New Zealand coach Steve Hansen hailed Richie McCaw as the greatest ever All Black after his side retained their World Cup title with a 34-17 win over Australia at Twickenham on Saturday.McCaw, playing his 148th Test, enjoyed another influential match, but was coy about his future in the immediate aftermath.
“At the moment I am still part of this team,” McCaw said.
“Having played in a wonderful World Cup final with a great bunch of men, I’m just so proud and honoured to wear this jersey,” he added.
“I don’t think you can get enough of that. If you get moments like this, why would you ever call it a day?”
Hansen praised both the skipper and 33-year-old flyhalf Dan Carter as the two best All Blacks of all time.
As the All Blacks have been the dominant team for nearly a decade, that makes them by definition, two of the greatest players of all time.
Carter scored a record 19 points in the final from four penalties, two conversions and a drop goal to increase his Test scoring record to 1598.
“Whether this is the greatest team ever, that’s for other people to say,” Hansen said.
“I will say that Richie is the greatest All Black of all time, and Dan is a close second.
“The only thing that separates them is that one’s a flanker.
“To play 148 Tests at flank is unheard of. Richie has put his body on the line in every one of those matches.
“A lot was said about the loose trio battle before the game, and I reckon our loose trio won that battle on the day. And Richie is the leader of that trio.”
McCaw, who will be 35 in December, has a record that is unlikely to be matched.
He made his Test debut in November 2001 as All Black number 693, and since then has watched another 138 players make their All Black debuts in his time.
He has captained New Zealand 110 times and in 148 Tests has only been on the losing side 15 times. That’s an 89.1% winning record over 14 years and nearly 150 caps. Incredible.
The All Blacks have also lost only 10 times with McCaw at the helm.
McCaw also played a record 22nd Rugby World Cup match in Saturday’s final and became the first man to lift the Webb Ellis trophy twice with his 20th RWC win.
Carter’s numbers are also jaw-dropping.
He has played 112 Tests and guided the All Blacks to 99 wins including 14 out of 16 at the RWC.
He has scored 191 points in four World Cup tournament appearances in 2003, 2007, 2011, and this year.
McCaw and Carter are the greatest duo ever, whose careers happened to overlap – no wonder the All Blacks have dominated the world.
McCaw has Midas touch, says coach
McCaw, playing his 148th Test, enjoyed another influential match, but was coy about his future in the immediate aftermath.
“At the moment I am still part of this team,” McCaw said.
“Having played in a wonderful World Cup final with a great bunch of men, I’m just so proud and honoured to wear this jersey,” he added.
“I don’t think you can get enough of that. If you get moments like this, why would you ever call it a day?”
Hansen praised both the skipper and 33-year-old flyhalf Dan Carter as the two best All Blacks of all time.
As the All Blacks have been the dominant team for nearly a decade, that makes them by definition, two of the greatest players of all time.
Carter scored a record 19 points in the final from four penalties, two conversions and a drop goal to increase his Test scoring record to 1598.
“Whether this is the greatest team ever, that’s for other people to say,” Hansen said.
“I will say that Richie is the greatest All Black of all time, and Dan is a close second.
“The only thing that separates them is that one’s a flanker.
“To play 148 Tests at flank is unheard of. Richie has put his body on the line in every one of those matches.
“A lot was said about the loose trio battle before the game, and I reckon our loose trio won that battle on the day. And Richie is the leader of that trio.”
McCaw, who will be 35 in December, has a record that is unlikely to be matched.
He made his Test debut in November 2001 as All Black number 693, and since then has watched another 138 players make their All Black debuts in his time.
He has captained New Zealand 110 times and in 148 Tests has only been on the losing side 15 times. That’s an 89.1% winning record over 14 years and nearly 150 caps. Incredible.
The All Blacks have also lost only 10 times with McCaw at the helm.
McCaw also played a record 22nd Rugby World Cup match in Saturday’s final and became the first man to lift the Webb Ellis trophy twice with his 20th RWC win.
Carter’s numbers are also jaw-dropping.
He has played 112 Tests and guided the All Blacks to 99 wins including 14 out of 16 at the RWC.
He has scored 191 points in four World Cup tournament appearances in 2003, 2007, 2011, and this year.
McCaw and Carter are the greatest duo ever, whose careers happened to overlap – no wonder the All Blacks have dominated the world.
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