History man McCaw comes full circle against Ireland

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw did his best to guard against any sense of complacency in the All Black camp by insisting his side would face a revitalised Wales in their tour finale here on Saturday.The All Blacks head into this weekend's match at the Millennium Stadium bidding for a third 'grand slam' in five years over the Home Nations following wins over England, Scotland and Ireland already this month.

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw will lead the All Blacks in their tour-ending non-cap international against the Barbarians at Twickenham here on Saturday.Flanker McCaw, recently crowned the IRB 2009 world player of the year and Cory Jane - back in his first-choice position of full-back - are the only two survivors from the team that beat France 39-12 in Marseille last weekend.But fly-half Dan Carter, who featured in New Zealand's November win over England at Twickenham, has been left out of the entire matchday 22 by coach Graham Henry.

Dan Carter is set to become international rugby union's highest scorer when he faces Wales -- his opponents when he made his Test debut seven years ago -- in Cardiff this Saturday.New Zealand's fly-half star kicked 18 points in the All Blacks' 38-18 victory over Ireland at Lansdowne Road here on Saturday to be just three points shy of overhauling England great Jonny Wilkinson's world record of 1,178.

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw won the International Rugby Board (IRB) player of the year award for 2009, the global governing body announced on Saturday, and so became the first player to win the award twice.Outstanding flanker McCaw, who won the IRB award for the first time in 2006, succeeded Wales wing Shane Williams as player of the year.The announcement of his latest honour came shortly after McCaw had led the All Blacks to a 39-12 win over France in Marseille on Saturday.

Richie McCaw has vowed that his New Zealand side will come out and match the passionate start expected from Wales here on Saturday.The All Blacks have suffered slow starts in a number of their games this season and McCaw said it was one aspect they would try to rectify come the Millennium Stadium showdown.The openside flanker also confirmed that Dan Carter would start against the Welsh, the star playmaker having overcome a calf bruised in last weekend's 32-19 victory over Australia in Tokyo.

All Black stalwart Mils Muliaina announced he will play club rugby in Japan after this year's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.Fullback Muliaina, who shares the record number of 94 All Black Test caps with New Zealand skipper Richie McCaw, said he had signed a two-year contract with Japanese club NTT Docomo from next year.The move will effectively mean the end of Muliaina's international career, as the All Blacks do not consider overseas-based players for selection.

Richie McCaw could become the first man to be twice named world rugby's player of the year after the New Zealand captain was nominated for the 2009 accolade on Monday.McCaw, who won the International Rugby Board's award for a first time in 2006, has been included on a seven-man shortlist that includes two players from both South Africa and Ireland.

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw is tipping rugby league convert Sonny Bill Williams to handle the pressure when he makes his Test debut for the All Blacks against England here Saturday.Williams, 25, will complete a meteoric rise through the ranks of New Zealand rugby on Saturday when he strides out at Twickenham in front of an 82,000 capacity crowd, barely two years after switching to rugby union.But McCaw told reporters there was no question of the 6ft 4in (1.93m) 17 stone (108kg) centre former New Zealand rugby league international being overawed by the occasion.