McCaw urges Kiwis to keep feet on the ground

New Zealand 30 Australia 14

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw urged his players and team's supporters not to get carried away after the All Blacks' 30-14 demolition of Australia on Saturday, which helped them retain the Bledisloe Cup and set down a marker for the World Cup.

"I think it was important for our team to put a bit of work in. Each of the weeks we have got a bit better so I'm happy with the performance we put together," McCaw said. "We can't get carried away with that and we have to find ways of improving.

"We have to keep looking for ways to improve. A lot of the game was good, but there were areas we didn't quite get right as well and we have to keep our feet on the ground."

All Blacks winger Sitiveni Sivivatu is unlikely to travel with the squad for next week's Tri-Nations game in South Africa after he was diagnosed with a fractured eye socket. Sivivatu scored the All Blacks' third try against Australia at Eden Park, and coach Graham Henry yesterday confirmed that the injury would probably rule him out of the Test in Port Elizabeth on 20 August.

"He probably will miss South Africa but probably will be right for Brisbane [against Australia on 27 August]," Henry told reporters in Auckland. Henry added that several players named in the Tri-Nations squad who were coming back from injury, such as the full-back Israel Dagg, utility back Isaia Toeava, centre Richard Kahui and prop Tony Woodcock, were likely to travel to South Africa.

The New Zealand side were brutal in defence, with the blind-side flanker Jerome Kaino seemingly intent on making it his personal mission to knock Wallabies ball runners into next week.