Rugby’s worst kept secret
9 May 2006
Richie McCaw will be named as the new All Black captain on Saturday, two weeks before the announcement of Graham Henry’s squad.
Henry has repeatedly told journalists that “even a blind man” could see what he was doing when asked about Tana Umaga’s replacement.
The 25-year-old was vice captain last year and led the All Blacks in the place of a resting Umaga in two Tests – against Wales in Cardiff in 2004 and against Ireland in Dublin late last year. He became his country’s 60th Test captain in the process.
Another giveaway that McCaw will be given the job is that Saturday morning’s announcement is set down for Christchurch Rugby Club.
“We think it is a very big deal being captain of the All Blacks and thought it should be kept separate from the squad announcement two weeks later,” Henry said. “It is a great honour and deserves its own space.”
Meanwhile, McCaw has admitted that Crusaders coach Robbie Deans was clever to rest him against the Bulls last weekend.
“He’s able to see past one match which can be a tough thing to do when you’re in certain situations,” he told xtramsn.co.nz. “Even myself, when we first talked about [being left out of the Bulls match], I was like ‘ohhhh…’ but the way I’m feeling now I’ve been able to get over some niggly injuries and stuff like that.
“I’m doing a lot better, and come this weekend I’ll be really excited to play. I have to go out and perform now. I feel good for that [break), and to be able take yourself out, with the team under a bit of pressure because we hadn’t performed, and make the right call…”
McCaw will be back in charge for the ‘Saders final round-robin match against the Brumbies on Friday.
35 Comments
9 May 2006, 20:59 pm
maybe this time
9 May 2006, 21:11 pm
great comment knersboy. cracker.
9 May 2006, 21:21 pm
Silly Silly,
They should have picked a captain who would be spending more time on the field than in the sinbin.
McCaw has been found out and is a marked man.
9 May 2006, 21:23 pm
Lets just hope that the man does’nt get a tonk on the head otherwise he will be captaining from the sidelines.
9 May 2006, 21:34 pm
Windhunt, i think you will realise that its much more than just the games which are being captained from the sidelines. the whole sport is being captained from the presidential suite. cracker.
9 May 2006, 22:31 pm
Don’t mention the ‘head’…..
9 May 2006, 22:32 pm
He is gonna smack the Brumbies hard after his deserved rest!
9 May 2006, 22:53 pm
Lucky Gregan’s not playing he might have dropped him on his head, damn that little Zambians timing was sevens days out.
10 May 2006, 01:01 am
He is the BEST.
Watch out you Boks, The AB’s are gonna eat you at the World Cup.
VIVA McCaw
10 May 2006, 03:02 am
McCaw is the best choice, enough senior players in the AB’s for 2007 to take them all the way, but the same can be said for ’95 & ’99. Just wondering if Umaga was pushed into retirement or on his own merit.
10 May 2006, 04:50 am
Umanga announced his retirement at his peak…sure he has been injured and has struggled with handling since then.
I don’t think your question was neccessary CSI, there are Hurricanes fans in the audience you know.
10 May 2006, 05:51 am
McCaw or not will not help dem All Blacks win da world cup .The tricolours will win it.
10 May 2006, 07:13 am
Matt you stupid plank.Priding yourself on the fact that you are a JAFA.
10 May 2006, 08:33 am
I wonder if McCaw will do a Taine Randell……….his game goes to **** after being made captain?
10 May 2006, 08:51 am
God, can people on this site not look past patriosm for once and realise that we’d give both our testicles to have a man like this in the Bok squad?!?
10 May 2006, 09:07 am
Send in Richard Bands,then we,ll see how hardcore McCaw really is!!!!
10 May 2006, 09:18 am
Some typical Bullish comments again,the long forgotten flash in the pan Bands manages to knock his skull against McCaw once and gets hero status in the Bullring????Where is this mighty beast now and why is it he has since failed to string together a single performance for the Bulls???Is this the same Bands who disappeared without a whimper in the face of Bok veteran Ollie le Roux???Lest we forget it the same Bands involved in the Bulls failed bid to win the last Currie Cup???Yes this Bands is a real menace and has dear me I missed his storming season????
Aaah the fella McCaw well now what does one say about a chap that is a leading player in his position,a fine leader and rugby legend.
10 May 2006, 09:33 am
rastafox
I suspect Henry would do cart wheels and hand out Cuban cigars if Bands were called into the Bok squad.
10 May 2006, 09:35 am
Ritchie is injury prone, that’s a fact.
However the AB’s are not a one-man-team.
They have at least 3 other 7′s who would acquit themselves with distinction at test level.
Any team that is good enough to beat the AB’s next yr, will be good enough to win the WC.
Problem is, you have to beat the AB’s first.
And yes the Ab’s do get beaten—But, whoever beats them always knows they have had ****** good game of Rugby.
The 3 wise men at the helm of NZ rugby will no doubt try to ensure Ritchie and other key players are fit for the cup by continuing their “developement” selections.
This ” developement/rotation ” strategy will of course be tossed out the window when games against SA come up.
You can have a lot of fun without ****** being stupid.
10 May 2006, 09:37 am
StP
Randell’s game didn’t go to **** after he became Captain.
He was appointed to the position without convincing anyone other than Hart he had the ability to hold a spot in the team.
Unfortunately his abilities never improved.
10 May 2006, 09:43 am
StP.(post 14)
Randal was AB captain for the MAN he was.
Ritchie will AB captain for the Player he is.
Pompies,(post 12)
Correction “the Tricolors COULD win it”.
Indeed they could.So could SA—It’s gunna be good.
10 May 2006, 09:43 am
cane
You are most probably right in your assessment of when Henry would pull out his “A” team, but the cover he is developing is comforting.
Better to have a player experienced in a specific role take over from the first choice, than redeploy another player to cover. Ala 1999 & 2003
10 May 2006, 09:44 am
cant wait for the 3N this year.
10 May 2006, 09:54 am
Cane,post 21. Thats deep stuff my brother,sniff sniff.
Seriously though, I actually rated Randell as a player. Nothing flash but a good, hard player. A bit like Andre Vos was for the Boks.
10 May 2006, 09:55 am
Matt, looking foward to it mate.
10 May 2006, 09:58 am
Brads,
May that Bald ******* stay forever in Perth.
2003.–Mitch and his planning.
Reporter: Do we have a plan to win this WC.
Mitch: Yes, and we are on a Journey(or some
such ****)
Reporter: What about Carlos’s Kicking.
Mitch: He has our full confidence and will do the
the goal kicking.
Reporter: His average isn’t to flash.
Mitch: I repeat Carlos will do the kicking, He
just needs a bit of coaching.
Reporter: The cup starts in two weeks.
Mitch: We are on a journey etc….
When they get to Oz ,Carlos has 4 kicks and Mitch won’t let him take any more so the whole backlin….
Sorry I can’t go on it still hurts…
Sorry Saffa’s –didn’t mean to bore you.
10 May 2006, 10:02 am
Cane, try losing to Aus in the 1999 rugby and cricket semi finals, after drawing both games!!!
Stephen Larkem will NEVER kick a drop kick like that again as long as he lives!!
10 May 2006, 10:02 am
LondonShark.
Are you a Saffa living in London or:
A English fan of the Shawks?
10 May 2006, 10:07 am
Cane,South African in London.
10 May 2006, 10:11 am
London,
Got ot go now ——-but enjoy your summer. It’s getting cold and wet down here now and we are watering the Rugby grouds every day because we know thats the way the Boks love it. Mud up to their balls.
Randal –I liked him too.
10 May 2006, 10:14 am
Ricane
Yep, I hear ya and I know he retired at his peak, but was on it on pure merit, because I live in the USA and up their I just heard talks after the Lions series and EOYT that Umaga was on the out, sorry for the misunderstanding, but I think those who started all this talk was one Wellingtonian himself, a Mr. Mexted.
10 May 2006, 10:48 am
McCaw is a dirty player and should be banned… that goes to all their other grest players. Carter should be banned from playing any rugby against SA teams…
10 May 2006, 15:46 pm
Grrr
Its on dirty if you get caught…;)
11 May 2006, 08:31 am
Hi CSI
Just had a chance to log on again…busy today at work
I’ve learned a few things about Mr Mexted recently and I wouldn’t beleive anything he says (most of the Saffys don’t anyway but I live up the road and so had some loyalty for a while)
You don’t think that rumour about Umanga may have started…hmmm…somewhere in Ireland, by some fellow with a sore head do you??!!
11 May 2006, 08:32 am
Grrr…Carter?? WHAT…banned because he makes big tough owex lot weak and foolish, or what??
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