Past failures fuel Blacks’ resolve
22 Oct 2011
New Zealand captain Richie McCaw says premature exits from previous World Cups have taught them valuable lessons that should serve them well in the final.
The All Blacks are heavily favoured to beat France at Eden Park on Sunday, but there is a discernible sense of trepidation among the New Zealand public given their team’s history of underachievement at the tournament.
Asked whether the team’s resolve is driven by the fear of unexpected defeats at previous World Cups, McCaw said: ‘A lot of guys have been through one if not two experiences that haven’t been too flash and you’d like to think that just hardens the resolve and the desire.
‘From my point of view, what happened back in 2003 [defeat to Australia] I never understood what it took to win a World Cup. Perhaps didn’t fully understand again in ’07 [defeat to France] but those experiences you realise that to win it you’ve got to be the best team in that tournament regardless of what’s happened beforehand and you’ve got to produce the good when it counts.
‘We’ve got men who’ve been in situations, they’ve been around a long time and there’s a lot of desire there. We’ve got guys that are good enough but that guarantees nothing. People say who deserves what, but at the end of the day in a final it’s not about who deserves what. It’s about who goes and plays the best rugby on that stage, in this game, that’s what we’ve got to do. What’s happened before means absolutely nothing. We’re against a team, the French, who’ll all be thinking exactly the same.’
McCaw is the most successful captain of his generation, with only the World Cup title alluding him. There are those who have argued that he cannot be considered a truly great skipper until he completes his haul with the one the Blacks most covet. McCaw doesn’t agree, but did acknowledge his deep desire to succeed on Sunday.
‘You’d like to think the things you’ve done through 10 years, regardless of what happens tomorrow, mean something,’ he said. ‘But this is the biggest game that I’ve played in and it’s one you want to do well in. If you’re going to pick a game before you start playing any rugby what one would you want to play in? It would be a World Cup final.
‘I won’t be around forever but hopefully when I leave one day people will say that all the history has gone before, all the legacies that have been set have been upheld if not raised.’
McCaw said he is not the superstitious type, but responded quickly when asked whether he had ever touched the trophy. ‘No. I don’t think you should touch it till you’ve earned it.’
160 Comments
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23 Oct 2011, 04:54 am
@maximus1(maximus1)-145: LOOSE it? Not tighten it?
23 Oct 2011, 05:44 am
Ha ha tackler you’re onbe of those glory supporters, why don’t you piss off and blogn on your little country town morse code machines in 3 world new zealand, you do seem to spend a lot of time on this website, nz rugby union is broke, this is the last time the world cup will be held on your crappy shores, as for south africa it will continue to hold major sporting events over and over and subsidize your ****** team.
As for the ref, you will have a fair game, as he is from sourh africa, unlike the nz refs, who should stick to netball
23 Oct 2011, 06:14 am
@maximus1(maximus1)-152:
And some of you Okes wonder why we Kiwi’s are such a pain in the arse?
Wonder no longer.
Max grow up.
LOSERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!
23 Oct 2011, 06:20 am
http://www.daimenhutchison.com/rugby/entry.php/39-Conspiracy-Theories-running-around-in-Saffa-land.-Part-2-IRB-Fixed-World-Cup-draw?goto=prev
23 Oct 2011, 06:52 am
On the way to mt Eden to a party, Then to the match. I can almost feeeeel the precious!
23 Oct 2011, 06:53 am
Auckland going off! Down town a massive party
23 Oct 2011, 06:56 am
Quite a few saffas at the viaduct, in bok colours. All told me they are supporting the black machine tonight. Sentient seems to be that bold can’t win it, no1 team in the world – between world cups – should!!!!!!!
23 Oct 2011, 07:03 am
Israel dagg gonna score 3 or 4 tries tonight, that’s the consensus at the viaduct. Saffas agree boks would have bent the knee I’m front of the ab forward pack tonite.
Know your master.
23 Oct 2011, 07:05 am
*in front of
23 Oct 2011, 09:49 am
At the game, atmosphere awesome, crowd awesome, weather awesome, all blacks AWESOME!
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