Richie McCaw was southern bred and has true Kiwi credentials. No matter how successful in the rugby world he became he remained unattached to the status and ego.
Humility is often spoken about as being some amazing quality. It’s as if those who commend it hope that those surrounding them have the quality bestowed upon them, while they themselves remain materialistic, ambitious and self-serving. It’s just an observation
There’s often some interpretation within a word. After all, we are more evolved and multi-faceted than the noise we make through the spoken word. Perhaps that’s why poetry and lyrics from a song can paint a picture with more clarity and depth.
When I say McCaw is humble I mean from a deep, holistic place with the meaning of the word. An unimportance on status, and by definition the dictionary describes it as “A low view of one’s importance.”
For me, it’s being the pure essence not too short of a deity and expressing your talent, beauty without the ego. And if that is all mixed within a concept where deities may exist then even McCaw knows, despite his powers, there’s much more growth to be obtained and humility forms.
(AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
Steve Hansen has often said better people make better All Blacks. This isn’t a marketing slogan, he does genuinely believe it, and he is correct. Part of the success for the All Blacks arises from a country that truly backs them, and a rugby organisation that also does. So better people make better clubs and that flows into the Super franchises which feeds the All Blacks.
I do like the Zen philosophies. More from a place stripped of any religious themes and quite simply being at one with the moment, he was so Zen! In that kind of way – under pressure, at the beach, playing rugby…
McCaw shows those Zen qualities, and a bit more. He shows a lot of spiritual prowess too, consciously or unconsciously? Doesn’t really matter in a way, as he’s delivering.
On the tenacity front, McCaw has shown to be able to perform with nothing in the tank. It takes some deep determination to go to that level. Every professional rugby player can go there, but it’s proceeding deeper than your opposition, and knowing you can.
McCaw’s broken foot at the 2011 Rugby World Cup showed his physical strength and what one can do if you truly focus. He ran around on a broken foot. If he was to leave the field against the French in the final, the All Blacks would probably have lost. Any other day McCaw would’ve had the wisdom to leave the field and honour the body, but that day was not any day, and he knew he had to be there.
New (Photo: AFP)
It is often not the problem in your life that gives you the most pain but your reaction and your thoughts towards it. Once McCaw accepted that he had to remain there, a big part of his problem was resolved: accepting, not fighting and not in denial.
If one can accept the situation without the harsh thoughts then the predicament won’t seem so bad. I can’t help but think of Quade Cooper here and his perplexity when playing against the All Blacks in New Zealand.
McCaw also feels his way through a game. He’s meticulous prior, but during the match, he trusts his senses. I’ve often seen the reaction of Stephen Moore when he’s confronted with the decision to take the three points or kick for the touchline.
When the pressure has mounted through the media that Moore should take the three points, I can almost sense it running through his thought process. The indecision and the past baggage weighing on his thoughts.
One can often feel the momentum of a side, and a team can fully have it. Murray Mexted in commentary once called it “the psychic energy”. McCaw feels this and goes with his senses, and he also keeps it simple.
In the heated moments when controversy followed McCaw, like the Zen master his response was: “is that so?” Reaction and rage can fuel what is. You want the best outcome, not to prove your ego is right.
McCaw’s mental fortitude took him to great heights. When someone gets closer to mastering some of the deeper qualities in life, then the magic returns to their reality; like a reflection of their qualities, and letting them know where they’re at.
McCaw signing off as a double Rugby World champion was a perfect reflection of the finesse, hard work, Zen equilibrium, and heart put in.
Though the journey always continues; always evolving, never still.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
You still don't play the ball, but the person T-man.
Jokerman
Roar Guru
Thanks, Dave I do admire McCaw for those Zen qualities! Just those qualities that one can apply in life to try and master this plane. You know, get your dreams with peace amidst, sometimes a battlefield! That's the part I really like about him, and he's everyday pretty happy go lucky. And of course, he helped get the RWC which meant so much to NZ. Oh and he handled Cooper pretty well I thought. Did it with some detachment.
Jokerman
Roar Guru
Really well said, Riccardo and thanks for the supportive words! Indeed it came be something minor and it gets a reaction. And I try my best to get to the essence, and if someone is on the wrong side of that, they can be resistant. Well said about not being dragged down. Don't react huh, McCaw was like that. Accept it and apply action from your higher level. I think on the Cooper article it had the landscape to get pulled down to some comments when replying. As an All Black supporter, I always like the stars like McCaw and Carter. When it means so much to me, and they win the game for you, and the country I feel highly grateful...almost like they've helped you out! It's just how it feels. Like when you're a youth and the star in your team helps you and the team out.
Jokerman
Roar Guru
Sweet, thanks, riddler. He was an awesome captain, as was Tana for the two years before him.
Jokerman
Roar Guru
Jerry you're back ! Back from the future ?!
taylorman
Roar Guru
Locking horns? With what? Your browser? Ha ha what a joke. Jemainok has discussed the issue in a far more intellectual and knowledgeable way than your cut and paste, no original thoughts responses, Im just surprised how he had the patience. Lock horns... ha ha.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Lots of facts if you only take the time to read the full thread and not just throw a lazy dig. But what else in new ey?
ClarkeG
Guest
If you are referring to the 2014 Super Rugby final then you should know there was no infringement at all let alone a cynical one.
rl
Guest
oh mate, where do I start with fecking Fitzpatrick!!! His presence amongst the rugby greats is truly evidence that rugby is the game for all types........ ;)
piru
Roar Rookie
mattocks yes I should be working, but like Richie I can get away with a certain amount and no more.
rl
Guest
Mate, Richie is probably sick of/embarrassed by all the fawning, which is exactly your point of why he is such a good role model: humble to his core. (And despite my words above I have to confess to owning a stubby cooler bearing the words "I'm not an alcoholic, I only drink every time Richie is offside") And you're one hundred percent right my friend, "Nobody" certainly did do it better (although oddly enough after seeing the tone of discussion in parts of this thread I can't seem to shake Radiohead's "Creep".....)
Vic rugby
Guest
So no facts then neutral? No surprises there
ClarkeG
Guest
What original sources Zero? - they have simply regurgitated comments from Gatland and Kafer made last year. Such a good article....yup. You are easily impressed.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Sure. I look forward to discussing, praise or lock horns with you J on other subjects in the future. And best of luck to you and the Blues tonight. Not many hours left now.
WQ
Guest
rl, I think you would be surprised at how little resistance there would be from All Black fans re: a similarly fawning piece about John Eales on an NZ site. If I was picking a world Team he would be my second pick straight after McCaw. I don't think you would run into too much drama over taking a dig at Carlos Spencer either just quietly. You would however have war on you hands if you bagged Fitzy. I certainly agree that McCaw would think it's all a bit over the top!
jemainok
Guest
Hey Neutal we can agree to disagree on this one.
Jerry
Guest
Peter - remember this post when you talk about playing the ball, not the man.
Riccardo
Guest
Too true gents. And that the guts of it. All flankers push the limits. That Richie can ascend the heap just marks him out I guess. And rl, old buddy. Nobody does it better... Bet that tune is playing in your head now :)
piru
Roar Rookie
Read law 6a.4
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
a lot the infringements you see not penalised in the last 20-30 weren’t penalised in the first 20-30 which is a very important part of the match Here is where we see things differently. The ref did indeed ping the French several times in the first 20-30 minutes for things he did not ping any of the teams for later in the game, (or pinged the AB's for in the first 20-30 minutes). And unfortunately for the French, the last 20-30 minutes was when they camped around the AB's 22 line. I would buy the refereeing 100 precent if it had been consistent through the whole game, but it was not. The ref changed his standards the closer the French got to the AB's 22 and try line, especially in the second half. as for the other 46 games I have no idea, it might have been reffed that way through the whole Tournament but that wouldn’t be based on facts If the rest of the tournament would have been refereed the same way, I seriously doubt that so many neutral viewers would have been upset with how the final was refereed. There is no huge conspiracy against the AB's outside NZ. By all accounts they are by far the most admired and supported rugby team in the world, with more fans and admirers outside NZ than in NZ. For someone like me who love the game of rugby and are singing rugby's gospel more than is healthy, the AB's are something to admire and behold. They are a very special team (even outside rugby world) and I follow them as close as possible. Maybe hard to believe for fan boys on the Roar, but if they all knew the amount of stick I get NH rugby forums because I call out all BS about the AB's I see or read. Just a year ago I almost got beaten up by a couple of Poms in Thailand for standing up against them when they said it was a joke to call Richie McCaw the player ever. Lately I have been called Irish as lot on the Guardian and BBC's comment section, because I don't rate the Welsh back row in the Lions team. I am not having a dig at the AB's in this thread, it is not where I coming from. The AB's played the ref and the occasion (what else could they do?), my dig is at the ref who could not handle the pressure refereeing the AB's in a World Cup final in NZ. And that is not sensational in any way, he not the first ref or the last ref to crumble under pressure. Happens in every sport, every year, on several occasions. The only thing that is remarkable is that so many Kiwis can't take this on the chin and just say "yeah we got lucky on that day, but there have been many other days when were not so lucky". Again, it was not the AB's fault the ref had a horror night, it is the ref’s own fault.