Richie McCaw retires

by GLove39 Wed 18 Nov 2015, 11:53 pm

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has retired from rugby union after a record-breaking Test career, including two World Cup wins.
Richie McCaw's international career

McCaw announced in Wellington on Thursday that he will hang up his boots after a 148-Test career spanning 15 years.

Despite all he achieved in the game, McCaw displayed remarkable humility during the announcement, saying he was proud to have consistently played

"at a level that was reasonably good."

"It's been a hell of a ride. I sit here happy with what I've done,"

he said.

And so you should Richie, one hell of a career notworthy

148 Tests / 131 wins (2001-'15)
22 Rugby World Cup games ('03-'15)
2 RWCs ('11, '15)
110 Tests as captain (97 wins)
Three-time world player of the year ('06, '09, '10)

So happy he's bowing out on a high.

by aucklandlaurie Thu 19 Nov 2015, 6:49 am

Heres some more Richie stats:

Since 1905 the All Blacks have won 413 times, McCaw has been on the field for 32% (131) of those victories.

McCaw experienced defeat twice on New Zealand soil (in tests).

Mccaw travelled to South Africa twelve times to play tests, he travelled to the Northern hemisphere twelve times to play end of year tests.

by Dontheman2 Thu 19 Nov 2015, 7:22 am

Well done that man. A legend. Hope he enjoys the rest of his life. I wonder what he'll do now.

by **George Carlin** Thu 19 Nov 2015, 7:32 am

Who?

by No 7&1/2 Thu 19 Nov 2015, 8:21 am

Slightly strange timing given Lomu is still dominating the press.

Magnificent player, doubt anyone will come close to him for a long long while.

by blackcanelion Thu 19 Nov 2015, 8:32 am

Interesting comments from Steve Hansen, his first provincial coach. What sets him apart is his determination to improve, develop his game and be the best he can be. Driven I think is the word. Apparently he was amazing in the ruck and had a huge work rate, but couldn't catch, pass or run when he first came on the scene. It doesn't matter where you are from, or what age you, or what you do. Continually working on self improvement pays off.

by TJ Thu 19 Nov 2015, 8:49 am

A true great and played the game hard but fair never punching or retaliating even when given the treatment. Quite amazing how he always seemed to fall on the wrong side of the ruck tho ;-)

by **LondonTiger** Thu 19 Nov 2015, 9:12 am

He did OK I guess.

by Barney McGrew did it Thu 19 Nov 2015, 9:46 am

George Carlin wrote:Who?

Turns out they're talking about Phil Vickery - a great loss

by TightHEAD Thu 19 Nov 2015, 9:58 am

He didn't score enough tries imo.

by disneychilly Thu 19 Nov 2015, 10:28 am

7.5 he'd already set the announcement before Jonah went off into the sunset. Basically he was damned if he did and damned if he didn't.

He was the Optimus Prime of NZ rugby. And I think the greatest ever now. Was arguably in 2011, but I was skeptical, and then he kept going, and going, and going...

McCaw and Carter are like McGrath and Warne leaving. A lot of people will say that ah but he was in a great team, but IMO he was more responsible than anyone for making that team great. Won more tests than anyone is likely to play.

by BamBam Thu 19 Nov 2015, 10:44 am

What a player, when I got into rugby from 2001 onwards I remember reading about how Neil Back might find himself in a battle up against this youngster McCaw.

140 odd caps and 2 world cup medals later, I think the writer of that piece deserves a bit of credit for insight!

by **LondonTiger** Thu 19 Nov 2015, 10:46 am

TightHEAD wrote:He didn't score enough tries imo.

When you see how he finished this one, you do wonder why.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXHRozZZ2kE

by **Notch** Thu 19 Nov 2015, 11:01 am

Greatest of all time.

by **LondonTiger** Thu 19 Nov 2015, 11:13 am

Notch wrote:Greatest of all time.

Greatest player of his era yes - but sorry I always find it rather fatuous when people talk about greatest of all time.

by **Notch** Thu 19 Nov 2015, 11:16 am

Greatest of the professional era.

by **George Carlin** Thu 19 Nov 2015, 11:22 am

Notch wrote:Greatest of the professional era.

by No 7&1/2 Thu 19 Nov 2015, 11:24 am

He's at least the best 7 who wore black most of the time. In the last 15 years. Probably.

by disneychilly Thu 19 Nov 2015, 11:24 am

He has the greatest rugby CV of all time, no doubt about that.

by **LondonTiger** Thu 19 Nov 2015, 11:26 am

Notch wrote:Greatest of the professional era.

by TJ Thu 19 Nov 2015, 11:38 am

Notch wrote:Greatest of the professional era.

Dan Carter? Jason Robinson? BOD?

how do you compare such different players?

by **Notch** Thu 19 Nov 2015, 11:40 am

TJ wrote:
Notch wrote:Greatest of the professional era.

Dan Carter? Jason Robinson? BOD?

how do you compare such different players?

I use my knowledge of them to compare their achievements before forming an entirely subjective opinion in my mind

by chris_501 Thu 19 Nov 2015, 12:00 pm

No 7&1/2 wrote:Slightly strange timing given Lomu is still dominating the press.

Magnificent player, doubt anyone will come close to him for a long long while.

Maybe the way Richie would like it, to sneak off into the sunset. Never seemed a guy who demanded the limelight. I don't think this takes away from the news about Lomu in anyway. Maybe apt that two of the most dominant NZ'ers in recent history depart in very different ways.

He has the attitude that any sportsperson should aspire to.

by funnyExiledScot Thu 19 Nov 2015, 12:05 pm

It's a great day this for Chris Robshaw. He moves one step closer to the top 10 openside flankers currently playing rugby.....

Joking aside, McCaw deserves his place among the legends of the game. His world breaking number of caps, caps as leader and wins cannot be ignored, and similarly his tally of 3x World Player of the Year. 2 World Cups and the first captain to defend the title. Hard to argue with all of that, and I can't think of a better 7 that I've seen in my rugby following lifetime. George Smith is probably the closest I can think of.

by TJ Thu 19 Nov 2015, 12:06 pm

Notch wrote:
TJ wrote:
Notch wrote:Greatest of the professional era.

Dan Carter? Jason Robinson? BOD?

how do you compare such different players?

I use my knowledge of them to compare their achievements before forming an entirely subjective opinion in my mind

by Slow and Sedate Thu 19 Nov 2015, 12:33 pm

Dontheman2 wrote:Well done that man. A legend. Hope he enjoys the rest of his life. I wonder what he'll do now.

Referee

by funnyExiledScot Thu 19 Nov 2015, 1:07 pm

Slow and Sedate wrote:
Dontheman2 wrote:Well done that man. A legend. Hope he enjoys the rest of his life. I wonder what he'll do now.

Referee

That would be awesome. Do as I say, not what I did.....

by **George Carlin** Thu 19 Nov 2015, 1:41 pm

Dontheman2 wrote:Well done that man. A legend. Hope he enjoys the rest of his life. I wonder what he'll do now.

by lostinwales Thu 19 Nov 2015, 3:36 pm

Apparently he wants to be a commercial helicopter pilot

by disneychilly Thu 19 Nov 2015, 4:02 pm

lostinwales wrote:Apparently he wants to be a commercial helicopter pilot

Already an experienced glider and he flew the Crusaders up to Wellington in a DC3 plane once. He got ridiculous marks in school too so the world's his oyster. Add that to the rugby circuit and he's got a fair few ways of keeping the coin rolling in. Actually a lot of the ABs do. Woodcock's a farmer, Conrad Smith's a law graduate and Carter can look pretty if his body breaks down.

by majesticimperialman Thu 19 Nov 2015, 7:09 pm

Their certainly won't be another one like him for a long, long time too come.

A true Legend of the game. the most capped player of all time. Certainly i cannot think of any one who has as many caps as he does.

I wish him all the best for the future. I do suppose he will at some point be back in game, forwards coach fore the All Blacks maybe.

by eirebilly Fri 20 Nov 2015, 7:39 am

One of the best players I have ever seen. A natural leader who led by example and inspired his team to do well. A true great of the game.

by offload Fri 20 Nov 2015, 9:25 am

Overrated, I didn't see him kick a single point.

by Gwlad Sat 21 Nov 2015, 5:45 am

McCaw has retired

Finally I can say it

What a cheating b$%^&*D

by kingraf Sat 21 Nov 2015, 7:07 am

I like Ritchie, good guy. Great player. But I don't know what people are seeing in the last four years for him to now be the greatest of all time. Imo he was carried. Superhuman effort to win the world cup at home on one foot but all he did in the last four years was Fail to come in from the side. Fail to collapse mauls. And (this part is an admittedly crucial one) get punched by opposition players to get opposition down to 14 men

by Cyril Sat 21 Nov 2015, 3:25 pm

For all his achievements I think my lasting memory of McCaw is that sneaky trip that saw him carded against Argentina. It was good to see a ref finally penalise him. Barnes is the best in the world at the moment.

by aucklandlaurie Sat 21 Nov 2015, 6:12 pm

Cyril wrote:For all his achievements I think my lasting memory of McCaw is that sneaky trip that saw him carded against Argentina. It was good to see a ref finally penalise him. Barnes is the best in the world at the moment.

To suggest that Barnes is the first referee to penalise McCaw is B U L L S H I T. Further I would respectfully suggest that Richie McCaw has contributed more to the game of Rugby than Wayne Barnes ever has or ever will, unless you're English of course.

by aucklandlaurie Sat 21 Nov 2015, 6:14 pm

kingraf wrote:I like Ritchie, good guy. Great player. But I don't know what people are seeing in the last four years for him to now be the greatest of all time. Imo he was carried. Superhuman effort to win the world cup at home on one foot but all he did in the last four years was Fail to come in from the side. Fail to collapse mauls. And (this part is an admittedly crucial one) get punched by opposition players to get opposition down to 14 men

Perhaps you should have watched him play a few games, and captain his side?

by kingraf Sat 21 Nov 2015, 6:25 pm

I'm not sure what your argument is to be honest? No shame in a 32-35-year old loosie not quite being the best around the track anymore. He was immense in his pomp, and like I said his performances in 2011 were superlative. Notwithstanding though, I don't think its a stretch to say he wasn't the same player post RWC 2011

by aucklandlaurie Sat 21 Nov 2015, 6:44 pm

No argument Kingraf, We are looking at the same thing from two completely different perspectives.

You are limiting your judgment of him purely on his age and and the breakaway role of openside flanker. he plays the game in a much wider context than the number on his back, probably more than any other player. something which he has got better at throughout his career, in fact Id say hes improved post 2011.

Guess its in the eyes of the beholder?

by blackcanelion Sat 21 Nov 2015, 7:02 pm

kingraf wrote:I'm not sure what your argument is to be honest? No shame in a 32-35-year old loosie not quite being the best around the track anymore. He was immense in his pomp, and like I said his performances in 2011 were superlative. Notwithstanding though, I don't think its a stretch to say he wasn't the same player post RWC 2011

I thought he was the best player at the world cup. I actually think he was arguably the best he's been. That's obviously an opinion. I his role has changed a bit again this year. He's much more multi dimensional.

by aucklandlaurie Sat 21 Nov 2015, 7:29 pm

Too true Blackcan, I would even go so far as to say that Richie McCaw in the World Cup final, was the best game Ive seen him play in the last four years.

His role is always changing, often depending on who the opposition are and have, ie against the Wallabies in the final it wasnt just about him achieving turn overs at the break down, it was more about being part of a formidable loose forward trio across all aspects of play, in the end it was Hooper and Pocock that looked one dimensional.

by kingraf Sat 21 Nov 2015, 8:15 pm

Maybe I've been underestimating him (although I must be honest I can't see how he was the best player in the world cup. At all). Players' performances against your own side do tend to stay brighter and longer, and I genuinely can't think of a game post 2011 against NZ where we lost and I thought it would have been different had McCaw not played (except the one in 2012 when greyling got himself got himself carded by giving McCaw a flying leaping elbow while the match was still reasonably close).
Read? Definitely
Retallick? Sure
McCaw? Genuinely can't think of one...

by kingraf Sat 21 Nov 2015, 8:19 pm

To be fair, in the Meyer era you've been so much better than us from 1-23 that one could argue that a player would have to walk on water to differentiate himself particularly given the complete ownership you have on us

by aucklandlaurie Sat 21 Nov 2015, 8:34 pm

Kingraf, perhaps the way to approach it is to ask yourself why did Greyling do what he did? why didnt he have a crack at any of the other 14 All Blacks on the field?

In fairness to Greyling hes in good company, there have been many others that have had a crack at McCaw ie Andy Powell. Dylan Hartley, Scott Higginbotham, Phil waugh, etc etc even Quade cooper even though that wasnt going to really put him off the field.

If Retallick or Read were more important to get rid of, then why not get rid of them?

by kingraf Sat 21 Nov 2015, 8:53 pm

To be fair, I conceded in my first post that he's pretty good at getting whacked in the face. I also conceded that its a rather handy trait. Especially if like McCaw you're tough as old boots and can thus stay on the field even after a 120kg behemoth hit you clean on the jaw

by Cyril Sun 22 Nov 2015, 3:40 am

aucklandlaurie wrote:
Cyril wrote:For all his achievements I think my lasting memory of McCaw is that sneaky trip that saw him carded against Argentina. It was good to see a ref finally penalise him. Barnes is the best in the world at the moment.

To suggest that Barnes is the first referee to penalise McCaw is B U L L S H I T. Further I would respectfully suggest that Richie McCaw has contributed more to the game of Rugby than Wayne Barnes ever has or ever will, unless you're English of course.

Both have been arguably been the best in their 'position' in the last few years. I guess NZ fans would consider McCaw. Fair play, I guess.

by Taylorman Sun 22 Nov 2015, 5:24 am

Cyril wrote:
aucklandlaurie wrote:
Cyril wrote:For all his achievements I think my lasting memory of McCaw is that sneaky trip that saw him carded against Argentina. It was good to see a ref finally penalise him. Barnes is the best in the world at the moment.

To suggest that Barnes is the first referee to penalise McCaw is B U L L S H I T. Further I would respectfully suggest that Richie McCaw has contributed more to the game of Rugby than Wayne Barnes ever has or ever will, unless you're English of course.
Both have been arguably been the best in their 'position' in the last few years. I guess NZ fans would consider McCaw. Fair play, I guess.

McCaw was actually the most penalised player in the entire RC I'm lead to believe so it wasn't surprising. He's adapted his game into other areas, carries a lot more etc so possibly getting pinged more for the wider role. Can't see why Barnes is the best Ref, he didn't get the final did he?

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