McCaw the master
17 Oct 2011
MARK KEOHANE, in his weekly Business Day newspaper column, says Richie McCaw has earned the right to lift the Webb Ellis Cup.
McCaw was asked, 48 hours before the World Cup semi-final against Australia, who the better player was: ‘David Pocock or yourself?’
McCaw said: ‘We’ll see after 80 minutes on Sunday.’
There was no sarcasm in his answer. It was the confirmation of the challenge of a (younger) player who has been the form opensider of the World Cup tournament.
Pocock was immense against SA, legally or illegally.
All brilliant opensiders operate on the fine line of public opinion and referee interpretation. McCaw has been the master for the last decade. Australia’s George Smith was brilliant and, if his knees last, Heinrich Brüssow will make a similar impression.
Former Bok captain Corne Krige was often quoted as saying the Test played within a Test between two specialist opensiders is far removed from anything the public sees on TV or at the ground. McCaw versus Pocock was huge. This was the grand master against the next generation of specialist ball-winning scavenger. At least it was sold as such in the week.
But that would be too simple.
As All Blacks coach Graham Henry pointed out: an opensider will always be the beneficiary of how good the loose trio is and also the dominance of his tight five. In this regard it wasn’t McCaw versus Pocock, it was the All Blacks versus the Wallabies and the result was more emphatic than a handbag grab-and-run. This was a full-on assault; a legal beating in which the All Blacks smashed the Wallabies in the collision and at the gainline.
I hate the term ‘the modern game’, so I’ll refer to it as the game played in 2011 where there is so much influence in referee interpretation and not always that much faith in the principle and application of the law.
What is not about interpretation, however, is who wins the gainline battle. That is where the game has become so much like rugby league. Win the physical dominance of who takes the ball in, and who makes that one metre in the tackle, and you have momentum that is so unlike the game of 10 years ago.
Back then it was about creating mismatches and having a fullback run at a prop. It was about more numbers on attack, and the laws at the breakdown forced a fight for the ball that ensured teams committed numbers to the breakdown.
Not any more.
The game played in 2011 allows teams to have rugby- league type defence. Mismatches are rare because most props look like centres and some even have more skill.
This was a game won with gain-line dominance. The Boks’ game (against Australia in the quarterfinal) was a game lost in that area.
Lineout statistics, field position and possession dominance have little bearing if the gainline collisions are lost.
Wales will attest to that. Sure, they were heroic and magnificent in playing 14 against 15 in a World Cup semi-final for 63 minutes but when you go 25 phases with the ball, don’t break a tackle, and can’t get an extra metre, then the credit has to go to the men dominating the collisions. France did that, even though they showed no such enthusiasm with the ball.
The All Blacks were so different in class and in ambition. Their defence was matched by an opening 20 minutes as good as you will see in a World Cup semi-final.
The All Blacks were brutal at every collision, and McCaw was either first with the tackle or the first man in support. He was colossal. I’ve tried, but there isn’t a superlative to do his performance justice. He has been functioning on desire, ambition and one leg at this tournament. The foot injury that kept him out of most of Super Rugby will require a further operation after the final. He has been imposing as a leader and as an ambassador for the game.
I often say we begrudge New Zealand more than we dislike McCaw because he isn’t one of ours. This is a guy who has won 90 of his 102 Tests, and 45 of them have been against Australia and SA . You had to be at Eden Park to appreciate his contribution fully.
Likewise his humility a minute from full time. To understand that one must remember the taunt directed at McCaw in the 2003 World Cup semi-final by Wallabies scrumhalf George Gregan as the All Blacks turned over the ball with a minute to go and the game lost. ‘Four more years,’ said Gregan.
With a minute to go at Eden Park on Sunday evening, referee Craig Joubert called a scrum, the crowd counted down the minute and the big screen focused on a McCaw and Wallabies scrumhalf Will Genia.
The New Zealand crowd chanted: ‘Four more years … four more years …’
‘What did he (Genia) say to you?’ asked a journalist at the press conference. ‘He said well done and I said thanks.’
No taunts of ‘four more years’.
‘It’s important we enjoy the win, get our feet back on the ground and respect the challenge of the French,’ added McCaw, whose most famous quote at this World Cup has been: ‘Every player has a World Cup moment … I’ve had two.’
New Zealand deserves this World Cup win and Richie McCaw deserves the appropriate World Cup moment.
He has earned it.
620 Comments
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17 Oct 2011, 12:39 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-38:
You need to learn to read then…
16.JL1 said:
17 Oct 2011, 10:20 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-9: It sure does
Cane calls Frik a pr*ck, UNCALLED for
17 Oct 2011, 12:40 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-144: You need to be promoted to the Premier Division before you can even comment on the Lions.
Maybe you can think of a snappy comment about the Griffons.
17 Oct 2011, 12:42 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-148:
Shame! Since when do you back losers?
17 Oct 2011, 12:43 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-126: The poodle Tiefie-in-chief speaks/yaps.. Have you managed to find suitable mate yet. I see the brokebacks are renting boys from Pretoria.. You should tell them you live in Cape Town and can offer a deal free of travell cost
17 Oct 2011, 12:43 pm
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-136: you and me both… I was waiting for the Wallabies to score a freakish try, usually happens when you miss so many points the other team comes back and often snatches victory… was proud of how they played, hope they havent peaked too early though…
17 Oct 2011, 12:45 pm
McCaw the warrior – has shown again why he is a living legend – even the Ice Man cant compare – one more game one more game
17 Oct 2011, 12:45 pm
@cab(cab)-127: because “without Smit on the field the team loses 6 players”!
17 Oct 2011, 12:47 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-146: Who the he.ll is Proff Noakes…. Ahhhhhh, he must be somebody important… because he wears an AB jersey…
17 Oct 2011, 12:50 pm
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-154:
Calm down langers.
Why would they need to do that when there are so many brokebacks here already?
what are a travell cost?
is it some archaic cape spanish custom I’m not aware of?
like “taxi money”?
17 Oct 2011, 12:50 pm
@stew(stew)-156:
At this rate, if New Zealand win the final on Saturday, they will make Richie McCaw a Member of the Order of New Zealand!
17 Oct 2011, 12:50 pm
And to all those doubting Richie s magnificience – a big fark you
I hope some of the bloggers have the balls to admit when they are wrong
17 Oct 2011, 12:51 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-160: He will probably get knighted by the queen – Sir McCaw ! lol
17 Oct 2011, 12:54 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-157:
lol, where’s that rubbish from?
17 Oct 2011, 12:55 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-160: nope, thats reserved for Paddy O…
his efforts in the field of rugby administration will be the shiny pillar that the world will hold aloft in years to come as the founding light in a world currently bereft of “yes” men… or something to that effect..
also, bryce is going to collude with paddy to publish his autobiography about this WC and “that” game after its all finished..
I think hes calling it “The Power of One”.. but its still very much hush hush at this stage…
17 Oct 2011, 12:57 pm
@stew(stew)-156:
who is the Ice Man?
he sounds cool.
17 Oct 2011, 12:57 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-152: says who? you lot have been KAK for years yet that has never stopped you beng grootbek hehehe…
17 Oct 2011, 12:57 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-159: Did you forget how to shag or get shagged.. Someone gives it and someone takes it. Brokebacks seem to be giving it.. and whats the reference to the spelling all about.. jy weet mos
Its a Poodle tiefie thing??
17 Oct 2011, 12:58 pm
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-136:
Look, I can understand the various reasons you have for not supporting the Boks and traditionally shouting for the ABs, but one thing intrigues me. If the Boks were just “South Africa” and the ABs just “New Zealand”, how would you justify referring to a Kiwi as “we”?
17 Oct 2011, 12:58 pm
@stew(stew)-162:
To be honest I reckon he won’t be knighted or be inducted into the Order of New Zealand.
At best I reckon he’ll be honoured as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, same as Fleming and Daniel Vettori earlier this year.
17 Oct 2011, 12:58 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-165: Michael jones gunther…
17 Oct 2011, 12:59 pm
Wow, listen to poor HG, hes shattered. I dont think he can recover from this.
His childish rants are all here to see, lol.
17 Oct 2011, 13:00 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-165:
It’s Michael Jones – not Arnold Schwarzenegger
17 Oct 2011, 13:00 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-169: you dismiss the relative importance of both games to kiwi’s…
more likely a rugby man would get the top gong than a cricketer… imo
17 Oct 2011, 13:00 pm
@stew(stew)-161:
Bryce you too doodums.
Brussouw is the man.
17 Oct 2011, 13:03 pm
@cab(cab)-163: from PDV’s MOUTH on Boots ‘n All, i couldn’t believe my ears
he said “If i replace john early i lose six other players on the field and with bismark i only gain one player” and the useless imbeciles in the studio just nodded and didn’t ask him to elaborate. but to some point i feel for them because pdv became emotional at the beginning of the interview and started VLOEKING the IRB for not taking care of “rugby issues and only concerned with gum guards”.
17 Oct 2011, 13:03 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-171: imagine IF the team he supports (France) loses this weekend coming..
think its time I passed the medication mantle over to him, whaddaya reckon?
17 Oct 2011, 13:03 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-96: Oi! You do realise that by retaliating to HG you’re insulting those of us who have congratulated the AB’s, their fans and Saint Richie. We’ve been gracious. Quid Pro Quo. Just because HG can’t see the difference between patriot and fan doesn’t mean I need my nose rubbed in an unlucky early exit.
17 Oct 2011, 13:05 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-164:
Paddy definitely deserves recognition for his behind the scenes work.
I was thinking a nice retirement condo at Guantanamo Bay.
17 Oct 2011, 13:07 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-175:
I was amazed as well.
At least Darren Scott would have given him some lip.
17 Oct 2011, 13:07 pm
David: this question of nationality seems to really vex you, my innate inability to support the boks you just can’t seem to reconcile. Why?
17 Oct 2011, 13:07 pm
@frunobulax(frunobulax)-177: my apologies… and not rubbing anyones nose in it except his, we kiwis understand better than anyone what its like to be out of the tournament under dubious circumstances..
17 Oct 2011, 13:08 pm
@frunobulax(frunobulax)-177: You do not know mr 69 that well now do you?
17 Oct 2011, 13:08 pm
The backslapping brigade should all congregate at Silverfern.
17 Oct 2011, 13:08 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-178: lol hasnt Guantanamo been relocated to NZs bay of islands?
17 Oct 2011, 13:09 pm
@Mr Black(Mr Black)-179: ..and called him a …….?
17 Oct 2011, 13:10 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-175:
he’s completely lost the plot, he got it totally wrong. Smit is nowhere near his contemporaries, either mealamu, moore or bismarck. Complete rubbish. Its one thing to get emotional, but there;s a time to hold up his hand or shut up, cos this nonsense about best hooker in the world is complete ****.
17 Oct 2011, 13:10 pm
Rossoneri: I really like HG, I dont know what’s going on with him but i’m willing out of pocket to pay all counseling fees.
17 Oct 2011, 13:11 pm
HG: hayi mfodini, ude ube njena, uba ufuna ucendo, mna, Mpundulu, ndikhona! Lol
17 Oct 2011, 13:11 pm
Indeed you do. Luck is on the Top 5 list of “what you need to win a World Cup”. In 2007, Lady Luck frowned on New Zealand, this year it was our turn.
Question though… the Boks 2007 WC has been repeatedly denigrated as a soft win and hollow victory because we didn’t have to face the AB’s and Wallabies. Does the same go for the AB’s in 2011, having played Argentina in the quarters and an Oz team that probably played their final the week before?
17 Oct 2011, 13:12 pm
Transie: ndivuke late maaan ndiphethwe yihlonko eqhaqhambayo! Hehehe
17 Oct 2011, 13:12 pm
4 words; Western Province Willem Alberts
17 Oct 2011, 13:12 pm
@JL1(JL1)-182: I work on the principle of “raise your expectations and people will generally live up to them”
17 Oct 2011, 13:12 pm
@JL1(JL1)-185:
WTF is ………?
17 Oct 2011, 13:13 pm
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-180:
It doesn’t worry me if you don’t support the Boks, based on SAs history. It just intrigues me that you identify yourself so closely with another country’s national team to the extent that you address their citizens as “we”.
Please, don’t misunderstand my motives, I just find it interesting.
17 Oct 2011, 13:13 pm
I have often called him a cheat, but then most opensiders are – some are just better than others because of what they get away with or not getting caught.
And he is the best around.
Legend.
I also mentioned before the RWC McCaw deserves to lift this trophy – his record as rugby player and captain over the years supported this – and not it will become a reality.
France does not have a hope in hell.
17 Oct 2011, 13:13 pm
Bryce Lawrence had nothing to do with the fact that the Boks did not clean Pocock off the ball, did not penetrate the aussie defensive line and did not win the gainline collissions. This bullshit about blaming lawrence is far too convenient. The blame rests solely with the SA players and coaches.
17 Oct 2011, 13:14 pm
not=now.
17 Oct 2011, 13:15 pm
@Mr Black(Mr Black)-193: WTF?
17 Oct 2011, 13:16 pm
@JL1(JL1)-198:
Exactly!
17 Oct 2011, 13:16 pm
@frunobulax(frunobulax)-189: as we were told many times here, you can only play whats in front of you, and we still havent won anything yet… I do think Arg/Aussie then france is a much harder proposition than Fiji/Argentina and Eng.. what about you?
go back on this blog to after the 2007 1/4 that the AB’s lost, and undersatnd why some kiwis arent being gracious to SA’s early exit… remember, its been 4 years since then but we shave only stopped hearing it since about a week or two ago…
two way street, just its our turn to drive the car and your guys turn to try and avoid it..
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