“One only has to give the All Blacks jersey to anyone!” These are the words of the third New Zealander Josh Kronfeld International line before the first selection Richie McCaw, November 17th, 2001 against Ireland. Almost fourteen years later to the day, Kronfeld should feel very stupid in terms of the pedigree of neo-retired, simply called “GOAT” ( “Greatest of All Time” , “the greatest of all time “) by his teammates.
Greatest rugby player of all time? The third line is undoubtedly the plane of the record: most capped player in history across all nations (including 111 148 selections as captain), elected three times World Player of (2006, 2009, 2010), record that he holds with fellow con Dan Carter, he mostly conducted twice the All Blacks under world champion (2011 and 2015). 10 Sorting add (and Four) nations and a percentage of astounding victories with the jersey with silver fern (88.5%) and four consecrations in Super Rugby with the Crusaders … Many observers, however, were in New Zealand who shared at the time the notice of Kronfeld.
The Welshman Dafydd Jones plated Richie McCaw – November 20, 2004 – AFP
“Man of the Match” for his first cap
Seeing for the first time some years before this young player of 17 years uncouth, Steve Hansen, coach of world champions in 2015, had even felt he had “four feet” . Richard Hugh McCaw, born 31 December 1980 in Kurow, a village of 339 inhabitants between Christchurch and Dunedin on the South Island of rude, seemed himself hardly believe his fate. Also, he tells in his autobiography published in 2012, the youngest, when his uncle asked him to put down on paper that his goal was to become “A great All Black” ( “A Great All Black “), he could not register as the original,” ATM. ” But McCaw, 34, has conquered its own destiny through hard work. Third line in any template (1.87 m, 107 kg), he has mastered the art of the first rise in the rucks, “scraping” or slowing the ball playing to the limit of the rule.
Hated by some, loved by his people, the number 7 has always vigorously defended cheating, highlighting its scientific approach to the game and ability to anticipate its movement. Hard evil, able to play most of the 2011 World Cup with a foot held by a screw, it also has an iron mind. Who eg enabled him to be elected “Man of the Match” for his first selection (40-29 in Ireland) as he had committed a knock-on with his first touch. Or recover from the severe criticism that fell on him after what he sees as “the biggest failure of his career” ; the quarter-final elimination of the 2007 World Cup against France (20-18).
Richie McCaw against France (06.10.2007) – Icon Sport
“Obsessive” and “a little boring”
Obsessive, he admits, still in his autobiography, still be sued by six tenths of a point misled by inattention during a math test at school, preventing her to get 100% on an exam. Since then, he says being obsessed by the fear of missing the slightest detail field, tracking any jumps concentration. This has probably enabled him never to “a bad game” , according to Hansen, though stingy with compliments. Often the first to training and the last to leave, McCaw, described by Hansen off the field as “very smart but a little boring” , is also through his speech at an example of humility in All Blacks previously criticized for their deviant behavior.
Rarely a word louder than the other, it always speaks to the press of the team, its pride of being an All Black, never on its own merits. So after the final of the World Cup won on October 31 against Australia (34-17): “There is no greater individuality that the team and we understand that our. task is to bring a stone over inheritance. The thing that keeps me most to is that this is not to be the hero every week, but just do its job properly ” . He did, and then some, in fourteen years in the prestigious jersey all black.
Richie McCaw and Steve Hansen at the parade in Christchurch with the World Cup – AFP
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