He was the first name on the All Blacks team sheet for much of his 14-year tenure but legendary openside Richie McCaw says the No.7 role is a matter of horses for courses.
McCaw, now 35, played a record 148 Tests for his country, including 110 as All Blacks skipper.
In that time he lifted two World Cups and 10 Bledisloes as captain, as well as the World Rugby Player of the Year award three times.
But the former Crusaders No.7 jumper has been hotly contested following his 2015 retirement, with Sam Cane, Matt Todd and livewire Ardie Savea all vying for the role.
Cane has typically served as the incumbent openside when fit, with Savea serving as team super-sub due to his high-intensity style and carrying ability.
Yet McCaw, who was typically preferred by coach Steve Hansen for the full 80 minutes of Tests, felt the decision to go with a Cane-Savea two-punch combo wasn’t too much of an aberration.
“At the moment they’ve got two No.7s they want to have in the matchday squad, so that’s how they share that role,” McCaw told NZN.
“I guess as captain, it’s a bit like Kieran Read at the moment, they’re not going to replace him most games so having a reserve No.8 probably isn’t what you need.”
Savea, who weighs in at 100kg, told reporters on Monday he was struggling to put on the weight necessary to thrive as a Test openside.
Cane, who sits around eight kilos heavier, said he could empathise with the Hurricanes ace given the importance of dominating at the breakdown.
It was this extra weight that gave Cane the edge at selection time, according to Hansen.
The 24-year-old’s experience also came in handy, having played 37 Tests, including one as captain.
“The big deciding factor comes down to the physicality that Sam provides, he’s a little more physical than the other two, particularly in the tackle,” Hansen said.
“It’s the old adage, the big strong guy who can do all the things the little guy can do, he’s got the advantage because he’s just got the size.”
McCaw, who weighed in at 107kg during his playing days, was impressed with the depth of talent currently pursuing the openside role.
Cane had stepped into his shoes with aplomb in 2016, before a hamstring injury gave Todd the chance to shine against South Africa and Australia.
The Chiefs co-captain will return to the breach at No.7 against Ireland on Saturday.
“When you look at the three of them, in most teams around the world they’d get a run, so we’re pretty lucky,” McCaw said.
Villageb0y
Guest
The problem with Australia's loosies with exception Timani is this: Lack of size. Jerome Kaino 109 Sam Cane 107 Kieran Read 110 Poey and Hooper are super skilled but unfortunately they're too small and they're just too short for the modern game. 100kgs just doesn't cut it in the modern game.
Crash Ball2
Guest
How has the breakdown contest between Australia's apparently untouchable openside flanker and Haskell, Cane, Louw and Todd gone this season?
Crash Ball2
Guest
Balance? Ironic.
Stu
Guest
Hooper is alway trying his best all over the park. Haters will hate but i think he is our best player by a mile. Pocock is a great player but it a comparing oranges and apples. DP is all over the ball and MH is a link and tackle player. It is all about balance. The hard thing is that these are our two best rugby players.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
How did the contest between Hooper and Pocock go for the John Eales Medal. Plenty thought Hooper was the better player.
Jim
Guest
Yeah but if you listen to the experts, particularly out of NSW, Hooper is revolutionising the position.......
Crash Ball2
Guest
Size and physicality at the tackle contest? Leaving one of your two top 7's on the pine? No wonder this pathetic 3rd world, 2nd tier rugby backwater has tasted so little champagne in forever. All the truely sexy rugby countries ensure the openside flanker position is retained exclusively by an extra back. You simply give the true ruck monkey some other (less important) bloke's gig. That's the Australian way. Clowns.