McCaw ready for head-on crash

The only way to keep the physical Bulls forwards in check is to look them straight in the eye.
This is the view of Crusaders captain Richie McCaw, who elaborated: "That's why we won't run away from their forwards (in the Super 14 semi-final in the Jade stadium on Saturday). Where do we run to in any case - in circles? We'll have to confront them head-on so that they can't dominate."
He agrees that it will be very difficult to beat the Bulls in the set pieces because in Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield they have one of the best lock partnerships in world rugby.
"We know they'll try to spoil our lineout possession - something they did well in the previous match. We'll have to do everything possible to prevent them from getting on the front foot, otherwise they'll create opportunities for a game breaker like Bryan Habana and that will also put our backline under pressure.
"When the Bulls played the Stormers, they showed how dangerous they really are.
"I'm satisfied that we really prepared well this week. We didn't do anything different to what we've done in the past and we'll also not drastically change the game-plan that brought us success against the Bulls at Loftus.
"We also have a few tricks up our sleeve that I can't divulge now. Let's talk about them again after the match," McCaw said.
Very dangerous opponents
He agrees with his coach, Robbie Deans, that the Crusaders will not be lured into a false sense of security or be over-confident.
"Few people gave the Bulls a chance to qualify for the semis, but they did. They won't have anything to lose on Saturday and that makes them very dangerous opponents. We'll kid ourselves if we think we're going to beat them as easily as we did at Loftus Versfeld two weeks ago.
"They'll be better prepared and we'll have to produce the best performance of the season if we want to beat them again."
McCaw does not think that the Bulls will suffer from jet-lag.
"When we returned from South Africa, we all agreed that we won't use jet-lag as an excuse for a possible below standard match against the Brumbies.
"Normally jet-lag really catches up with you in the last 20 minutes, but if you know how much is at stake, your adrenalin levels blanket any thoughts of tiredness.
"All professional players in modern rugby are in any case top fit, which makes it possible to get over the effects of jet-lag. It wasn't a factor against the Brumbies, perhaps because we didn't discuss it. There's also too much for the Bulls to play for to let jet-lag stand in their way," said McCaw.
Deans has made three changes to his starting line-up that played against the Brumbies.
Rico Gear (right wing), Andrew Ellis (scrumhalf) and Corey Fynn (hooker) return to the starting lineup.
The team:
Leon MacDonald, Rico Gear, Casey Laulala, Aaron Mauger, Scott Hamilton, Daniel Carter, Andrew Ellis, Mose Tuiali'i, Richie McCaw (c), Johnny Leo'o, Reuben Thorne, Chris Jack, Greg Somerville, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: Caleb Ralph, Cameron Mcntyre, Kevin Senio, Tanerau Latimer, Ross Filipo, Campbell Johnstone, Tone Kopelani.

McCaw pays tribute to Hurricanes hard men

Crusaders captain Richie McCaw is expecting a torrid encounter with the Hurricanes’ powerful loose forward trio in the inaugural Super 14 rugby final in Christchurch on Saturday night.
The openside flanker reckons the hard-nosed combination of Jerry Collins, Rodney So’oialo and Chris Masoe are game-breakers as well as solid defenders and will need to be well marked at Jade Stadium.
The Hurricanes’ loosies have proved effective this season and the Crusaders must at least match that to have any chance of grabbing a sixth Super rugby title, the recently named All Blacks skipper believes.
“They’ve been helped that they’ve had a tight five that’s done reasonably well and their backs have got them in good positions to be effective,” he said at the Crusaders’ home base, Rugby Park, as they prepare for battle.
McCaw had no illusions about how tough the match will be.
“It’s going to be a physical struggle and they’ve got some big guys around the field that have all got the ability to bust the game open.
“We’ve got to make sure we contain that.”
Commenting on a history of tense and sometimes brutal matches between traditional rivals Wellington and Canterbury, McCaw expected nothing less this weekend.
Both sides had players with top skill levels and a big physical presence and this combination tended to bring about “a pretty intense sort of game,” he said.
McCaw scoffed at a suggestion that the Crusaders might have reached a certain comfort level after being finalists seven times previously.
“What’s happened in previous years doesn’t count for anything when you get out on the field for a final,” he said.
“It’s all very well saying ‘you’ve been there and experienced it’, but when you get there it doesn’t mean anything.”
McCaw said all teams worked tirelessly for five months to get a shot at just one game.
“It’s disappointing if you come away having not performed.”
He said would tell Crusaders players who had not experienced a final not to get “too anxious”.
“You can overdo things heading into a final, but a lot of the work’s been done all year, so we just need to get ourselves in good physical shape and in good mental shape to perform.”
McCaw, who confessed to loving “the feel of a finals week,” said it was easy for players to get distracted by all the exposure and hype.
“It’s great that it’s in Christchurch because everybody talks about it and you get quite a bit more excited,” he said.
“You’ve obviously got to curb that excitement to make sure that you don’t over-hype.”
McCaw conceded that probably most of the rest of the country will be hoping for a Hurricanes victory, since the Crusaders already have five titles in the trophy cabinet.
“I think that only brings out the best in you. It feels like your back’s against the wall a wee bit,” he said.
“But from our point of view, you don’t really worry about that sort of stuff. We’ve just got to focus on what we can do and what we can control.”
The Crusaders will be without rising star halfback Andrew Ellis, who suffered a torn medial ligament in his right knee and was yesterday ruled out of contention.
Both teams will be named on Thursday.

Crusaders pick up injuries ahead of final

The Crusaders may have won their Semi final match which will give them home advantage but it looks like they will be without halfback Andrew Ellis who suffered a medial ligament injury to his right knee in the 35-15 victory over the Bulls.
Ellis had been tipped by many to make it into Graham Henry's All Blacks squad.
Crusaders doctor Deb Robinson said Ellis was in significant doubt for Saturday's Super 14 final but a further update would be available at the end of tomorrow.
Corey Flynn suffered a cut above the eye and a knock to the right knee and may be rested early in the week. Kevin Senio also has a cut to the cheek but is recovering well. Robinson said both Flynn and Senio would be available for the final.
Robinson added that there were no other significant injury concerns within the squad.
The Hurricanes however should be at full-strength for their first ever appearance in a Super rugby final.
The Hurricanes have reported just two injuries out of their hard-fought 16-14 semifinal victory over the NSW Waratahs in Wellington on Friday night, with neither thought to be serious at this stage.

CRUSADERS 35 - BULLS 15

Comme annoncé, les Crusaders ont facilement dominé les Bulls 35-15 et joueront leur huitième finale en 11 éditions de Super 12/14…A aucun moment les coequipiers de McCaw, imperial ce soir, n’ont douté s’échappant irrésistiblement en seconde periode, l’essai en solo de Mauger caractérisant la domination intrinsèque de chaque kiwi sur son vis à vis sudaf. Devant, derrière, au pied et à la main, ils furent meilleurs que des sudafs limités face à de tels joueurs. Le 7 des Sudafs parait tellement moins mobiles que Richie…

Les Crusaders auront donc l’opportunité de remporter face aux Hurricanes leur 6ème trophée en 11 ans, un ratio incroyable de plus de 50%...incroyable.
Rendez-vous donc dans une semaine à Christchurch pour la finale face aux Hurricanes....Richie McCaw vs Collins, Mauger vs Umaga, Laulala vs Nonu...bref, que du lourd au Jade stadium...

Crusaders 35{ essais: 2 Gear, Jack, Flynn, Mauger; 2 Transfo, 1 pen et un drop: Carter} Bulls 15{ essais; Habana, Spies; 1 Transfo et 1 pen: Steyn}


Post en traduction...

After let me have a BBQ with Richie, let me have a talkshow with Richie and sorry if i can`t look you in your eyes...

For my last post, "let me have a BBQ with Richie..." i received a comment from a french girl who lives in Christchurch, and she asked me if i can publish one picture of her and Richie on my blog! So yes i can, it is an honnour for me to publish your picture, and thanks so much for the others pictures too.
Something funny, with Jey, one of my french friend who is in New Zealand, when we watch a Crusaders Match, we love to stay for the interview of the captain, at the end of the game, because we hadn t see any journalist who can look at Richie in the eyes! They always seemed very scared! And in the picture with the radiospeaker, you can see, he doesn`t look Richie in the eyes...

Let me have a BBQ with Richie and the Crusaders...

Ca se passe comme ca chez les Crusaders...

The history of Richie s team: Crusaders History

Have you ever wondered why the name Crusaders? Why not the Cardinals, the Crimsons or the Conquerors?
When the first year of Super 12 kicked off in 1996, the Crusaders title was chosen for the side representing the provincial unions from the top half of the South Island - Nelson, Marlborough, Buller, West Coast, Canterbury, Mid Canterbury and South Canterbury.
Among others in the mix of potential names were the Plainsmen but the powers that be at the time chose Crusaders based on the English nature of the city of Christchurch.
They believed the name Crusaders not only connected with Christchurch's British heritage but it defined the crusading spirit of Canterbury rugby.
And it had huge marketing potential. Those involved in developing the concept could never have imagined how successful the Crusaders brand would become.
From the spine-tingling atmosphere when the Crusaders horsemen enter Jade Stadium to the theme song "Conquest of Paradise" (by recording artist Vangelis), to the flames on the Crusaders castle - the Crusaders have been a huge marketing success.
Watching the Crusaders at Jade Stadium has become the biggest show in town with the additional live entertainment around the Crusaders brand making a visit to Jade Stadium a must for all rugby fans.
So how did the Crusaders concept evolve from its first inception?
The logo featuring the knightsman and the sword was developed by graphic design company Dave Clark & Associates who did the logos for all five New Zealand Super 12 franchises.

Then to the all-important music. Many tunes were considered but it was John Foley, who was working for one of the Canterbury Rugby Football Union's longest serving sponsors DB Draught, who put forward the idea of using the "Conquest of Paradise" music.
And it's now commonly recognised as the anthem of Canterbury. You'll frequently hear it on the radio and as a ringtone on mobile phones. But the spine-tingling atmosphere it creates as the Crusaders horsemen enter Jade Stadium is undeniable. No other franchise has anything like it.
Over the years the Crusaders brand has evolved from just the Crusaders horsemen and the music to the advent of the castle and more recently the addition of the Crusaders sword as an imposing centre-piece on the field. All these pieces of the Crusaders jigsaw have made the Crusaders concept widely recognised and so intimidating for visiting teams.
So that's the journey of the Crusaders from its inception in 1996 to today.

Turnovers will be punished

Bulls captain Victor Matfield has issued a warning to the Hurricanes as they head to Jade Stadium to face defending champions the Crusaders in next Saturday’s Super 14 final.
Matfield, who was commenting after last night’s 35-15 semifinal defeat at the hands of the Crusaders, said you simply can’t give the red’n blacks turnover ball.
“If you play against the Crusaders and you give them a chance they use it. That’s why they are a top class outfit because every opportunity they get - they score.”
Matfield reflected that his side had gifted the Crusaders two turnovers in the first half – both of which the home side scored off to lead 16-8 at the break.
He said that last night the Crusaders initially displayed a great kicking game before trying to run the Bulls ragged by throwing the ball across the park. They then changed the game plan entirely to push through the middle .
“That’s what makes them a great side. They can read a situation,” said Matfield.
The Springbok lock concluded that the Crusaders must go in as favourites for Saturday’s inaugural Super 14 final.
“They’ve been champions for the last few years and they’ve ended up number one on the log (points table). With the way they played tonight they must go in as favourites.”
Matfield and his coach Heyneke Meyer did however respect the talent of the other finalist the Hurricanes saying that they had a number of gamebreakers which would make them hard to beat.
Crusaders captain Richie McCaw expected the Hurricanes, like the Bulls, to be a very physical opposition.“The Hurricanes is always a pretty physical battle. Some of the guys they’ve got are good hitters in terms of the way they tackle. They’ve got gamebreakers right across the field.”
It was the Crusaders forward efforts that coach Robbie Deans was praising last night as his side qualified for their fifth consecutive final.
He said the 17 phases, made up largely of pick and drives from the forwards, to charge 50 metres upfield and then score out wide through Chris Jack was critical to the semifinal victory.
“I think it snuffed out the last of their (the Bulls’) belief.”
Now the debate turns to whether the Crusaders have the belief to collect their sixth Super rugby title.
“We’re obviously delighted to be in the position that we’re in,” said Deans.
“We now have one finite outing where we’ve got a chance to make something of the whole campaign.”

Rebel Sport Super 14 Points 2006

Crusaders 51
Hurricanes 47
Waratahs 45
Bulls 38
Sharks 38
Brumbies 38
Chiefs 36
Blues 29
Highlanders 27
Cheetahs 27
Stormers 23
Reds 22
Cats 15
Force 12

A word from Robbie (Crusaders Coach) about the match Crusaders vs Bulls (35-15)

Saturday night’s clash against the Bulls is going to be an epic.
You’ve only got to look at the Bulls line-up and some of their performances to date to recognise that this is going to be a game full of real intensity and likely to be full of drama.
Like the Crusaders, the Bulls are a strong proud franchise and while we came away with a convincing victory against them two weeks ago in Pretoria Saturday will be a different encounter.
There’s a danger in taking any confidence from that victory because more often than not the team that loses learns the most from a game.
They’ll present us with different challenges and it’s up to us to recognise that and ensure we don’t stand still this week.
You can’t go believing things are going to happen as a matter of right or course. This game stands alone and only one team will walk away happy from Jade Stadium on Saturday night.
I believe the Bulls have broadened their game in recent years. They’ve addressed their conditioning and worked on their ability to play with width. The fact they can now muscle it and use the finishing powers of the likes of Bryan Habana makes them a tough prospect.
Some are calling what the Bulls have in front of them this week Mission Impossible. But you only need to look at recent results to see the home advantage and the travel factor don’t influence results as much as they may have in the past.
Look at our result in Pretoria, the Bulls’ big win in Cape Town and the Hurricanes upset in Sydney. Every year with Super rugby the home advantage becomes more and more irrelevant.
And as for the travel factor, we showed last weekend that a five-day turnaround after a long flight back from Africa had little impact as we finished stronger than the Brumbies.
What I was most impressed with last Friday was how our players stayed focused on the task despite the defensive tactics of the Brumbies and the conditions, which were vastly different to what they had experienced recently.
Had we not performed to that level we wouldn’t be here. While it’s an achievement making the play-offs, the reality is it’s not the end we’re looking for.
We hoped we’d get to this point and the public expectation that we’ll go further is no different to ours. Now that we’re here we know it’s not enough.
We are also acutely aware that if we don’t make the most of the time on the field come Saturday night there will be nothing else.
Ensuring there is something beyond this weekend is not going to be straightforward and it would be great to have you there at Jade Stadium helping us achieve that.

McCaw takes on the reins

In New Zealand, many youngsters dream of captaining the All Blacks.
However, Richie McCaw said he was not one of them.
McCaw, who was on Saturday appointed to take over the All Blacks captaincy from retired captain Tana Umaga, said he never held such lofty goals.
"To be quite honest, no. Just playing for the All Blacks is a dream," McCaw said.
"When I was young I used to dream about running around with the silver fern on, but the thought (of being captain) as a young fellow never entered my mind really."
It was an open secret that McCaw would be named captain and he appeared relaxed at his Christchurch rugby club as Henry rattled off the announcement.
It was not surprising, considering he knew of Henry's plans as far back as late last year.
He also candidly stated that he was more emotional in 2004, when he was handed the captaincy for the first time against Wales in Cardiff.
"The very first time I was made captain was probably the one that blew me away," McCaw said. "I didn't really expect that. I think because I had done it before it wasn't like the very first time."


Although Henry is likely to rest some players who represented the Crusaders and Hurricanes in the Super 12 play-offs, there will be little respite for McCaw.
Instead he will lead the All Blacks on to Hamilton's Waikato Stadium against Ireland on June 10 and probably again in Auckland a week later.
While Henry is to name a large 39-man squad for the Ireland tests and match against Argentina in Buenos Aires on June 24, McCaw will also travel to Argentina where he will "possibly" play.
McCaw was Umaga's vice-captain for the two seasons he was in charge but Henry said he would not be naming another when he releases his squad on May 28.
"There are several guys who can do the job and we will appoint the most appropriate person for that particular game," Henry said.
"If we named the vice-captain, we might have the captain and vice-captain both resting at that time."
Henry said he was "fortunate" that there would be Super 14 captains and former All Blacks captains in his squad to cover McCaw when he is not named.
Crusaders team-mate Aaron Mauger, who captained the All Blacks against the Barbarians in 2004, is a certainty to be selected.
Super 14 captains Anton Oliver, Rodney So'oialo and Keven Mealamu are other captaincy options.
"There will be players that captain the side when Richie is not playing and we are fortunate to have a number of people who can do that job," Henry said. "I will leave that to your imagination."
Even before Henry had several months ago said that "even a blind man" could see McCaw would take over the captaincy, it was obvious he was the leading candidate.
Mauger, So'oialo and Mealamu were touted as other options but Henry said McCaw was named because he was one of the world's best openside flankers and was never in doubt of being picked.
"It's important that the captain is a quality player. Richie is one of the best No. 7s in world rugby, he is guaranteed selection for the All Blacks. He leads by example and that ability to lead from the front and be a world class player is important for the rest of the players," Henry said. "Tana Umaga was a world class player and was guaranteed selection and Richie just carries on that philosophy."

McCaw can cope say parents

Richie McCaw's parents are confident their son can handle the All Blacks' captaincy – on and off the field.
Parents Don and Margaret and younger sister Joanna saw All Blacks coach Graham Henry officially announce McCaw as Tana Umaga's successor at the Christchurch rugby club on Saturday morning.
Having led the Crusaders for two seasons and being an All Black since 2001, McCaw is already aware of the pressure and obligations that come with fronting high profile teams.
However, they will increase considerably now he is the All Blacks' skipper.
"We hope he can cope with it," said Margaret McCaw. "We know rugby has such a high profile in New Zealand ... It worries me a wee bit but I think so (that he will handle the job)."
"I'm sure he will try his best, give it his best shot whether it's good enough or not," said Don McCaw.
In a small country like New Zealand, the All Blacks' captain carries a public profile to match the Prime Minister's.
It was something that Umaga did not always appear comfortable with.
The captaincy will be a big emotional load for the 25-year-old McCaw to carry, but he is a confident leader, a mature speaker and seems at ease in the public eye.
Next year he will carry the nation's World Cup expectations on his shoulders, and the All Blacks management will want players and off-field staff who can make the ride as smooth as possible.
McCaw said he was not intimidated by the loss of privacy and extra obligations.
"Not really. I think just being an All Black, means you become well known around the place," he said.
"There's no point at looking at it as a burden. Playing for the All Blacks is a major experience and if anything like that ever gets to me, I just think of pulling on that jersey and running out.
"That stuff's really minor. I know there will be challenges, but if you just keep to the reason you do it ... and you are there to help the team enjoy it."
Like everyone else in New Zealand, Don and Margaret McCaw knew their son was the leading contender to lead the All Blacks after Umaga's retirement.
It became an open secret soon after, when Henry announced that "even a blind man" could see McCaw was the logical successor.
McCaw's parents, who moved from their Kurow farm to live near Christchurch several years ago, summed-up their feelings when asked if they had envisaged the day their son would be named as the All Blacks captain. "Never, never dreamed of it," Margaret said. Husband Don agreed. "What an honour for him just to play for Canterbury ... this is unbelievable."

Little flashback about All Blacks vs France since the begining

Statistics for New Zealand vs France
Played: 41
Won: 30
Lost: 10
Draw: 1 Points For: 931 Points Against: 544


1 January 1906
Paris, Parc des Princes
38 - 8

18 January 1925
Toulouse, Jumeaux
30 - 6

27 February 1954
Paris, Stade Colombes
0 - 3

22 July 1961
Auckland, Eden Park
13 - 6

5 August 1961
Welington, Athletic Park
5 - 3

19 August 1961
Christchurch
32 - 3

8 February 1964
Paris, Stade Colombes
12 - 3

25 November 1967
Paris, Stade Colombes
21 - 15

13 July 1968
Christchurch
12 - 9

27 July 1968
Wellington, Athletic Park
9 - 3

10 August 1968
Auckalnd, Eden Park
19 - 12

10 February 1973
Paris, Parc des Princes
6 - 13

11 November 1977
Toulouse
13 - 18

19 November 1977
Paris, Parc des Princes
15 - 3

7 July 1979
Christchurch
23 - 9

14 July 1979
Auckland, Eden Park
19 - 24

14 November 1981
Toulouse
13 - 9

21 November 1981
Paris, Parc des Princes
18 - 6

16 June 1984
Christchurch
10 - 9

23 June 1984
Auckland, Eden Park
31 - 18

28 June 1986
Christchurch
18 - 9

8 November 1986
Toulouse
19 - 7

15 November 1986
Nantes
3 - 16

20 June 1987
Auckland, Eden Park
29 - 9

17 June 1989
Christchurch
25 - 17

1 July 1989
Auckland, Eden Park
34 - 20

3 November 1990
Nantes
24 - 3

10 November 1990
Paris, Parc des Prince
30 - 12

26 June 1994
Christchurch
8 - 22

3 July 1994
Auckland, Eden Park
20 - 23

11 November 1995
Toulouse
15 - 22

18 November 1995
Paris, Parc des Princes
37 - 12

26 June 1999
Wellington, Athletic Park
54 - 7

31 October 1999
London, Twickenham
31 - 43

11 November 2000
Paris, Stade de France
39 - 26

18 November 2000
Marseilles
33 - 42

30 June 2001
Wellington
37 - 12

16 November 2002
Paris, Stade de France
20 - 20

28 June 2003
Christchurch, Jade Stadium
31 - 23

20 November 2003
Sydney, Telstra Stadium
40 - 13

27 November 2004
Paris, Stade de France
45 - 6

Here is the HAKA by Richie and the All Blacks

The Te Rauparaha Haka:

Before the Haka is performed by the team, the Haka leader, normally an All Black of Maori descent, will instigate the Haka and spur on those who are to perform the Haka with the following.

Ringa pakia
Uma tiraha
Turi whatia
Hope whai ake
Waewae takahia kia kino

English Translation:
Slap the hands against the thighs
Puff out the chest
Bend the knees
Let the hip follow
Stamp the feet as hard as you can

Ka Mate! Ka Mate!
Ka Ora! Ka Ora!
Tenei te ta ngata puhuru huru
Nana nei i tiki mai

Whakawhiti te ra
A upane ka upane!
A upane kaupane whiti te ra!
Hi!!

English Translation:
It is death! It is death!
It is life! It is life!
This is the hairy person
Who caused the sun to shine
Keep abreast! Keep abreast
The rank! Hold fast!
Into the sun that shines!




Kapo o pango haka:

This haka was first performed by the All Blacks versus South Africa on 27 August 2005 at Carisbrook, Dunedin. The All Blacks won 31 - 27. This haka was written by Ngati Porou's Derek Lardelli. This haka will only be performed before special test matches.

Kapa o pango kia whakawhenua au i ahau!
Let me become one with the land
Hi aue, hi!
Ko Aotearoa e ngunguru nei!
This is our land that rumbles
Au, au, aue ha!
And it's my time! It's my moment!
Ko Kapa o Pango e ngunguru nei!
This defines us as the All Blacks
Au, au, aue ha!
It's my time! It's my moment!
I ahaha!
Ka tu te ihiihi
Our dominance
Ka tu te wanawana
Our supremacy will triumph
Ki runga ki te rangi e
tu iho nei, tu iho nei, hi!
And will be placed on high
Ponga ra!
Silver fern!
Kapa o Pango, aue hi!
All Blacks!
Ponga ra!
Silver fern!
Kapa o Pango, aue hi, ha!
All Blacks!

McCaw named new skipper

Crusaders skipper Richie McCaw has been formally confirmed as the new All Blacks captain. The announcement was made by All Blacks coach Graham Henry at a media conference at McCaw’s Christchurch Rugby Club today. “As well as a great honour and privilege, it is a big challenge to captain the All Blacks,” McCaw said. “Along with the other team leaders, I hope we can keep improving on the success of the last 18 months and play some exciting rugby. New Zealand has some excellent players right now who are enjoying the game and I’m looking forward to the job.” McCaw, who is the team’s 60th Test captain, has already led the All Blacks twice in Test matches. The first was against Wales in November of 2004 and the second against Ireland in 2005. He now takes on the captaincy full-time following the retirement of Tana Umaga from international rugby. “It’s a natural step for Richie to take on the captain’s role,” Graham Henry said. “He has been an All Black since 2001, he is a world class player, and he has led the team well in previous Tests. He has also been a highly successful captain with the Crusaders and with Canterbury.” Henry also confirmed that McCaw is expected to lead the All Blacks into their 2006 season in Hamilton on 10 June. “It would be appropriate for Richie to lead the team in the first Test of the year against Ireland.” McCaw made his All Blacks debut in 2001 against Ireland and has since played 36 Tests. Raised in North Otago, the flanker has also represented New Zealand at the Under 19 and Under 21 levels. The 25-year-old has made more than 50 appearances for the Crusaders and shared in two Rebel Sport Super 12 titles with the franchise. McCaw captained Canterbury in the Air New Zealand NPC during the 2004 season and is the current Crusaders captain.

Les matchs de Richie parlent d eux meme...

All Blacks Match Record by Year(+) = substitute; (-) = replaced

2001
Nov 17 v Ireland at Dublin 40-29
Nov 24 v Scotland at Edinburgh 37-6
Dec 1 v Argentina at Buenos Aires 24-20

2002
Jun 15 v Ireland at Dunedin 15-6
Jun 22 v Ireland at Auckland 40-8 (-)
Jul 13 v Australia at Christchurch 12-6
Jul 20 v South Africa at Wellington 41-20 (-)
Aug 3 v Australia at Sydney 14-16
Aug 10 v South Africa at Durban 30-23

2003
Jun 14 v England at Wellington 13-15
Jun 28 v France at Christchurch 31-23
Jul 19 v South Africa at Pretoria 52-16 (-)
Jul 26 v Australia at Sydney 50-21 (-)
Aug 16 v Australia at Auckland 21-17
Oct 11 v Italy at Melbourne 70-7 (-)
Oct 17 v Canada at Melbourne 68-6 (+)
Oct 24 v Tonga at Brisbane 91-7 (+)
Nov 2 v Wales at Sydney 53-37
Nov 8 v South Africa at Melbourne 29-9 (-)
Nov 15 v Australia at Sydney 10-22
Nov 20 v France at Sydney 40-13

2004
Jun 12 v England at Dunedin 36-3 (-)
Jun 26 v Argentina at Hamilton 41-7 (-)
Nov 13 v Italy at Rome 59-10
Nov 20 v Wales at Cardiff 26-25
Nov 27 v France at Paris 45-6

2005
Jun 10 v Fiji at Albany 91-0 (-)
Jun 25 v British & Irish Lions at Christchurch 21-3
Jul 2 v British & Irish Lions at Wellington 48-18
Aug 7 v South Africa at Cape Town 16-22
Aug 13 v Australia at Sydney 30-13
Aug 27 v South Africa at Dunedin 31-27
Sep 3 v Australia at Auckland 34-24
Nov 5 v Wales at Cardiff 41-3 (+)
Nov 12 v Ireland at Dublin 45-7 (-)
Nov 26 v Scotland at Edinburgh 29-10 (-)

Below figures correct at beginning of the 2006 rugby calendar:
Provincial Caps 29
Provincial Points 45 (9t)
Provincial Debut 2000 v North Harbour
Super 14 Caps 48
Super 14 Points 75 (15t)
Super 14 Debut 2001 v Hurricanes

About Richie!!! Number 7 forever!

Richard McCaw, or ‘Richie’ as he is widely known, is a key figure for the All Blacks and is generally recognised as one of the world’s pre-eminent openside flankers. McCaw has the size and strength to be a punishing defender, the cool head and quick hands required to master the breakdown area, and the speed and handling skills to play a traditional tear-away’s linking role to superb effect. McCaw was named as All Blacks captain for the first time for the Test against Wales in 2004 at just 23-years-old.He was sidelined for the middle part of 2004 with a head injury, but came back mid-way through the Air New Zealand NPC to captain the Canterbury side to a stunning final victory over Wellington. He earned the Air New Zealand NPC Division One Player of the Year for his effort.A tireless worker who reads the game well, McCaw was voted as Newcomer of the Year by the International Rugby Players Association in 2002. After playing No 8 at Otago Boys High School, he graduated through the New Zealand age grade system playing in the world champion Under 19 and Under 21 national teams before stepping up to the All Blacks at the tail end of the 2001 season.McCaw is the 2006 Crusaders captain and will no doubt be eager to lift his second championship trophy as the skipper (after beating the Waratahs in last year’s final) and will earn his 50th Super 14 cap in the process.McCaw was brought up in North Otago and educated in Dunedin prior to settling in Christchurch. He backed up the promising start to his Test career on the tour of Ireland, Scotland and Argentina in 2001 by being one of the All Blacks best in the last two Philips Tri Nations successes. Had an outstanding 2003 Rugby World Cup and won the New Zealand player of the year award at the 2003 Steinlager Rugby Awards. He was also a player of the year finalist in both the International Rugby Players Association and IRB awards in 2003 and again for the IRB in 2005.

Richie en quelques mots...

FULL NAME
Richard Hugh McCaw

BORN
Wednesday, 31 December 1980 in Oamaru

AGE
25

PHYSICAL
1.88m, 105kg

POSITION
Flanker

LAST SCHOOL
Otago Boys' High

RUGBY CLUB(First made All Blacks from)
Christchurch

PROVINCE
Canterbury

SUPER 12 TEAM
Crusaders

ALL BLACK DEBUT
Saturday, 17 November 2001v Ireland at Dublinaged 20 years, 321 days

INTERNATIONAL DEBUT
Saturday, 17 November 2001v Ireland at Dublinaged 20 years, 321 days

LAST TEST
Saturday, 26 November 2005v Scotland at Edinburghaged 24 years, 330 days

ALL BLACK TESTS
36 (2 as Captain)

ALL BLACK GAMES
0 (0 as Captain)

TOTAL ALL BLACK MATCHES
36 (2 as Captain)

ALL BLACK TEST POINTS
30pts (6t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m)

ALL BLACK GAME POINTS
0pts

TOTAL ALL BLACK POINTS
30pts (6t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m)

ALL BLACK NUMBER
1014

Pourquoi un blog sur Richie McCaw?

Vous allez me demander pourquoi je fais un blog sur Richie McCaw!
D ailleurs, qui est Richie McCaw?
Ce nom ne vous dit rien!
Attendez 2007, il sera a jamais grave dans vos memoires!
Richie McCaw je l ai rencontre ici, quand je suis arrive en Nouvelle Zelande, c est un homme, mais pas comme les autres.
Lorsque je suis arrive en Nouvelle Zelande, je savais que j arrivais chez les All Blacks, l equipe la plus reputee du monde, mais a ce moment la je me disais quoi de plus ennuyeux qu un match de rugby, meme si j ai joue pour le stade francais etant jeune en poussin, minime et benjamin. Mais ici, si on n aime pas le rugby, on rentre chez soit!
Alors je me suis mis devant un match avec un francais, Jey, c etait un match avec deux equipes, normal, une en rouge et une en bleue. Ayant toujours aime le rouge je me suis dit je vais etre pour cette equipe, surtout que le Jey etait pour les bleus... je me foutais royalement du rugby mais ce jour la ma vie a changee, j avais fait sans m en rendre compte, un pact avec les Crusaders, et cette equipe quand elle vous tient elle ne vous lache pas. Cette equipe est splendide, et si elle est splendide, c est car son meneur joue son role royalement bien, et ce meneur c est Monsieur McCaw...
Alors pourquoi un site sur Monsieur McCaw? Pourquoi je prendrais du temps a faire un Blog pour Richie? Car je n ai trouve aucun site perso sur lui et pourtant il en merite bien un!!!