The All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup victory has given New Zealanders a chance to celebrate success in our national game again, but it should also be a time for us to reflect on the end of a great era for All Black rugby – the Richie McCaw-Dan Carter era.
Carter and McCaw played their first match together for the All Blacks against Wales in June 2003.
Once Carter had adapted to moving in to first-five from the midfield, New Zealand were consistently able to field two of the best players ever in two of the most influential positions on the park.
Some people round the world would probably be stunned to know that there are many people in New Zealand who have openly suggested that retaining McCaw and Carter was a poor use of the New Zealand Rugby Union’s money – and also that the pair owe a lot to the game at home.
Surely it is New Zealand rugby that is indebted to these two men. For every dollar that McCaw and Carter have been paid over their careers, the New Zealand Rugby Union would have been repaid many times over through their massive contribution towards the All Blacks’ success on and off the field.
People often talk about how parents should be role models, but the reality is that a large percentage of parents are actually poor role models for kids, or aren’t around enough to set any example.
Inadvertently, sportspeople become role models, and as the two Cantabrians have matured they’ve become role models that even adults model themselves on.
Particularly McCaw is revered because he has kept his feet firmly on the ground (despite his passion for flying) and has remained so genuinely humble despite all the accolades that go his way.
Unlike Carter, McCaw hasn’t 100 per cent confirmed he will move on from the All Blacks. New Zealand rugby currently has the regulation that you need to be playing Super Rugby in New Zealand to play for the All Blacks. It’ll be interesting to see if McCaw is offered the opportunity to only play for the All Blacks. Many experienced players pace themselves through Super Rugby anyway, so it’s hard to imagine too many fans would oppose the greatest All Black of all time being made an exception to the rule.
Some will want McCaw to move on and protect his legacy, but what they forget is that ultimately sport isn’t about legacies – what made Dan Carter and Richie McCaw great in the first place is that they love playing rugby. If McCaw wants to play on, he should be selected until there someone better is available. Currently the next best, Sam Cane, is still a long way off being as good as McCaw.
If McCaw does decide to hang up his boots now there will be something special about him going out at the same time as the man who with him steered this All Black team to greatness.
CA3ZAR
Roar Pro
It'll be weird not watching the All Blacks without mccaw or carter, or Nonu and smith and mealamu and woodcock, but I believe this Management team for the ABs are smart enough to have a plan in place, and I think NZs depth is probably the best in the world
Kiwineil
Guest
Fascinating topic this one Enough has been Richie and his legend, and whilst I wholeheartedly agree, nothing I say is going to change or add to it. Like many, I never thought Id see the great Michael Jones surpassed, but surpassed he has been. As for DC, pure attacking genius, brilliant game manager, and very under-rated defender, especially front-on in the line. Both will be dreadfully missed, and for different reasons, Im not sure which loss is the greater over the next year or so. But time waits for no-one, so to the future .. Now, as a Kiwi in Oz, I watch the ITM Cup and Super "whatever iteration we are in right now" as much as I can, but I dont see as much of it as, say your average Kiwi living in Kiwi land, which either makes me less informed, more objective, or both ... So my 2c worth .... On the next 7/ I think Sam Cane appears destined to be very very unlucky .... Ardie S is a freak of nature and will be the AB's next long-term 7. And if Richie hangs around for a year (his call, he's earnt that right) which gives Ardie more time to mature physically and develop his game, so much the worse for Cane. If Richie retires now, Cane may start next year but will have been overtaken by Ardie 2-3 years out ....and ..... I agree that Akira Ioane is also very special. In fact I would have taken him to England this year in place of Messam, as a learning experience but also as an X-factor player in the forwards. And I hope (but am not certain) that Luatua will grow into a true had-bodied 6 a la Kaino's superlative RWC QF/SF/F performance. Time will tell .... In any event, thats for next year. For now, lets take a second to salute the achievements of two out and out champions of world sport.
John Deaker
Roar Pro
Yes we shouldn't discount that Richie MIGHT be the best available number 6 or 8 available if he plays on. Kaino was brilliant through the finals at the World Cup but lacked consistency through the season - and it remains to be seen if Read was just carrying an injury or fatigued, leading to his slump in form this year... My preference would be to give Ardie Savea or Matt Todd more opportunities in the number 7 than Cane. I tend to think that given half the chance Cane has been given Savea could / might be world-class - where as currently I'm not convinced Cane would be anywhere near the class of someone like Hooper even with a whole season in the 7 AB jersey... and yes Muz is the old man ;)
Really
Guest
Yeah you are right. McCaw for me doesn't stand out like he used to because there are so many great players around him . I don't notice him as much as the early days, which is a sign of how great the team has been from 1-15 .
DanFan
Guest
About 17 Nov I think.
cuw
Guest
nah cane is not big enuf to be an allblack 6. history will tell u that the mib have some of the best blindside flanks seen in the park Alan Whetton, jamie Joseph, scott robertson, jerry collins, jerome kaino big scary men :)
shrink
Roar Rookie
Have to agree ZG Have flash backs to an aging John Smit, in his 100th test in Aug 2010, being slipped by Nonu to set up Dagg for a try - to draw in the 79th minute. The signs were already there that the slowing champion aged 32, should step aside but de Villiers and Co kept him for another year for the 2011 World Cup. Quite a likeable colossus but sad to see him persevere longer than necessary.
cuw
Guest
i thought it was mitch karpick who was the openside at u20 .....
cuw
Guest
Alan that is the thing. he is not the best 7 anymore. simple example is matt Todd who has played exceptionally well for crusaders and canterbury with or without mccaw. of course the nz selectors preferred cane to be the heir apparent and he is also playing pretty well. no one can cheat father time and mccaw is slow now. that is one reason for his less than stellar turnover stats. but he is much wiser with more experience than any other flank on the pitch and that makes him play % rugger rather than spectacular rugger. however the issue is the same as was with sachin tendulkar. mccaw is sachin of rugger and noone will tell a legend to retire!!!!
cuw
Guest
Very keen to see Kane & Ardie Savea paired in the back row. highly unlikely given the nz preference for a real 6 and a real 8 in the 3rd row. ardie is an out and out 7 just like cane. though ardie was playing at 8 for Wellington, it was more due to circumstances - vito with mib and brad shields out for the season - rather than preference. also he was like pocock - a 7 playing at 8 and doing 7 things rather than 8 things. :) do not forget Luatua is coming back after surgery for super rugger. mib like him becoz he is a natural 2nd row. brad shields is also a very strong 6 in the collins / kaino mould. there is also jordan taufua who impressed in last super season and again in itm cup. its a tough luck to be a rugger player in nz. just ask matt todd !!!
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Amen
mapu
Guest
I agree plus a AB team with out him feels kinda...um dam i would miss his play.
Kiwi in WA
Guest
"The playoffs in S15 I though showed that up" He only played the 50 mins of the semi vs the Brumbies and was Man of the Match. However i do agree that there is part of his game that needs to be developed before he could be considered a starting AB. Considering the depth we have at loose forward he could be a devastating impact player for the AB's.
Jacko
Guest
I would love to see Richie play on and become the first player to play 150 tests and 1st captain to have 100 wins. Go Richie. Legend forever
Tui
Guest
I think its time for Richie to hang them up. The man deserves a rest. Life after rugby is so true and how on earth he is going to pass a yearly Pilot medical is beyond me.
Alan
Guest
The stats suggest otherwise. He was NZ's leading contributor in terms of ruck involvement, first to the ruck count, and led the way with his tackle count for the entire year. I thought he was awesome in Black in 2015.
Old Bugger
Guest
I just think there needs to be some time to step back, take a deep breath and consider next year, next year. If RM decides to call it a day then so be it but I don't believe the world or the team for that matter, will be anymore challenging, without him. I accept that his presence will be missed but I don't know if his influence would be missed and before people say that's blasphemous, just do as I asked in my first sentence - stand back and have a look at the team, the processes, the systems and the personnel, that will be there. RM definitely provides a calming influence but does that mean the Read won't have a similar impact?? I suggest Read will have the same impact because this side operates and plays in accordance with their processes and systems and of course, the influence from its coaches and leadership group and finally, the impacts that each player provides within the scopes, of those systems. As the old saying goes - no one player is bigger or greater than the team - hence RM, for all of his rugby prowess which I am so proud to have watched these past dozen or so years, will know in the back of his mind that the team will function, it will flourish and it will move on, without him - because their systems, are the glue that makes them perform, so successfully. Just like RM has led from the front then I would expect Read to do likewise but with the knowledge that the ABs systems, will encourage him, to make similar decisions like RM has made, these past 9 or so years. So, if RM decides to go, then I offer my best wishes in his future endeavours and say once more, thanks for the ride mate - it has been the greatest of pleasures.
Single Malt
Guest
Well said Old Bugger. Richie can do whatever he likes as far as I'm concerned too. I've been watching rugby for 60 years and he is by far the most durable, successful and influential player in that time. I have a soft spot for the great Michael Jones, but Richie's extraordinary mana is something we may never see again. As for DC, he really is the Prince of first fives who has defined the position for the future. What stands out to me is DC combines brilliant goal-kicking, running, control, vision and an ice-cool temperament with brilliant defence. He is fearless in the tackle, and in the WC Final he as always tackled his heart out for the full 80 minutes. No hiding on the outside for Dan! Richie and Dan are two great men on and off the field. Simply the best.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Noah, like mapu, I do not agree that Ardie Savea is 'the next best' No 7. I have expressed this several times before but Sam Cane to me is possibly only behind David Pocock as the most outstanding No 7 in world rugby and maybe even a futire AB skipper ... big call I know and subjective, but 'that is my opinion' based on what I have seen on the development of Sam Cane. Ardie no doubt is talented and his time will come but I feel his play is just a little bit immature at this stage, some of it due to the exuberance of youth or too much self belief (he does not need to do it all himself) at this stage. The playoffs in S15 I though showed that up. Akira Ioane is the same as a No 6 or even a No 8, without question in my mind a future AB but just needs to settle down a little.
Kohatu
Guest
Good points Mania. Should Richie retire now the challenge for the All Blacks next year will be the perceived vacuum in leadership missing from the national team. We know there is an ongoing leadership group within the All Blacks however I believe if Richie still wants to continue to play on in 2016 and he stays conditioned (which he will) and he plays some Super rugby (probably at the latter part of next year's Super competition & before the Rugby Championship); then why wouldn't you include him in the ABs!? There will also be a number of active & experienced All Blacks heading off to join Tietch's 7's Olympic squad therefore I feel we will need Ritchie's mana and leadership even more than ever to transition and settle those new players joining the AB team. In any case, it is Ritchie's decision so we wait to see what that will be - won't we!?! Hopefully, he will continue next season at least... and to you Sir Ritchie; Kia Kaha, Kia Maia, Kia Manawanui e te Rangatira.