Richie McCaw: 100th test victory

Richie McCaw saw the last time he played at Soccer City that the number 100 could have bad luck. It is a rare thing and an achievement to be applauded when a player reaches his 100th test. John Smit felt the cruel reversal of being in a game on his 100th cap where SA dominated only to miss the tackle that set Nonu through with one shoe off to release Dagg into the game and take the score to 29 22.

Richie McCaw passed his 100th cap in the RWC last year. But today he got his 100th test victory which is just a phenomenal achievement. Only Conrad Smith has a higher winning percentage but he hasn't played over 100 games. (McCaw was on 89 per cent and Conrad Smith 90 something going into today's match).

What a strike rate and what an achievement.

SA, NZ's greatest foe, have a few words of respect to say as well: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/7779824/South-Africans-in-awe-of-McCaw

In their day they used to hate Sean Fitzpatrick. They have taken it to a new level with Richie McCaw which is a sure sign they respect him as a player.

geez didnt know that about Meyer and his son...rivetting read given its context now.

Yeah the superlatives are being exhausted on this guy. what can you say about his commitment, record etc... a shake of the head is all I can muster...too meke!

He played another great game today. Nothing more you can say. Anyone else would have been MOTM for it.

And after the NH tour hes gonna take a year off, what are you guys gonna do I am personally not his biggest fan cause of the way he gets away with stuff, but you cant help but applaud him, and wish your own country will one day possess a Richie McCaw

He's only taking 1/2 a year off. He'll be back winning games this time next year. And when he gets too old someone better will come along.

I'll settle for someone as good next year. Like Kieran Read who's proving to be as destructive on defence and on attack. But you don't replace someone like Richie so easily nganboy.

Well we got rid of Kronfield and did alright. Mils has been replaced and finally Bachop has been replaced. Just got to get a decent replacement for Fitzy.

Interesting piece here on Richie's latest book: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/7785582/McCaw-hid-foot-injury-during-World-Cup

The guy is as hard as nails. Just goes to show winning something you've been waiting for years can only be appreciated with time. When it does happen, it feels like an anti climax.

Well thats easy to say, when you dont feel pain in the first place.

Looks like porrdige_times has been commenting on the article.

Read comments from his book about 2007,saying he blamed himself for not telling his players to take a "Pot"when it was on.Problem was that at that time it was`nt part of the AB `s culture to use them.To know that you have a broken foot and play on took guts.
People said could the AB`s win a RWC without Carter or McCaw,well they did it without Dan.Don`t think they would have done without McCaw.

He also blamed the head honchos for allowing Barnes to ref the quarter against France- said Barnes was 'frozen scared' by the end of the game. Simply not up to the occasion.

nganboy wrote:He's only taking 1/2 a year off. He'll be back winning games this time next year. And when he gets too old someone better will come along.

As has been commented on another website the "time off" Richie is taking was called the "off season" just a few years ago. He will actually still play an awful lot of rugby...

This flammin McCaw is inspirational beyond belief. I don't care what anyone tries to tell me, this guy has to be the greatest all black 'ever' (mana and ability). He's getting harder and tougher with age, less dynamic perhaps, but just solid as!

http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10839280

I am avid reader of books.
I have two rugby books after about 35 years of watching rugby.
David Kirk and Jeff Wilson.
I think I will need to get another.

What interested me was his statement that in the WC final last year he says he told Craig Jourbert that he had been eye gouged when it happened..

Which suggests Jourbert either didnt believe him, couldlnt give a F..k, or took the approach that since he didnt see it then it was no concern of his.

But what could Jourbert have done about it during the game?

Sure nothing, but he could have put it in his referee's match report, and the citing officer could have asked to see the tapes..

Have ordered the book, it’s due for release in the UK on the 1st of Nov.

I’ve been staggered by McCaw this year. He just seems to go from strength to strength and without the pain in his foot there isn’t anything holding him back at the moment. I remember in 2006 McCaw tracking back to make a last ditch tackle against Aus in Brisbane. A tackle he had no right to make really and we only won the game 13-9. 6 years and 60 tests on, he’s still putting himself around like that.

It’s always going to be contentious deciding between Michael Jones and McCaw as the greatest 7 of all time. I was in the Jones era and he revolutionised the game and came at a time when NZ were taking rugby to a new level. He had attributes that all other players (from FB to Prop) would kill for. McCaw, in my humble opinion has surpassed Jones as the greatest 7 of all time. He is certainly NZ’s greatest player of all time and I will go out on a limb and say that he will retire in history as Rugby Union’s greatest player.

Hell of a statement yes, but his legacy is unmatched. 100 test match wins – unreal. Players in most other Tier 1 nations would have to play at least 180-200 test matches to get anywhere near that figure. He did it in 112. I dread to think how many MOTM awards he’s had too. A World Cup, Bled Cup for 10 years, 3N, 4N, Grand Slams, Super Titles, NPC’s. He’s on the cusp of leading his team to a WR in consecutive wins. This guy doesn’t need to prove anything more to be recognised as the best I think.

Warburton, Pocock, Broussouw, Hooper, Robshaw, Juan Smith. All good names but none of them match up to McCaw in either the past, present or future.

Mintie

Went down to Whitcoulls this morning and read a lot of it this afternoon, for $40 its a good deal, 264 pages, small print.

Laurie

Looks like the great jersey swindle of '11 all over again. Amazon UK have it for £10 (on offer)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Real-McCaw-Autobiograhy-Richie/dp/1781310335/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1349858149&sr=8-1

Can't wait

chewed_mintie wrote:Laurie

Looks like the great jersey swindle of '11 all over again. Amazon UK have it for £10 (on offer)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Real-McCaw-Autobiograhy-Richie/dp/1781310335/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1349858149&sr=8-1

Can't wait

Cheers Mintie.

The joke doing the rounds on Twitter today is that bookstores outside NZ are offering discounts to customers who enter the store via the side entrance.

The joke is a bit offside admittedly.

chewed_mintie wrote:Laurie

Looks like the great jersey swindle of '11 all over again. Amazon UK have it for £10 (on offer)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Real-McCaw-Autobiograhy-Richie/dp/1781310335/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1349858149&sr=8-1

Can't wait

Interesting, Because the book I'm talking about is "Richie McCaw- The Open Side" With Greg Mcgee. You guys must be getting some cheap pirated ones from China. Wait till Richie hears about this.

aucklandlaurie wrote:

chewed_mintie wrote:Laurie

Looks like the great jersey swindle of '11 all over again. Amazon UK have it for £10 (on offer)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Real-McCaw-Autobiograhy-Richie/dp/1781310335/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1349858149&sr=8-1

Can't wait

Interesting, Because the book I'm talking about is "Richie McCaw- The Open Side" With Greg Mcgee. You guys must be getting some cheap pirated ones from China. Wait till Richie hears about this.

Don't worrie AL, the credits page says "1st published in New Zealand as Ruchie McCaw - the Open Side". Looks like the rest of the world gets the catchy title (I've never noticed Amazon's "Look inside this book" feature before, I like it!)

I also note that the front cover photo is quite different, on our one down here he looks quite normal and happy, whereas on the UK one he looks all sad, miserable and in pain. Its probably a marketing strategy?

Interseting guy Greg Mcgee, he played for Otago in his day as a lock and was an AB triallist. later became an author, playwrite and a protestor.