Ritchie McCaw -The Future

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/rugby/5916967/Crunch-time-as-guard-changes
Ritchie McCaw,hero or villain,Captain fantastic,or the teflon serial cheaters,I
found this on.
a NZ news site.it is by former All Black skipper
For myself ,I think the following he is on a four year contract,and made no secret he wishes
to help his team develop,rather than move abroad.He has achieved more than most people
BUT he always puts the team first.
Medically He should`nt have started the RWC or indeed get them thru the knockout stages
Let alone outplay most of other 7`s on one leg [literally].After surgery and Rand R he is
good for as long as it takes.As to not being as good as he was 2 years ago,the last two seasons
he has been plagued with injuries [2009]and[2011] and still proved his worth.
I think he wil be a big player for another few years,while mentoring replacement 7s and Captains
and help mold a new side for 2015.He is wise enough to know when to go the coaches won`tneed to
axe him.He`ll just bow out and still maybe have a couple of years in Japan for the pension fund.

Yeah he's done everything. Even winning another cup would just be that. Another cup. He can't do any better than he has...just more of the same.

If he's still going by 2015 as a top 3 NZ loosie then we'll not be in a good position. It means we will have not progressed past this point and even he wouldn't want that. 2 years at best I reckon and even then as perhaps a 6,8 or sub.

Rather than go to japan I would prefer he goes into coaching immediately, staying with things NZ. His communication skills in the team/ match environment would be wasted in japan and he doesnt need the money that badly. he has a future in the admin side of the game for sure.

Don't buy the history thing. 87 team went on to beaten unbeaten and made the mistake of not replacing the legends before 91. Turnover and the age of the players this time is such that replacements are already starting. 87 was a young side.

One question I have is whether Israel Dagg will be the first to win 3 consecutive world cups?

NOW,he has to do that which no other RWC winner has done since 1987.
Prove the All Blacks are STILL the best team in the world,by winning one game at a time.Win the first 4Ns and continue the 85% win ratio for the next four years.
There is a frightningly big source of players coming into the AB reckoning in the next four years.
Just maybe they can be the first to do back to back wins at a RWC and make an RWC believer of me yet,BUT I doubtit!!!

Omg he is just so fantastically brilliant. The world is a better place because of him..

He is clearly paddy o'briens closest advisor now so he might as well get paid for it


Give me Dusatoir anytime

One question I have is whether Israel Dagg will be the first to win 3 consecutive world cups?

Errrrrrr i should hang fire with that question Taylorman, it has taken 24 years to win this one. So to ask if he will be the first to win, is being a bit of a dreamer i think.

majesticimperialman wrote:One question I have is whether Israel Dagg will be the first to win 3 consecutive world cups?

Errrrrrr i should hang fire with that question Taylorman, it has taken 24 years to win this one. So to ask if he will be the first to win, is being a bit of a dreamer i think.

Everything starts with a dream maj...

delusion is thinking NZ won the world cup...

Reality is that the ref won it for you....

Reality is the all Blacks scored more points than France .
Reality is YOU THINK the Ref won it for them.Or did he win the Semi for France two.

Champ we think France won the QF in 07. So it goes both ways. So quit whingeing about it and go back to mourning your own team's failure instead of trying to denigrate another's success. 21 years of crap for not winning it and now you're trying to take it away for when we DO win? Jog on.

No worries Disney...Its comments like Dods that make it all a little.... sweeter

True Taylorman-that and the fact that we have a better WC record than any NH side now...

Wow. We're ladies. Good one. Slow day?

Damn straight hurray for us. We're the best team in the world and have the cup to prove it. And we'll play like the champions we are for the next four years because it doesn't end with us winning this thing. Enjoy the lemon you're obviously sucking on.

Very hollow victory I thought - imagine losing your key player & each of his subsequent replacements, going through the tournament unbeaten & only having to play minnows like Australia & France who'd knocked out other minnows like Eng & SA - I'd be ashamed.

DOD wrote:Omg he is just so fantastically brilliant. The world is a better place because of him..

He is clearly paddy o'briens closest advisor now so he might as well get paid for it


Give me Dusatoir anytime

Do you just find ways to be bitter each day my man?

Even the most anti All Blacks person would have to acknowledge McCaw will be remembered as one of the greatest players and captains.

Personally I can't stand certain teams, but I respect them, and respect the players that've stood up. You my friend just turn on the hate tap and let it run.

I'll take the high road and refrain from any obvious cracks in relation to Laurie's post.

I dislike George Gregan and Martin Johnson and still admit they are bloody good players. But show me a 7 who doesn't live on the edge of the laws and I'll show you a crap player. The hypocrisy is astounding as their teams' 7s are just not as good but they cheat like hell. Look at English Warrior bagging McCaw yet not mentioning Neil Back at all.

McCaw wasn't the player of the Cup but he was the hardest bugger. How to perform like that on one foot was phenomenal. They didn't even bother to check him out after each game as he was going to play anyway.

Galted wrote:Very hollow victory I thought - imagine losing your key player & each of his subsequent replacements, going through the tournament unbeaten & only having to play minnows like Australia & France who'd knocked out other minnows like Eng & SA - I'd be ashamed.

Galted wrote:Very hollow victory I thought - imagine losing your key player & each of his subsequent replacements, going through the tournament unbeaten & only having to play minnows like Australia & France who'd knocked out other minnows like Eng & SA - I'd be ashamed.

SA wasn't knocked out though mate, they were raped.

biltongbek wrote:

Galted wrote:Very hollow victory I thought - imagine losing your key player & each of his subsequent replacements, going through the tournament unbeaten & only having to play minnows like Australia & France who'd knocked out other minnows like Eng & SA - I'd be ashamed.

SA wasn't knocked out though mate, they were raped.

Thanks biltongbek - I've now got an image of Matfield, Rossouw, Burger etc in my head that I'd rather not have.

To me McCaw is definately one of the greatest players the game has seen. Hate him with a passion when the AB's play Ireland (tongue in cheek ) but admire his skill when they play any other team.

He will make one hell of a coach as well when he retires i would imagine.

Yup. Him and Carter also-hopefully they can stay within the setup. Carter's influence and knowledge were integral in the ABs winning the Cup and it was great to have him at trainings and meetings for the knockout stages. Talk about mana though re Richie-man what a champion. I hope he can keep helping out Matt Todd at the Saders-I reckon if Todd keeps it up he could be eased in as Richie's heir (though I know we've been down this road a fair bit!).

Well when Richie started he wasn't a touch on Kronfield and when Kronfield started he wasn't a touch on Jones so who knows how good the next number 7 will be - but he'll probably be alright

Matt Todd already looks as good as the Young McCaw,over the next few years.NZ need to develop him,latimer.Luke Braid,also DC replacements to get depth there.No shortage of talent Slade is a DC clone,Crudon looks good.The next generation below is coming on fine 4 under20 RWC squads worth somewhere.
Scrum half is another area needs looking at Cowan recently has been dreadful.Weepu looks to be the starter but if is 10 for the Blues may lose his edge.

Emack, in terms of halfback look for a big Super XV season for the young lad at Wellington, TJ Perenara. He was part of this year’s U20 team and had his first Wgton Lions start whilst still at school (in a semi v Canterbury no less) and doesn’t seem daunted by anything. Will be interesting to see how he fares behind what will be a fairly mediocre pack and I have a feeling Hamstring is going to favour Chris Smylie for some weird abstract reason.

Disagree on Slade being a DC clone, Slade hasn’t fared well under the microscope where Carter was completely at home from the off. Slade needs to work on his kicking game and game management before we start talking about him being a clone. I’d prefer he be himself rather than try to emulate someone else anyway.

Back row looks good with Todd, Luke Braid and another Wellingtonian from the Und 20’s Brad Shields. They’re all young and will learn a lot from the next SXV

Be fair to the lad two broken jaws.now a groin injury[maybe his second].
Had to move to the Highlanders to get game time,capable at Full back or wing too.
Like many players Crusaders destroy as many as they create,how many players. Over the years done the business for Crusaders then got a cap or two and were dumped.
Lualua,Brett,Ross,Hamilton,Waldron[Scott] are just a few that come to mind
agree about Perenara.

Not saying that he’s a bad player, I’m a fan of his. Just think he needs to be given his own space to become Colin Slade not Dan Carter mk II.

Scott Waldrom played for Hurricanes and Chiefs, not Crusaders (think you mean Thomas – though he played most of his career with the horrorcanes and only had 2 seasons with Crusaders) but your point is valid nonetheless

I reckon Slade is more of a mehrtens clone if he is one...

Andrew Merthens,thats no bad model either still doing the business at 38 in france.Got three sides promoted to the top rank with his boot,was top man world stage too.
Not a bad clone,BUT agree Colin Slade needs to be his own man Crudon had a poor second season, but has developed his game now.
Crusaders and hurricanes were the top two franchises in Nz makes sense
developing the national squad around them.

emack2 wrote:Andrew Merthens,thats no bad model either still doing the business at 38 in france.Got three sides promoted to the top rank with his boot,was top man world stage too.
Not a bad clone,BUT agree Colin Slade needs to be his own man Crudon had a poor second season, but has developed his game now.
Crusaders and hurricanes were the top two franchises in Nz makes sense
developing the national squad around them.

Well it wont be the same 2 supplying them next year, the Canes I believe the worst NZ sxv franchise Ive seen in years, coach included.

The Blues with their imports will hopefully provide more of the backbone support next year. Heres hoping...