaw admitted that the competition for places is growing more intense all the time.
"It's the same for all of us," he explained. "We want to do the job so that everyone has the confidence in us to do it next time. I'm sure that all the guys are thinking that they want to be back here in 12 months' time."
McCaw, the most capped player in New Zealand history, made only his second Test appearance for the All Blacks when they beat Scotland 37-6 at Murrayfield in 2001.
Today's match will be his seventh international in the Edinburgh stadium. "I always love coming to Scotland," he said.
"Both sides of my family come from these parts. As a young fellow it was always a long way away but to come here a few times and be here again is great.
"My second Test was here so that sort of thing is pretty cool. Both my parents can trace their family trees back to here so that is cool too." Famously, the All Blacks have never lost to Scotland, but McCaw insisted that his side would not be guilty of complacency.
"You can't take anything for granted," said the 33-year-old. "Regardless of what the scorelines have been in the past, it has always been tough and the front five battles have been very keen. We have to play decent rugby at Murrayfield to win.
"Up front Scotland have older heads, especially in their front five. They got stuck in against Argentina last week and got some good ball. It will be a good challenge for us. Our job is to put pressure on them and not give these guys in the backline the ball."
Scotland have been forced into making a change among their replacements. Glasgow lock Tim Swinson has dropped out after suffering a back strain in training. Swinson's place has been given to Dave Denton, the Edinburgh forward who has only recently resumed playing after a lengthy injury absence.
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