The year was 2004. The All Blacks were in rebuilding mode after another failed World Cup campaign.
John Mitchell was gone and Graham Henry was in. He had a vision for the All Blacks and earmarked two players to play an integral role in it.
A promising young 22-year-old flanker by the name of Richie McCaw – who he made vice captain with an eye to succeed Tana Umaga when he retired – and a promising 21 year-old flyhalf named Dan Carter. They were both elevated into the All Black starting line-up.
Injuries would hinder McCaw in 2004 as he missed the Tri Nations and Carter played the role of second five eighth as the All Blacks finished last that year. The 2004 end of year tour saw McCaw return to action and Carter given the opportunity at flyhalf.
That tour saw Carter elevate himself to the premier flyhalf for the All Blacks.
The 2005 season rolled around and the British and Irish Lions toured. This was a career defining tour for Dan Carter, who went from promising player to superstar status with arguably one of the greatest ever single game performances when he racked up 33 points on his own against the Lions.
This performance and others that season – including a grand slam – would see him take out the IRB player of the year, an award he would win again in 2012 and be nominated for in 2006 and 2008.
By the end of this season Tana Umaga had retired and Richie McCaw had taken over as captain. The dynasty was starting to hit top gear.
The 2006 season was Richie’s turn to shine as he won the IRB Player of the year. An award he would win again in 2009 and 2010 and be nominated for in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2012. Throughout the 2005 and 2006 season they would only lose two games, both narrowly, to the Springboks in South Africa.
The 2007 season they were overwhelming favourites for the world cup. They had won 42 of 47 games since the previous world cup, going into the quarter final with France, who they beat by 51 points earlier that year.
Nobody was prepared for the loss that day. Carter got injured early in the game, a forward pass missed and terrible refereeing by an inexperienced official who should have never been given such an important game.
It was not a great tournament for Dan Carter who had battled through it with injuries and it was one of many contributing factors for the loss that day. It would be without a doubt the darkest day in the dynasty.
The 2009 season highlighted the importance of Dan Carter. He missed most of the season due to an injury he got playing in the French domestic competition. It was easily the worst season of the dynasty. We lost at home to France and we would lose three times to the Springboks. It highlighted not only his importance to the All Blacks, but the dire need for the side to develop more quality first fives to cover for him.
This would prove vital in 2011.
The 2011 saw New Zealand hosting the world cup. It had been a 24-year-drought. Despite being the number one side in the world for much of the last two decades it was the one prize that had eluded the All Blacks and would stamp the dynasty with greatness.
Things did not go to plan in this tournament for Carter, with an injury early on ruling him out. The news caused a state of panic in New Zealand. Unbeknown to nearly everyone Richie McCaw was also under an injury cloud. He had been playing with a broken foot for most of the finals. They would go on and win the Cup 8-7, despite being down to the fifth option first five and the weight of a nation had been lifted off their shoulders.
After the Cup, Steve Hansen took over coaching and the next four years Steve, Richie and Dan would guide the All Blacks to just 3 losses in 53 games. Dan Carter and Richie McCaw would star in 2012 leading to IRB player of the year nominations, which Carter would win.
It was a four-year period of dominance never seen before.
Since the beginning of the McCaw-Carter dynasty the All Blacks have played 156 times for 136 wins, 2 draws and 18 losses. What is even more remarkable is that in their 18 losses, on 9 occasions either Richie, Dan or both of them did not play.
In their 12 years together since the start of their dynasty, they have only lost on 9 occasions when they both have taken the field together.
It will be a point argued by many, but in my eyes there have never been two greater players to have played the game. They have been the generals of the greatest ever All Black dynasty spanning 12 years. They have won eight tri nations or rugby championships, never lost the Bledisloe Cup, completed three grand slams including the 2008 one where they did not concede a single try – and won one world cup with the chance of a second on the weekend.
Individually Richie McCaw has played more games, won more games, captained more games, won more games as a captain and won more IRB player of the year awards than any other player, cementing his legacy as the greatest player to have ever played the game.
While Richie is the undisputed number one, Dan Carter would be number two, as his influence on the All Blacks in this period was just as great. He will leave the game as the greatest point scorer in history with over 300 more points than his nearest rival, Jonny Wilkinson. With 29 tries, he is easily the most prolific try scoring flyhalf in history. He is a two-time IRB player of the year, the only other dual winner along with Richie.
Saturday these two players will lace up the boots for the final time for the All Blacks, along with some other legends of this dynasty in Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith and Keven Mealamu, on the grandest stage of them all.
For McCaw it will be his second trip to a world cup final, after holding the trophy aloft in 2011. For Carter it will be his first trip to the final, having been cruelly cut down with injuries in both 2007 and 2011.
It is the one game Carter has longed to play and it is fitting that the world cup final is his swan song.
The final chapter in the dynasty will be written on Saturday and a happy ending with Dan and Richie holding the cup aloft would be the perfect way to see these two great champions of the game depart.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
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