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7th May 2009, 13:00 WST
The son of Wallabies and Queensland great Tony Shaw faces one of the toughest baptisms in Super 14 history when he goes head-to-head with Richie McCaw on Friday night.
Rookie flanker Andrew Shaw will debut for the injury-ravaged Reds against the McCaw-led Crusaders at Christchurch’s AMI Stadium 26 years after his old man last wore the Queensland jersey.
In a day of celebration for the 20-year-old, he gained a late nod ahead of Scott Higginbotham to wear the Reds No.7 jersey just after being named in a 26-man Australian squad for June’s Under-20 world championship in Tokyo.
An elated Shaw, who gets his surprise chance after injuries to Tasi Luafutu (hand) and Daniel Braid (Achilles), was excited rather than intimidated by the huge first-up challenge against the best player in the world.
“There’s no bigger test than Richie McCaw,” he said. “No trials or anything, it’s straight into the big league and you wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Shaw paid credit to former long-time Reds flanker David Croft, his Brothers teammate and mentor, who moved to No.8 in Brisbane club rugby to help his development.
“We speak a lot about things and at training he’s superb, he’s always on my case about how to do things right,” he said.
“I’m learning from one of the best flankers and now I’m playing against the best.”
Reds coach Phil Mooney opted for Shaw over the rangy Higginbotham due to the need for a ball-fetching specialist to contest the breakdown against All Blacks skipper McCaw.
Mooney predicted Shaw would bring the same passion and courage to the role Tony, nicknamed ’Crazy Eyes’ and ’Captain Blood’, did in 112 state caps which saw him picked in the Reds team of the century.
“He’s certainly a chip off the old block,” the coach said. “He’s very aggressive and physical.”
Shaw will need every bit of aggression to stand up to McCaw who has been passed fit to make his return after missing the Crusaders 32-20 win over the Lions in Johannesburg due to concussion.
The depleted Reds, missing 10 of their strongest starting 15, including leaders James Horwill and Berrick Barnes and strike weapon Digby Ioane, will face an added challenge with sleet and hail forecast for the match.
The sixth-placed Crusaders go into the match needing a big bonus-point win to boost their play-off chances and also have the added incentive of defending their title to give star fullback Leon MacDonald a fitting send-off.
The 56-Test MacDonald, 31, will play out his career in Japan after signing with the Kintetsu club in Osaka.
BRISBANE
AAP
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.as...ntentID=140338
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