31 Oct 2009

Barnes' absence may mean more running game

11:58 am on 31 October 2009

The All Blacks captain Richie McCaw says the loss of second five Berrick Barnes removes one of the Wallabies' best kicking weapons and could open the game up.

Barnes was ruled out of tonight's Bledisloe Cup test in Japan and has now been ruled out of Australia's entire spring tour with a serious ankle ligament tear.

McCaw says he expects a running game in Tokyo tonight, even more so now that the Wallabies are missing one of their best kicking options.

And McCaw says sweeping the Wallabies four-nil in the Bledisloe cup series would be the perfect start to their end of year tour.

He says claiming a clean sweep over the Wallabies would be a significant win for the All Blacks.