http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/5884880/It-could-be-Sir-Richie-McCaw-on-New-Years-Day BLAIR ENSOR 01/11/2011
Rugby World Cup-winning All Black captain Richie McCaw could be Sir Richie as early as New Year's Day.
The Dominion Post can reveal that McCaw has been nominated for a New Zealand royal honour.
It has been validated by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, which collates and presents all nominations.
The letter of confirmation obtained by The Dominion Post says the nomination will be considered for next year's Queen's Birthday Honours List.
However, Cabinet deputy secretary Michael Webster said the nomination could be brought forward to this year's New Year's Honours List depending on the "volume and nature" of the nominations the department received.
He was unable to discuss whether other All Blacks had been nominated or their coach, Graham Henry.
If McCaw receives a knighthood he will join a select group of sports people, who include Sir Richard Hadlee and Sir Russell Coutts, who have been honoured while still competing at the highest level.
Sir Richard, who was knighted during his final tour of England in 1990, said receiving the honour before he had retired from international cricket came "out of the blue" and was "really special".
"Normally it [a knighthood] comes many, many years after retirement when people can reflect on performances.
"It was a wonderful honour and a great compliment and with that goes responsibility."
Unlike McCaw there had been no suggestion of Sir Richard's knighthood by the public or media before it was awarded, he said.
"I was quite taken aback. I thought it was a practical joke from the lads."
The Dominion Post
Monday, October 31, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Relief and glory - McCaw's defining moment
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/5838440/Relief-and-glory-McCaws-defining-moment MARC HINTON 24/10/2011
REVIEW: Richly deserved. The finest player in the modern game can now call himself a world champion.
Last night, at a black-washed Eden Park, All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw shook off his chronically sore foot, the weight of a nation, the burden of history and some magnificently determined Frenchmen to lead his All Blacks to the victory that will - make no mistake - define his life's work.
Nearly 10 years after he launched this spectacular career of his on a crisp November afternoon in Dublin, McCaw now has his crowning moment. Like David Kirk 24 years earlier, he has led the All Blacks to the finest accomplishment in the game, but unlike his predecessor, he's had to do so beneath an almost suffocating load of expectation, anticipation and frustration.
But he's finally got there, at his third attempt, his second at the helm. He's gathered his men together and taken them on a wonderful ride through this World Cup, climaxing in last night's gruelling, tension-filled final that went right down to the wire.
McCaw has not been at his best at this tournament. But he's found a way to be effective, rolling up his sleeves and getting stuck in around the tackle area, where he does his best work. Last night, in his 103rd test, the 30-year-old played an ideal foil to the hard-charging Kieran Read through the first 40 (the All Blacks led 5-0 at halftime) and was a rock for the New Zealanders in the second half as they had to absorb a mountain of pressure from Les Bleus.
Surely this now puts McCaw at the top table of the pantheon of All Black greats, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Colin Meads, Wilson Whineray, BJ Lochore and Sean Fitzpatrick. His leadership has been tremendous over the last four years, and last night he had to call on all his nous and mana to inspire his men to victory.
"It's hard to describe," said the skipper at the end.
"I'm absolutely shagged. We had to dig as deep as we've probably ever dug before. I'm just so proud of every one of the guys.
"We couldn't have been under more pressure at times but we stuck to our guns and got there in the end."
The skipper was also hugely proud of how his men dealt with the massive disruption of losing Aaron Cruden after half an hour.
"The key was expecting things like that to happen... When we had problems the next guy stood up and the next guy stood up, and I take my hat off to the guy (Donald) but it's not about one guy. Everybody played as well as they could.
"When things happened we just kept getting up and kept getting up and trusting in your mate beside you. It was 30 guys and the management and everyone played their part. It's hard to describe, but around New Zealand people in the streets have supported us so much and it's great that we could repay them.
"There's going to be a lot of stories told as we get older. This is a tough group of men and they've left everything out there tonight and the whole country should be proud of them."
McCaw was a long way from the only hero for the All Blacks who were pushed to the limit by a fabulous French display, led by their own brilliant skipper Thierry Dusautoir, deservedly named man of the match for a towering performance.
This was Brad Thorn's final test in a magnificent international career across two codes, and he gave it every ounce of effort he had. As per usual.
Has he ever taken a bigger lineout than the one he got his mitts on with just over a minute last night that enabled the All Blacks to close out this match? His smile was as broad as anyone's at the end as he bathed in the beautiful light of victory.
Jerome Kaino, who has been the best All Black, and quite possibly the best player, at this tournament had another strong match, as did No 8 Read.
It was not a night for the backs to shine, but the All Blacks did well to regather their wits after the first-half injury to Cruden and an off-night by Piri Weepu.
Credit too to that unlikely hero Donald who came on and slotted what turned out to be the World-Cup winning penalty early in the second half.
For that his skipper will surely be forever grateful.
- Stuff
REVIEW: Richly deserved. The finest player in the modern game can now call himself a world champion.
Last night, at a black-washed Eden Park, All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw shook off his chronically sore foot, the weight of a nation, the burden of history and some magnificently determined Frenchmen to lead his All Blacks to the victory that will - make no mistake - define his life's work.
Nearly 10 years after he launched this spectacular career of his on a crisp November afternoon in Dublin, McCaw now has his crowning moment. Like David Kirk 24 years earlier, he has led the All Blacks to the finest accomplishment in the game, but unlike his predecessor, he's had to do so beneath an almost suffocating load of expectation, anticipation and frustration.
But he's finally got there, at his third attempt, his second at the helm. He's gathered his men together and taken them on a wonderful ride through this World Cup, climaxing in last night's gruelling, tension-filled final that went right down to the wire.
McCaw has not been at his best at this tournament. But he's found a way to be effective, rolling up his sleeves and getting stuck in around the tackle area, where he does his best work. Last night, in his 103rd test, the 30-year-old played an ideal foil to the hard-charging Kieran Read through the first 40 (the All Blacks led 5-0 at halftime) and was a rock for the New Zealanders in the second half as they had to absorb a mountain of pressure from Les Bleus.
Surely this now puts McCaw at the top table of the pantheon of All Black greats, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Colin Meads, Wilson Whineray, BJ Lochore and Sean Fitzpatrick. His leadership has been tremendous over the last four years, and last night he had to call on all his nous and mana to inspire his men to victory.
"It's hard to describe," said the skipper at the end.
"I'm absolutely shagged. We had to dig as deep as we've probably ever dug before. I'm just so proud of every one of the guys.
"We couldn't have been under more pressure at times but we stuck to our guns and got there in the end."
The skipper was also hugely proud of how his men dealt with the massive disruption of losing Aaron Cruden after half an hour.
"The key was expecting things like that to happen... When we had problems the next guy stood up and the next guy stood up, and I take my hat off to the guy (Donald) but it's not about one guy. Everybody played as well as they could.
"When things happened we just kept getting up and kept getting up and trusting in your mate beside you. It was 30 guys and the management and everyone played their part. It's hard to describe, but around New Zealand people in the streets have supported us so much and it's great that we could repay them.
"There's going to be a lot of stories told as we get older. This is a tough group of men and they've left everything out there tonight and the whole country should be proud of them."
McCaw was a long way from the only hero for the All Blacks who were pushed to the limit by a fabulous French display, led by their own brilliant skipper Thierry Dusautoir, deservedly named man of the match for a towering performance.
This was Brad Thorn's final test in a magnificent international career across two codes, and he gave it every ounce of effort he had. As per usual.
Has he ever taken a bigger lineout than the one he got his mitts on with just over a minute last night that enabled the All Blacks to close out this match? His smile was as broad as anyone's at the end as he bathed in the beautiful light of victory.
Jerome Kaino, who has been the best All Black, and quite possibly the best player, at this tournament had another strong match, as did No 8 Read.
It was not a night for the backs to shine, but the All Blacks did well to regather their wits after the first-half injury to Cruden and an off-night by Piri Weepu.
Credit too to that unlikely hero Donald who came on and slotted what turned out to be the World-Cup winning penalty early in the second half.
For that his skipper will surely be forever grateful.
- Stuff
John Eales: McCaw at heart of World Cup victory
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/our-experts/5841666/John-Eales-McCaw-at-heart-of-World-Cup-victory 24/10/2011
OPINION: The 2011 World Cup will be judged as exceptionally successful- not just by jingoistic New Zealand supporters, but by almost everyone who participated.
The crowds were fantastic, the rugby immeasurably better than four years ago and the atmosphere at the games and in the fan zones carnival-like.
It also had a hometown winner in the All Blacks, a seemingly obvious result but one which was not always inevitable. A victory that first brought gasps of relief before it sent waves of joy through a nation, a rugby proud nation that had been starved of world cup joy for more than a score of years.
And they were deserved winners at the last, overcoming the dramatic loss of Dan Carter with minimum fuss. It is a shame one of the two most influential rugby players of the last decade wasn't able to enjoy his team's ultimate ascent. Such are the vagaries of sport; it's not fair, it's just life.
The fact they progressed seemingly unhindered is a credit to the other most influential player in world rugby, his captain, Richie McCaw. McCaw was the captain who looked most likely to hold the Webb Ellis trophy. Importantly, his team was built on the honesty and modesty he and his coach Graham Henry live. Never getting ahead of themselves as they finally extinguished their world cup jinx.
The Wallabies also signed off in reasonable style on Friday. The bronze medal play-off isn't as much about where you finish as about how you finish. That being the case, the Wallabies' campaign ended with mixed feelings in their 21-18 victory. There was the satisfaction in victory but the frustration from many injuries. Quade Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Salesi Ma'afu all left the field. The celluloid moment at the end looked more like a scene from the 4077th MASH.
The celebration of Sharpe's 100th test and Berrick Barnes's form were tempered by Sharpe's injury and the question of whether Barnes's inclusion came one game too late. It's a question Australians have four more years to ponder.
We were in no doubt of this fact after the semifinal defeat to the All Blacks - some Kiwis really are as bad at winning as Australians! After Australia's exit, George Gregan was continually reminded of his "four more years" taunt of then All Black half-back Byron Kellaher in 2003.
Words can come back to haunt you and I told you sos are never as much fun when someone is telling you. The throng was deaf to Gregan's good-natured, "that's my line" response. It, like memories of World Cups past, was drowned in the tide of emotion.
While the final accolades go with the victors, therewere other moments which reflected well on human nature. The reconciliation moment of the tournament was not the continual apologies from the English for their behaviour but the cheer Cooper received as he was assisted from the arena with a serious knee injury. The recognition that his frustrating tournament had ended so appallingly seemed to prick the collective conscience and foster the all-is-forgiven attitude of the crowd. No schadenfreude in this moment, scorn and smug pleasure transformed by something akin to pathos.
A World Cup will always draw such mixed emotion. That's why we watch it. That's why we love it. And that's why we'll be back in four more years to do it all again.
- Sydney Morning Herald
OPINION: The 2011 World Cup will be judged as exceptionally successful- not just by jingoistic New Zealand supporters, but by almost everyone who participated.
The crowds were fantastic, the rugby immeasurably better than four years ago and the atmosphere at the games and in the fan zones carnival-like.
It also had a hometown winner in the All Blacks, a seemingly obvious result but one which was not always inevitable. A victory that first brought gasps of relief before it sent waves of joy through a nation, a rugby proud nation that had been starved of world cup joy for more than a score of years.
And they were deserved winners at the last, overcoming the dramatic loss of Dan Carter with minimum fuss. It is a shame one of the two most influential rugby players of the last decade wasn't able to enjoy his team's ultimate ascent. Such are the vagaries of sport; it's not fair, it's just life.
The fact they progressed seemingly unhindered is a credit to the other most influential player in world rugby, his captain, Richie McCaw. McCaw was the captain who looked most likely to hold the Webb Ellis trophy. Importantly, his team was built on the honesty and modesty he and his coach Graham Henry live. Never getting ahead of themselves as they finally extinguished their world cup jinx.
The Wallabies also signed off in reasonable style on Friday. The bronze medal play-off isn't as much about where you finish as about how you finish. That being the case, the Wallabies' campaign ended with mixed feelings in their 21-18 victory. There was the satisfaction in victory but the frustration from many injuries. Quade Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Salesi Ma'afu all left the field. The celluloid moment at the end looked more like a scene from the 4077th MASH.
The celebration of Sharpe's 100th test and Berrick Barnes's form were tempered by Sharpe's injury and the question of whether Barnes's inclusion came one game too late. It's a question Australians have four more years to ponder.
We were in no doubt of this fact after the semifinal defeat to the All Blacks - some Kiwis really are as bad at winning as Australians! After Australia's exit, George Gregan was continually reminded of his "four more years" taunt of then All Black half-back Byron Kellaher in 2003.
Words can come back to haunt you and I told you sos are never as much fun when someone is telling you. The throng was deaf to Gregan's good-natured, "that's my line" response. It, like memories of World Cups past, was drowned in the tide of emotion.
While the final accolades go with the victors, therewere other moments which reflected well on human nature. The reconciliation moment of the tournament was not the continual apologies from the English for their behaviour but the cheer Cooper received as he was assisted from the arena with a serious knee injury. The recognition that his frustrating tournament had ended so appallingly seemed to prick the collective conscience and foster the all-is-forgiven attitude of the crowd. No schadenfreude in this moment, scorn and smug pleasure transformed by something akin to pathos.
A World Cup will always draw such mixed emotion. That's why we watch it. That's why we love it. And that's why we'll be back in four more years to do it all again.
- Sydney Morning Herald
Richie McCaw shines brightest in adversity
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/5843227/Richie-McCaw-shines-brightest-in-adversity MARC HINTON 25/10/2011
But in the aftermath of the All Blacks captain's career-
defining moment at Eden Park, his coach provided a more realistic insight into what the indefatigable No 7 had been through over the last six or seven weeks.
"He's buggered now, he can hardly walk," said Graham Henry, as he basked in the glow of his world champion status. "How he's played I've got no idea. He'll have to take some time out of the game to get that right. I don't know how long it will take.
"He played on heart and determination alone."
McCaw has essentially refused to acknowledge his problem right foot throughout the tournament. That's the type of bloke he is. Excuses are not for All Black captains. Especially not this one.
He hasn't been able to train throughout the knockout phase. But there was never an ounce of doubt that he would miss a game. The nation fretted. The captain just did what he had to do.
"He's the guy we all look to when we need him," said No 8 Kieran Read, who did what he could to pick up some of the slack for his hobbled skip. "He's had that role throughout the week to really keep us on edge and make sure we prepare as well as we can.
"Just the ticker of the man. I don't think many guys would be able to hobble around all week and come out here and do the job on a stage like this."
Henry has nothing but admiration for his 103-test captain who delivered him the "inner peace" he was so desperate to find.
"He's a very experienced leader and talented leader and has developed into probably the best leader this country has ever had - or one of them anyway. He has led this country in 60-odd test matches, and has got stronger and stronger and is a great inspiration to the rest of the team."
Many believe Sunday night's triumph now places McCaw alongside Colin Meads and one or two others as the very finest of All Blacks.
Henry brokers no argument there. "Winning a World Cup completes it. It puts the icing on everything that's been done. It rules off for a lot people in this group who have been together for a long time. It just gives you a bit of peace."
"He's been awesome," added flanker Jerome Kaino. "He hasn't been able to train, but he's out there on the paddock when the heat's on and comes up with the right calls and gives the boys a lot of composure."
"You'll see him hobbling round now, he's not right, the foot is not right. But to go out and do what he does is just massive. He just turns up, and I don't think there's too many more inspirational men around than Richie McCaw."
In a funny sort of way the injury he had to grit the teeth and play through has made McCaw's crowning achievement even more special.
Great men find a way to overcome adversity. And there can no longer be any doubt that McCaw is among the greatest of them all.
- Stuff
For weeks all we've heard from Richie McCaw are four words uttered between increasingly gritted teeth. "I'm good to go."
But in the aftermath of the All Blacks captain's career-
defining moment at Eden Park, his coach provided a more realistic insight into what the indefatigable No 7 had been through over the last six or seven weeks. "He's buggered now, he can hardly walk," said Graham Henry, as he basked in the glow of his world champion status. "How he's played I've got no idea. He'll have to take some time out of the game to get that right. I don't know how long it will take.
"He played on heart and determination alone."
McCaw has essentially refused to acknowledge his problem right foot throughout the tournament. That's the type of bloke he is. Excuses are not for All Black captains. Especially not this one.
He hasn't been able to train throughout the knockout phase. But there was never an ounce of doubt that he would miss a game. The nation fretted. The captain just did what he had to do.
"He's the guy we all look to when we need him," said No 8 Kieran Read, who did what he could to pick up some of the slack for his hobbled skip. "He's had that role throughout the week to really keep us on edge and make sure we prepare as well as we can.
"Just the ticker of the man. I don't think many guys would be able to hobble around all week and come out here and do the job on a stage like this."
Henry has nothing but admiration for his 103-test captain who delivered him the "inner peace" he was so desperate to find.
"He's a very experienced leader and talented leader and has developed into probably the best leader this country has ever had - or one of them anyway. He has led this country in 60-odd test matches, and has got stronger and stronger and is a great inspiration to the rest of the team."
Many believe Sunday night's triumph now places McCaw alongside Colin Meads and one or two others as the very finest of All Blacks.
Henry brokers no argument there. "Winning a World Cup completes it. It puts the icing on everything that's been done. It rules off for a lot people in this group who have been together for a long time. It just gives you a bit of peace."
"He's been awesome," added flanker Jerome Kaino. "He hasn't been able to train, but he's out there on the paddock when the heat's on and comes up with the right calls and gives the boys a lot of composure."
McCaw had some special words post-game about unlikely hero Stephen Donald and the Waikato pivot was happy to reciprocate them when asked about McCaw's importance in this triumph.
"You'll see him hobbling round now, he's not right, the foot is not right. But to go out and do what he does is just massive. He just turns up, and I don't think there's too many more inspirational men around than Richie McCaw."
In a funny sort of way the injury he had to grit the teeth and play through has made McCaw's crowning achievement even more special.
Great men find a way to overcome adversity. And there can no longer be any doubt that McCaw is among the greatest of them all.
- Stuff
All Black captain Richie McCaw admits emotional tightrope takes toll
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10761460 Tuesday Oct 25, 2011
All Black captain Richie McCaw admitted yesterday he felt "shattered" after Sunday's Rugby World Cup triumph.
The All Blacks' captain, a veteran of 103 tests for New Zealand and 110 games for the Crusaders, prides himself on his fitness and is known to have an almost freakishly efficient cardiovascular system. He is always top or near to it in All Blacks' fitness tests.
But it was the emotional tightrope he had to walk during the 8-7 victory over France which took more of a toll.
His France counterpart, Thierry Dusautoir, turned in a man of the match performance and was also an inspirational leader, but McCaw's doggedness and experience was a big factor in the All Blacks maintaining their one-point lead to the finish.
It was a victory that owed so much to McCaw's strength of will and afterwards he paid for it.
"I don't think I've been as shattered as that to be honest," he said. "I don't know if it was the emotional stuff as well that goes into that game.
"I'm just so relieved, really, and it wasn't until I woke up this morning that perhaps I'd realised what we had done, whereas last night it was more relief than anything."
Dried blood was still visible on McCaw's face as he spoke yesterday after his triumphant team had paraded through downtown Auckland. He kept his training to a minimum during this tournament due to the pain in his troubled right foot and was determined to lead his team to victory after disappointments at the past two World Cups.
He got his reward on Sunday night, raising his arms in delight at the final whistle from referee Craig Joubert.
The crowd cheered as McCaw prepared to answer his first question from the TV interviewer at Eden Park and the cheering continued yesterday as he cradled the Webb Ellis Cup at the back of the convoy.
He said of the turnout: "I'm blown away. It just shows the amount of support for the All Blacks and rugby in New Zealand. We'd never really underestimated that but to see people come out and show that support was awesome. Kiwis sometimes don't show their emotions too much but there was plenty of that there. The last six weeks everyone has got behind the tournament so that's been a success so this has perhaps topped it off."
The celebrations for the All Blacks will continue in Christchurch today where McCaw and coach Graham Henry will address the crowd in Hagley Park after another parade. Tomorrow it's Wellington's turn.
McCaw said his foot, which has a screw inserted into a bone to repair a stress fracture, would be "looked at in the next couple of weeks, but I'm not worried about it to be honest".
His Crusaders mate Daniel Carter was forced to watch the match from the sideline but was included in the parade, as were fellow injured players Colin Slade and Mils Muliaina.
"To be able to share the moment with all the fans who have been supporting us for six or seven weeks has been awesome," Carter said.
"They definitely didn't make it easy for spectators, it was such a close, intense match. But I had faith in the boys the whole way through."
- APNZ By Patrick McKendry
All Black captain Richie McCaw admitted yesterday he felt "shattered" after Sunday's Rugby World Cup triumph.
The All Blacks' captain, a veteran of 103 tests for New Zealand and 110 games for the Crusaders, prides himself on his fitness and is known to have an almost freakishly efficient cardiovascular system. He is always top or near to it in All Blacks' fitness tests.
But it was the emotional tightrope he had to walk during the 8-7 victory over France which took more of a toll.
His France counterpart, Thierry Dusautoir, turned in a man of the match performance and was also an inspirational leader, but McCaw's doggedness and experience was a big factor in the All Blacks maintaining their one-point lead to the finish.
It was a victory that owed so much to McCaw's strength of will and afterwards he paid for it.
"I don't think I've been as shattered as that to be honest," he said. "I don't know if it was the emotional stuff as well that goes into that game.
"I'm just so relieved, really, and it wasn't until I woke up this morning that perhaps I'd realised what we had done, whereas last night it was more relief than anything."
Dried blood was still visible on McCaw's face as he spoke yesterday after his triumphant team had paraded through downtown Auckland. He kept his training to a minimum during this tournament due to the pain in his troubled right foot and was determined to lead his team to victory after disappointments at the past two World Cups.
He got his reward on Sunday night, raising his arms in delight at the final whistle from referee Craig Joubert.
The crowd cheered as McCaw prepared to answer his first question from the TV interviewer at Eden Park and the cheering continued yesterday as he cradled the Webb Ellis Cup at the back of the convoy.
He said of the turnout: "I'm blown away. It just shows the amount of support for the All Blacks and rugby in New Zealand. We'd never really underestimated that but to see people come out and show that support was awesome. Kiwis sometimes don't show their emotions too much but there was plenty of that there. The last six weeks everyone has got behind the tournament so that's been a success so this has perhaps topped it off."
The celebrations for the All Blacks will continue in Christchurch today where McCaw and coach Graham Henry will address the crowd in Hagley Park after another parade. Tomorrow it's Wellington's turn.
McCaw said his foot, which has a screw inserted into a bone to repair a stress fracture, would be "looked at in the next couple of weeks, but I'm not worried about it to be honest".
His Crusaders mate Daniel Carter was forced to watch the match from the sideline but was included in the parade, as were fellow injured players Colin Slade and Mils Muliaina.
"To be able to share the moment with all the fans who have been supporting us for six or seven weeks has been awesome," Carter said.
"They definitely didn't make it easy for spectators, it was such a close, intense match. But I had faith in the boys the whole way through."
- APNZ By Patrick McKendry
Pride runs high in Richie McCaw country
http://tvnz.co.nz/all-blacks/max-bania-pride-runs-high-in-richie-mccaw-country-4483571?ref=emailfriend By Max Bania Tuesday October 25, 2011 Source: ONE Sport
We've long since run out of titles to bestow upon Richie McCaw. But we keep saying them anyway, because it makes us feel good.
All Black legend. Hero. Sporting demi-God. World champion. National treasure.
Or, as he's known in Kurow, Richard.
We're a proud nation right now but - as my colleague and I are about to discover - few are as proud as the 339 residents of the Otago farming community now better known as Richie McCaw Country.
That's the slogan that's branded across a poster in the shop front of the Valley Cafe, as well as most other businesses down the main street.
It features two smiling photos of Richie - one presumably taken on or shortly after his All Blacks debut, the other a primary school photo of a young and surprisingly-scrawny Richie in his club colours.
"He's just such a tough bugger, that Richie", says cafe owner Steve Hotton, who's come out onto the street to meet us.
The man the Carisbrook faithful called the White Pointer should know: he played 146 games at prop for Otago before heading offshore in 1994.
"When he went down in the last five, ten minutes last night, I felt for him."
"You could just see how buggered he was. Absolutely. But hey, he got up and kept going".
Steve admits to being a touch under the weather, but that's alright because so is everyone else.
Further down the road we find a makeshift shrine to the All Blacks captain and hometown hero where a dozen or so locals are milling around.
It's just a few hay bales stacked high with a likeness of McCaw painted on the side, topped with a giant replica world cup made from spare parts in some bloke's shed - including road cones and flower pots - but that rather nicely sums up the "number eight wire" approach to things around here.
It was put together by Kurow farmer Roger Slee, whose son was regularly terrorised by a pint-sized Richie.
"He used to come home and say 'that bloody Richie McCaw crash-tackled me for no reason!'"
"He was only five, tackling 13 and 14 year olds. He was a tough boy".
As we're talking to Roger, Richie's cousin Gavin wanders past with son Austin.
He's the last of the McCaws to farm in these parts - Richie's parents now live in Christchurch and the golden boy himself seldom returns - and Austin has dreams of following him out of the valley and into a black jersey.
Everyone is in agreement that what stood Richie apart from a very young age was his toughness - both physical and mental.
"He was absolutely fearless, tough, he had everything", says Richie's first coach, Barney McCone, who has also happened to wander past by chance.
"But the biggest thing about him was that he had brains and he used them."
We ask Barney to take us to Kurow Domain, where Richie spent his formative rugby years. He's happy to oblige.
It's a quintessential New Zealand country ground, overgrown with the rugby season over, lined with hills complete with grazing sheep.
It does boast an electronic scoreboard - "more modern than Carisbrook's", Barney jokes.
This is grassroots rugby at its very essence. I think of Richie's journey from charging around this paddock to holding the Webb Ellis trophy aloft and for a brief moment I'm not ashamed to say the lower lip wobbles. It's been an emotional 24 hours for every All Blacks fan
Barney lightens the mood with an anecdote dating back to 1993 when Graham Henry's Auckland side trained here in the lead-up to a Ranfurly Shield challenge against North Otago, some 60km down the road in Oamaru.
"Sean Fitzpatrick and Inga Tuigamala were training with the team and thought it'd be a laugh to try and run up there", he says, pointing to a large, steep hill directly behind the ground.
"They got about halfway to the top before giving up through exhaustion", he says, with a hint of glee.
"We enjoyed that".
The shield challenge itself is probably best known for Auckland's 139-5 winning margin. What's not as well known was that the openside flanker in that curtain-raiser game was an 11-year-old Richie McCaw.
"Graham Henry would've watched that game" says Barney. "I often wonder whether he knew he was looking at his World Cup winning captain".
It'd be remiss of me not to stop in at one of Kurow's two pubs on the way back out of town.
It's largely empty on a Monday afternoon, but thirty seconds behind me are a group of local lads who look like their last drinking session had only ended hours before. They order a round of beers and resume the positions from last night.
"It was pretty quiet in here during the game", the proprietor tells me, "and it just kept getting quieter the longer it went on".
"I think relief was the main emotion when we won it. So proud of Richie."
If I'd had a penny for every time I've heard that today, I'd probably be able to buy Kurow. But the spirit and pride of the townsfolk is something that's all their own.
It's certainly not hard to see how they produced a man of the calibre of Richard Hugh McCaw.
We've long since run out of titles to bestow upon Richie McCaw. But we keep saying them anyway, because it makes us feel good.
All Black legend. Hero. Sporting demi-God. World champion. National treasure.
Or, as he's known in Kurow, Richard.
We're a proud nation right now but - as my colleague and I are about to discover - few are as proud as the 339 residents of the Otago farming community now better known as Richie McCaw Country.
That's the slogan that's branded across a poster in the shop front of the Valley Cafe, as well as most other businesses down the main street.
It features two smiling photos of Richie - one presumably taken on or shortly after his All Blacks debut, the other a primary school photo of a young and surprisingly-scrawny Richie in his club colours.
"He's just such a tough bugger, that Richie", says cafe owner Steve Hotton, who's come out onto the street to meet us.
The man the Carisbrook faithful called the White Pointer should know: he played 146 games at prop for Otago before heading offshore in 1994.
"When he went down in the last five, ten minutes last night, I felt for him."
"You could just see how buggered he was. Absolutely. But hey, he got up and kept going".
Steve admits to being a touch under the weather, but that's alright because so is everyone else.
Further down the road we find a makeshift shrine to the All Blacks captain and hometown hero where a dozen or so locals are milling around.
It's just a few hay bales stacked high with a likeness of McCaw painted on the side, topped with a giant replica world cup made from spare parts in some bloke's shed - including road cones and flower pots - but that rather nicely sums up the "number eight wire" approach to things around here.
It was put together by Kurow farmer Roger Slee, whose son was regularly terrorised by a pint-sized Richie.
"He used to come home and say 'that bloody Richie McCaw crash-tackled me for no reason!'"
"He was only five, tackling 13 and 14 year olds. He was a tough boy".
As we're talking to Roger, Richie's cousin Gavin wanders past with son Austin.
He's the last of the McCaws to farm in these parts - Richie's parents now live in Christchurch and the golden boy himself seldom returns - and Austin has dreams of following him out of the valley and into a black jersey.
Everyone is in agreement that what stood Richie apart from a very young age was his toughness - both physical and mental.
"He was absolutely fearless, tough, he had everything", says Richie's first coach, Barney McCone, who has also happened to wander past by chance.
"But the biggest thing about him was that he had brains and he used them."
We ask Barney to take us to Kurow Domain, where Richie spent his formative rugby years. He's happy to oblige.
It's a quintessential New Zealand country ground, overgrown with the rugby season over, lined with hills complete with grazing sheep.
It does boast an electronic scoreboard - "more modern than Carisbrook's", Barney jokes.
This is grassroots rugby at its very essence. I think of Richie's journey from charging around this paddock to holding the Webb Ellis trophy aloft and for a brief moment I'm not ashamed to say the lower lip wobbles. It's been an emotional 24 hours for every All Blacks fan
Barney lightens the mood with an anecdote dating back to 1993 when Graham Henry's Auckland side trained here in the lead-up to a Ranfurly Shield challenge against North Otago, some 60km down the road in Oamaru.
"Sean Fitzpatrick and Inga Tuigamala were training with the team and thought it'd be a laugh to try and run up there", he says, pointing to a large, steep hill directly behind the ground.
"They got about halfway to the top before giving up through exhaustion", he says, with a hint of glee.
"We enjoyed that".
The shield challenge itself is probably best known for Auckland's 139-5 winning margin. What's not as well known was that the openside flanker in that curtain-raiser game was an 11-year-old Richie McCaw.
"Graham Henry would've watched that game" says Barney. "I often wonder whether he knew he was looking at his World Cup winning captain".
It'd be remiss of me not to stop in at one of Kurow's two pubs on the way back out of town.
It's largely empty on a Monday afternoon, but thirty seconds behind me are a group of local lads who look like their last drinking session had only ended hours before. They order a round of beers and resume the positions from last night.
"It was pretty quiet in here during the game", the proprietor tells me, "and it just kept getting quieter the longer it went on".
"I think relief was the main emotion when we won it. So proud of Richie."
If I'd had a penny for every time I've heard that today, I'd probably be able to buy Kurow. But the spirit and pride of the townsfolk is something that's all their own.
It's certainly not hard to see how they produced a man of the calibre of Richard Hugh McCaw.
All Blacks captain's father says 'Well done'
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10761454 Tuesday Oct 25, 2011
Victorious All Black captain Richie McCaw is being lauded as one of our greatest leaders, but to his parents he's still just their boy.
McCaw, 30, led from the front as the All Blacks claimed the Rugby World Cup in a nail-biting final win over France that left his father, Don McCaw, exhausted.
"We are very proud, of course," Mr McCaw told the Herald.
"It lived up to everything that we imagined. It was a huge sense of relief [when the final was won]."
Asked if there were tears shed, Mr McCaw said: "Yeah, there probably was. I don't really remember."
When he met his son after the match, he simply shook his hand and told him "well done".
Debate has begun about where Richie McCaw - who has battled through a foot injury during the tournament - rates among the All Black greats. But his father finds that "a tricky question".
"I'm just really proud of what he's done. I'm not quite sure how you compare him with other players. I've watched rugby all my life and each generation is so different. Every kid's heroes are heroes to them forever, I suppose. He will be looked up to by the eyes of a few."
McCaw's Crusaders coach and former teammate Todd Blackadder has no doubts that McCaw will take his place in history as one of the greatest captains and players to pull on the black jersey.
"He's just been immense. Not just what he's dealt with with the whole foot thing, but the way that he's led that team. You're talking about a guy that can't train properly during the week, and he goes out there and he puts in a huge performance on the field. He really led that team to victory. He is truly inspirational. He deserves every accolade that he receives."
Blackadder thinks McCaw still has four or five years of top-class rugby left in him.
"He's probably capable of doing another [World Cup]. That's just how professional he is. He does a lot for the community and he's good with people, so he does all those little things really well."
For now, Don McCaw just hopes his son can have a good break from rugby.
"I think he really needs one. Perhaps a bit of socialising and a bit of gliding and time out, it would be wonderful for him. If he can find somewhere to go that's nice and quiet for a bit, he will probably do that."
By Jarrod Booker
Victorious All Black captain Richie McCaw is being lauded as one of our greatest leaders, but to his parents he's still just their boy.
McCaw, 30, led from the front as the All Blacks claimed the Rugby World Cup in a nail-biting final win over France that left his father, Don McCaw, exhausted.
"We are very proud, of course," Mr McCaw told the Herald.
"It lived up to everything that we imagined. It was a huge sense of relief [when the final was won]."
Asked if there were tears shed, Mr McCaw said: "Yeah, there probably was. I don't really remember."
When he met his son after the match, he simply shook his hand and told him "well done".
Debate has begun about where Richie McCaw - who has battled through a foot injury during the tournament - rates among the All Black greats. But his father finds that "a tricky question".
"I'm just really proud of what he's done. I'm not quite sure how you compare him with other players. I've watched rugby all my life and each generation is so different. Every kid's heroes are heroes to them forever, I suppose. He will be looked up to by the eyes of a few."
McCaw's Crusaders coach and former teammate Todd Blackadder has no doubts that McCaw will take his place in history as one of the greatest captains and players to pull on the black jersey.
"He's just been immense. Not just what he's dealt with with the whole foot thing, but the way that he's led that team. You're talking about a guy that can't train properly during the week, and he goes out there and he puts in a huge performance on the field. He really led that team to victory. He is truly inspirational. He deserves every accolade that he receives."
Blackadder thinks McCaw still has four or five years of top-class rugby left in him.
"He's probably capable of doing another [World Cup]. That's just how professional he is. He does a lot for the community and he's good with people, so he does all those little things really well."
For now, Don McCaw just hopes his son can have a good break from rugby.
"I think he really needs one. Perhaps a bit of socialising and a bit of gliding and time out, it would be wonderful for him. If he can find somewhere to go that's nice and quiet for a bit, he will probably do that."
By Jarrod Booker
RWC updates
Some articles have been published on the 'holiday blog*' (well, all the "old" RWC articles will be published over there so as to keep this blog in the regular chronological order!)
I really want to thank my e-assistants for their help for that was quite a busy time!
Keep on supporting Richie and reading us :)
Mary*L
ps : today is "D-Day +7"
* Holiday blog : http://richiemccaw-bis.blogspot.com/
I really want to thank my e-assistants for their help for that was quite a busy time!
Keep on supporting Richie and reading us :)
Mary*L
ps : today is "D-Day +7"
* Holiday blog : http://richiemccaw-bis.blogspot.com/
Who will fill Richie McCaw's shoes?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=10762417 Saturday Oct 29, 2011
As All Black captain Richie McCaw saunters away for some surgery, gliding and downtime after the World Cup glories, the selectors will ponder how best to safeguard his future.
He's heading towards his 31st birthday and while he remains near the apex of global stars in his openside flanker role, McCaw's best years are not in front of him.
His rugby smarts and indomitable spirit suggest McCaw can stay at his current prime level of performance for a few seasons yet. Surgery on his right foot should sort out the pain which inhibited his training during the World Cup and would have lowered a lesser athlete.
But seeing young Crusaders' flanker Matt Todd at training during the World Cup raised the interest on a variety of fronts.
First and foremost, despite the best denials the All Blacks could provide, there were alarms about McCaw's ability to get to the end of the tournament.
He managed, but only just, as his mental and physical expressions testified.
McCaw updated Peter Jones' 1956 description of fatigue after the series win against the Boks, with his "I'm absolutely shagged" revelation after the All Blacks 8-7 World Cup triumph.
Television footage of him in the dressing room showed the toll the game and tournament had taken on the All Black captain. He was exhausted. The warrior needed a rest.
Four months away from footy will do physical and mental wonders for him, and every other player and staff member of the World Cup group who battled to rugby's ultimate prize last Sunday. It'll give them all time to consider their futures.
"For a guy to play on one foot, not train for a month and play like [McCaw] did, was colossal," forwards coach Steve Hansen said.
It's a decade since McCaw succ-eeded Taine Randell as the team's No 7, when John Mitchell replaced Wayne Smith as coach and took the side to Ireland, Scotland and Argentina.
Marty Holah was the senior flanker but Mitchell preferred McCaw and his 103 test career began.
When McCaw's body has refused to cooperate, Holah, Daniel Braid, George Whitelock, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam, Adam Thomson and Victor Vito have deputised in tests while Scott Waldrom played in a tour game against Munster.
McCaw's contract with the NZRU runs through to the next World Cup. That might be another 50 tests for a new and revised coaching staff to minister and rebuild the side towards the tournament in England.
It would surprise if McCaw survived for that event, or wanted to. Only one captain in the history of the World Cups has attempted to defend a title and John Smit and the Boks fell at the quarter-finals this year.
McCaw may play on for a few years and has been an exceptional talent among a group of very good players. The All Blacks have been blessed to have both him and Daniel Carter in the same era.
"You can't go to the chemists and get the captain over the counter. He's the best leader this country's ever had," Graham Henry said.
The loose forward still has an enormous amount to give to an All Black side which will go through many changes before 2015. Selfless is a byword for his playing style and the next few years should be the perfect time for him to mentor a deputy.
Otherwise the All Blacks might be left with the choice England had not so long ago, of playing Neil Back who was nudging superannuation, or some untrained youth.
The opposing argument would come from Wales who kept pushing Martyn Williams out on to the paddock until he could hardly compete, before they uncorked Sam Warburton and then slapped the captaincy cloak around him as well.
The All Black selectors have been reluctant to operate with a specialist openside on the bench, preferring to go with the multidimensional skills of players like Thomson or Messam in case of damage. Next year they should reconsider.
They should pick a specialist reserve openside flanker in tests so McCaw can mentor him during the week and perhaps job-share during the internationals - invaluable tuition for young men like Todd, Luke Braid, Jack Lam or Sam Cane who are pushing to rise to international level as specialist No 7s.
By Wynne Gray
As All Black captain Richie McCaw saunters away for some surgery, gliding and downtime after the World Cup glories, the selectors will ponder how best to safeguard his future.
He's heading towards his 31st birthday and while he remains near the apex of global stars in his openside flanker role, McCaw's best years are not in front of him.
His rugby smarts and indomitable spirit suggest McCaw can stay at his current prime level of performance for a few seasons yet. Surgery on his right foot should sort out the pain which inhibited his training during the World Cup and would have lowered a lesser athlete.
But seeing young Crusaders' flanker Matt Todd at training during the World Cup raised the interest on a variety of fronts.
First and foremost, despite the best denials the All Blacks could provide, there were alarms about McCaw's ability to get to the end of the tournament.
He managed, but only just, as his mental and physical expressions testified.
McCaw updated Peter Jones' 1956 description of fatigue after the series win against the Boks, with his "I'm absolutely shagged" revelation after the All Blacks 8-7 World Cup triumph.
Television footage of him in the dressing room showed the toll the game and tournament had taken on the All Black captain. He was exhausted. The warrior needed a rest.
Four months away from footy will do physical and mental wonders for him, and every other player and staff member of the World Cup group who battled to rugby's ultimate prize last Sunday. It'll give them all time to consider their futures.
"For a guy to play on one foot, not train for a month and play like [McCaw] did, was colossal," forwards coach Steve Hansen said.
It's a decade since McCaw succ-eeded Taine Randell as the team's No 7, when John Mitchell replaced Wayne Smith as coach and took the side to Ireland, Scotland and Argentina.
Marty Holah was the senior flanker but Mitchell preferred McCaw and his 103 test career began.
When McCaw's body has refused to cooperate, Holah, Daniel Braid, George Whitelock, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam, Adam Thomson and Victor Vito have deputised in tests while Scott Waldrom played in a tour game against Munster.
McCaw's contract with the NZRU runs through to the next World Cup. That might be another 50 tests for a new and revised coaching staff to minister and rebuild the side towards the tournament in England.
It would surprise if McCaw survived for that event, or wanted to. Only one captain in the history of the World Cups has attempted to defend a title and John Smit and the Boks fell at the quarter-finals this year.
McCaw may play on for a few years and has been an exceptional talent among a group of very good players. The All Blacks have been blessed to have both him and Daniel Carter in the same era.
"You can't go to the chemists and get the captain over the counter. He's the best leader this country's ever had," Graham Henry said.
The loose forward still has an enormous amount to give to an All Black side which will go through many changes before 2015. Selfless is a byword for his playing style and the next few years should be the perfect time for him to mentor a deputy.
Otherwise the All Blacks might be left with the choice England had not so long ago, of playing Neil Back who was nudging superannuation, or some untrained youth.
The opposing argument would come from Wales who kept pushing Martyn Williams out on to the paddock until he could hardly compete, before they uncorked Sam Warburton and then slapped the captaincy cloak around him as well.
The All Black selectors have been reluctant to operate with a specialist openside on the bench, preferring to go with the multidimensional skills of players like Thomson or Messam in case of damage. Next year they should reconsider.
They should pick a specialist reserve openside flanker in tests so McCaw can mentor him during the week and perhaps job-share during the internationals - invaluable tuition for young men like Todd, Luke Braid, Jack Lam or Sam Cane who are pushing to rise to international level as specialist No 7s.
By Wynne Gray
Our Cup heroes don't need knighthood
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby-world-cup-2011/news/article.cfm?c_id=522&objectid=10762534 Sunday Oct 30, 2011 Paul Little at large
The All Blacks deserve all the praise they are getting, not just for winning the 2011 Webb Ellis Cup but for the way in which they have handled the reaction to it.
It can't be easy maintaining your composure when whole towns start whining because you have chosen to spend time with family rather than driving down their main street in the back of a ute.
If only the French had been as gracious. Instead, they have taken a leaf from the All Black Book of Excuses and blamed the media while carrying out their time-honoured practice of spitting on people in restaurants.
Our team's triumph is being credited with everything from driving an export-led recovery to improving the weather, and have you noticed there haven't been any earthquakes since we won? It's no wonder the prospect of knighthoods for key figures has been raised again. The Government, which only recommends such actions to the Queen, must be ruing the fact it can't pull such a voter-pleasing card out of the pack before the election on November 26.
However, for those on the receiving end, a knighthood would surely be a dubious honour. The All Blacks are already members of a much more select group. There are 100 or so New Zealanders entitled to put "Sir" before their names, while only about 30 can claim to have played in a World Cupwinning team. This highlights the absurdity of orders of chivalry. When these were reintroduced by the party of Sir John - sorry, getting a bit ahead of myself there - by the National Government, critics were shouted down as being hoary old anti-elitists, clinging to an outdated view of New Zealand as an egalitarian society. Few noted how pathetic it was that someone should need a title to gain respect. Being called "Sir" or "Dame" is really an elaborate way of saying, "Don't you know who I am?"
In that least egalitarian of all societies - the United States, where success is worshipped above nearly all other gods - honours are not seen as necessary because people's achievements either speak for themselves or don't.
Most knights of my acquaintance (two, if you must know) tell me the only thing the honour is good for is an upgrade when flying overseas. The All Blacks can probably count on getting those for some time to come, anyway. How much more honourable it would be to turn down the honour.
My "Here's your guide to voting in the referendum" pamphlet has arrived.
With distractions behind us, we will be ready for the onslaught of anti-MMP advertising that is about to be unleashed and in a fit state to contemplate our electoral options.
Fortunately, whatever its faults, MMP isn't as loony as the referendum. Part A is fine: "Should New Zealand keep the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting system?"
But I struggle with Part B: "If New Zealand were to change to another voting system, which voting system would you choose?"
But I've just told you I want to keep MMP. Why are you asking me to choose another system? Obviously if I don't want to change the system then I don't want any of the alternatives.
The sensible thing for anyone who supports MMP is to leave Part B unmarked. The voting form also leaves out an important detail which could have a big effect on how people vote in the referendum. If voters opt to keep MMP, there will still be a review. This will provide an opportunity to tidy up any problems, such as the disproportionate number of MPs a party can get if it wins an electorate while its total vote is still under the 5 per cent threshold.
The danger is that voters who are worried about problems with MMP but don't know there will be a review may choose the devil they don't know.
An ex-boyfriend of Amy Winehouse, whose death a coroner attributed to a blood-alcohol level five times the legal limit, has said she did not drink as much as many her age. That's consoling. Imagine the state the poor thing would be in if she had overdone it.
The All Blacks deserve all the praise they are getting, not just for winning the 2011 Webb Ellis Cup but for the way in which they have handled the reaction to it.
It can't be easy maintaining your composure when whole towns start whining because you have chosen to spend time with family rather than driving down their main street in the back of a ute.
If only the French had been as gracious. Instead, they have taken a leaf from the All Black Book of Excuses and blamed the media while carrying out their time-honoured practice of spitting on people in restaurants.
Our team's triumph is being credited with everything from driving an export-led recovery to improving the weather, and have you noticed there haven't been any earthquakes since we won? It's no wonder the prospect of knighthoods for key figures has been raised again. The Government, which only recommends such actions to the Queen, must be ruing the fact it can't pull such a voter-pleasing card out of the pack before the election on November 26.
However, for those on the receiving end, a knighthood would surely be a dubious honour. The All Blacks are already members of a much more select group. There are 100 or so New Zealanders entitled to put "Sir" before their names, while only about 30 can claim to have played in a World Cupwinning team. This highlights the absurdity of orders of chivalry. When these were reintroduced by the party of Sir John - sorry, getting a bit ahead of myself there - by the National Government, critics were shouted down as being hoary old anti-elitists, clinging to an outdated view of New Zealand as an egalitarian society. Few noted how pathetic it was that someone should need a title to gain respect. Being called "Sir" or "Dame" is really an elaborate way of saying, "Don't you know who I am?"
In that least egalitarian of all societies - the United States, where success is worshipped above nearly all other gods - honours are not seen as necessary because people's achievements either speak for themselves or don't.
Most knights of my acquaintance (two, if you must know) tell me the only thing the honour is good for is an upgrade when flying overseas. The All Blacks can probably count on getting those for some time to come, anyway. How much more honourable it would be to turn down the honour.
My "Here's your guide to voting in the referendum" pamphlet has arrived.
With distractions behind us, we will be ready for the onslaught of anti-MMP advertising that is about to be unleashed and in a fit state to contemplate our electoral options.
Fortunately, whatever its faults, MMP isn't as loony as the referendum. Part A is fine: "Should New Zealand keep the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting system?"
But I struggle with Part B: "If New Zealand were to change to another voting system, which voting system would you choose?"
But I've just told you I want to keep MMP. Why are you asking me to choose another system? Obviously if I don't want to change the system then I don't want any of the alternatives.
The sensible thing for anyone who supports MMP is to leave Part B unmarked. The voting form also leaves out an important detail which could have a big effect on how people vote in the referendum. If voters opt to keep MMP, there will still be a review. This will provide an opportunity to tidy up any problems, such as the disproportionate number of MPs a party can get if it wins an electorate while its total vote is still under the 5 per cent threshold.
The danger is that voters who are worried about problems with MMP but don't know there will be a review may choose the devil they don't know.
An ex-boyfriend of Amy Winehouse, whose death a coroner attributed to a blood-alcohol level five times the legal limit, has said she did not drink as much as many her age. That's consoling. Imagine the state the poor thing would be in if she had overdone it.
Brand McCaw cashes in
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10762615 Sunday Oct 30, 2011
He's the biggest star in the All Blacks and his next big market is...France
They conquered all comers on the rugby field but the All Blacks could find it harder to cash in off the field.
While the All Black brand is riding high, marketing experts believe individual players will find it difficult to match their world-beating performances with lucrative endorsements.
None of the players will be able to call themselves World Cup winners in any product endorsements, due to strict IRB regulations.
This weekend, Stephen Donald told the Herald on Sunday he was open to whatever marketing opportunities came his way.
"I'm going to have to start asking [Richard] Kahui for some of his Rexona deal. It would be good if he would give me that," he said. "I don't think I'm good- looking enough to do Jockey like Dan Carter."
Of the team's three genuine superstars, Carter, Sonny Bill Williams and Richie McCaw, sports marketing expert Simon Arkwright said only McCaw would have enhanced his earning potential. He said man-of-the-moment Donald, who was off-contract with the NZRU, was potentially the only other All Black to increase his earning potential.
"If you had a much-maligned brand, and you were prepared to admit that, then [Donald] could be a good opportunity," he said.
Carter's tournament was cruelly cut short through a groin injury and Williams' sporadic use of the bench meant they weren't exposed to new audiences.
"If [McCaw] had an interest, I would have thought there would be considerable potential for him to increase and expand his portfolios of endorsements," Arkwright said.
Rugby is big business in France - more than 15 million viewers tuned in to watch the final, making it the most-watched television event of the year. Businesses like Peugeot and Renault paid upward of $4 million in advertising during the game, according to broadcaster TF1.
More All Black jerseys were sold in France than in New Zealand, and there were 120,000 French fans signed up to the All Blacks' Facebook page.
France was already the biggest offshore market for New Zealand and many French fans backed the All Blacks as a second team after their beloved Les Bleus.
While McCaw's management at Essentially Group refused to comment on future earning deals, sports marketers said France loomed as a potential new market for McCaw.
Any products would have to avoid coming into conflict with existing All Black sponsors.
No other players achieved that global reach, said Arkwright. "There was no significant change in hierarchy during the cup - there were no Jonah moments," said Arkwright, who works for Sports Research Group.
McCaw's All Blacks salary was about $750,000 - plus a $100,000 World Cup bonus - with much more reaped through third-party contracts.
The skipper signed to stay on with the NZRU until the 2015 World Cup.
His property portfolio consisted of houses in the Christchurch suburbs of St Albans and Shirley, three in Omarama, plus a new holiday home in Wanaka.
He also had directorships or shareholdings in 16 companies, mainly in the retirement home and aged care industries.
For New Zealand Rugby Union boss Steve Tew, it was difficult to put a dollar figure on what the World Cup win was worth to the All Blacks brand.
"We run a significant business over a long period of time and we don't always win Rugby World Cups," Tew said. "If winning it was going to be the make or break, we would have been in trouble over the past 25 years."
By Bevan Hurley and Joanne Carroll
He's the biggest star in the All Blacks and his next big market is...France
They conquered all comers on the rugby field but the All Blacks could find it harder to cash in off the field.
While the All Black brand is riding high, marketing experts believe individual players will find it difficult to match their world-beating performances with lucrative endorsements.
None of the players will be able to call themselves World Cup winners in any product endorsements, due to strict IRB regulations.
This weekend, Stephen Donald told the Herald on Sunday he was open to whatever marketing opportunities came his way.
"I'm going to have to start asking [Richard] Kahui for some of his Rexona deal. It would be good if he would give me that," he said. "I don't think I'm good- looking enough to do Jockey like Dan Carter."
Of the team's three genuine superstars, Carter, Sonny Bill Williams and Richie McCaw, sports marketing expert Simon Arkwright said only McCaw would have enhanced his earning potential. He said man-of-the-moment Donald, who was off-contract with the NZRU, was potentially the only other All Black to increase his earning potential.
"If you had a much-maligned brand, and you were prepared to admit that, then [Donald] could be a good opportunity," he said.
Carter's tournament was cruelly cut short through a groin injury and Williams' sporadic use of the bench meant they weren't exposed to new audiences.
"If [McCaw] had an interest, I would have thought there would be considerable potential for him to increase and expand his portfolios of endorsements," Arkwright said.
Rugby is big business in France - more than 15 million viewers tuned in to watch the final, making it the most-watched television event of the year. Businesses like Peugeot and Renault paid upward of $4 million in advertising during the game, according to broadcaster TF1.
More All Black jerseys were sold in France than in New Zealand, and there were 120,000 French fans signed up to the All Blacks' Facebook page.
France was already the biggest offshore market for New Zealand and many French fans backed the All Blacks as a second team after their beloved Les Bleus.
While McCaw's management at Essentially Group refused to comment on future earning deals, sports marketers said France loomed as a potential new market for McCaw.
Any products would have to avoid coming into conflict with existing All Black sponsors.
No other players achieved that global reach, said Arkwright. "There was no significant change in hierarchy during the cup - there were no Jonah moments," said Arkwright, who works for Sports Research Group.
McCaw's All Blacks salary was about $750,000 - plus a $100,000 World Cup bonus - with much more reaped through third-party contracts.
The skipper signed to stay on with the NZRU until the 2015 World Cup.
His property portfolio consisted of houses in the Christchurch suburbs of St Albans and Shirley, three in Omarama, plus a new holiday home in Wanaka.
He also had directorships or shareholdings in 16 companies, mainly in the retirement home and aged care industries.
For New Zealand Rugby Union boss Steve Tew, it was difficult to put a dollar figure on what the World Cup win was worth to the All Blacks brand.
"We run a significant business over a long period of time and we don't always win Rugby World Cups," Tew said. "If winning it was going to be the make or break, we would have been in trouble over the past 25 years."
By Bevan Hurley and Joanne Carroll
Friday, October 28, 2011
Smit at Saracens to play, as McCaw eyes up captaincy record
Former Springboks captain John Smit ended his test career having led his country for 83 test matches, a record that could be surpassed by All Blacks captain Richie McCaw in the coming years.
Smit has arrived in London ahead of his rugby swansong with Saracens, and retires with the test captaincy record, although McCaw overtook Smit during the Rugby World Cup as the most successful international skipper.
Victory over France was McCaw’s 58th test win as captain (with 66 tests in charge), a remarkable record that sees him boast an unchallenged 87.87% winning percentage. Smit won 54 tests with South Africa.
Only Martin Johnson's record - in terms of captains having played at least 30 tests - compares, with the English captain winning 37 of his 45 tests played for a 82% ledger.
McCaw has a contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union until 2015, which could see the World Cup winning captain shatter all records as a test leader.
Only Brian O’Driscoll stands between McCaw and Smit, with the Irish captain having led his country on 81 occasions.
But Smit told the London Evening Standard that while he may have retired from test rugby, he was going to Sarries to be a player, not a vacationer.
"There are two types of players who have come here from the southern hemisphere," he said.
"There are the guys who want to come here and make a life here. Those guys have invariably done well and proven to be an asset to their clubs.
"You have had other guys who have come here and sat around and not paid the Premiership that respect. I'm fully aware of that, and it's not my intention.
"For someone who has played as long as I have, the last thing I want is for people to say I came here for two or three years and just sat around.
"Speaking frankly, there are many clubs someone like me could have gone to, jumped on the boat and seen how far it would take me.
"Saracens is not that kind of club. This is a dynamic club making huge inroads, and one that has been hugely successful over the past two years."
Henry signals RFU interest
World Cup winning coach Graham Henry has declared his interest in working for England's Rugby Football Union (RFU).
The New Zealander, 65, led the All Blacks to their second world crown on Sunday after a tough 8-7 win over France in the final.
Henry's tenure with the national side came to an end because of retirement as New Zealand broke a 24-year drought.
He said on Thursday he was open to discussions with the RFU, although he is not interested in coach Martin Johnson's job.
"Yes, I would talk to the RFU, sure. I couldn't just not do anything. I would love to help other people," Henry told the Daily Telegraph.
"I'm particularly proud about the environment we created in this All Blacks team. I would love to work in coach development, player development, environmental development, cultural development of a group of people."
"I'm passionate about that."
England were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the World Cup and the RFU are reviewing their performance, with Johnson under pressure to keep his position.
After a holiday, Henry will travel to England to coach the Barbarians for their clash against Australia in November.
Total Rugby - Unseen Richie McCaw exclusive
the full interview broadcasted by Total Rugby had already been published earlier on the blog.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
McCaw for eternity
Midi Olympique newspaper (Monday October 24th)
He had already won Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders, or Tri Nations with the All Blacks. But he had only dreamt about how it was to touch the World Cup. Last Sunday, at the heart of Auckland's Eden park, despite the massive pressure on his shoulders, he finally got the taste of his dream. And a whole nation's too.
Sunday Oct 23rd 2011. Eden Park Stadium, Auckland. The stands are shivering, some quake is spreading all around New zealand. For some seconds, time is suspending, History stops. For eternity. It's 11pm, 24 years after David Kirk, All Black captain in 1987, Richie McCaw, his heir, is raising the William Webb Ellis Trophy. It's more than a sport accomplishment, it's the dream of a whole nation which comes true. In the country of the long and white cloud, it's been a long wait, and the pressure was huge.
"It's a team of 4 million people you'll have to beat", IRB President Frenchman Bernard Lapasset had warned before the launch of the competition. Because in New zealand, rugby is not just a sport. It's a way of life, a real religion.
FULL TIME CAPTAIN
As the All Blacks captain, Richie Mccaw had a huge responsibility during the tournament. Some responsability he admits it took some time to carry.
"For a long time, I was captain because the others had decided for me. Until 2007, I didn't really know how big it was."
Sean Fitzpatrick, former AB captain, tends to say that when you are AB captain, it's a full time job. In the past weeks, Richie McCaw was the most scrutinized man, the most listened to (after PM Jonh Key). So much so that the PM, who is running for an election, had warned : if the ABs become World Champions, Richie would become Sir Richard Mccaw. Huge honor for this countr. "On the other hand, if they lose, he might become some Guinea pig for the new police tasers gun", Foreign Affairs and RWC Minister Murray McCully added. This statement was full of humour but powerful in meaning....
The past few weeks, every single moves and facts about Richie was seen, spied, analysed. In NZ, Richie is the equivalent of Zidane for us in France. Here he is often praised, rarely hated, but never ignored. Because he looks like NZ countryside, his character is close to the nation. The ideal son-in-law. Richie McCaw grew up in Oamaru, Otago. He is the child of farmers, he knows the values of a country who loves him deeply, a country he will never leave no matter how big the check from some Top14 club is!
Richie Mccaw is 2011 Colin Meads, his cowboy face, his simple but humble words. He looks like anybody else and especially not the geniuses who surround him : Israel Dagg, Cory jane, Jerome Kaino or even SBW, who were all raised in the US culture, caps on their heads and flashy tops.
But during this RWC, his physical ability* was at the center of all talks. When he forfeited agaisnt Japan because of his soring foot (he was operated on in February this year and missed 2 months of Super Rugby competition), he was supposed to play his 100th in Hamilton (a first time for the country!), and New Zealand worried. When he forfeited again against Canada, it was almost crazyness. Questions were raised, and so were doubts.
The week before the semi against Australia, his foot injury was so painful that he couldn't wear his rugby boots! Four million NZ-ers were waiting for the reports from the medical staff. Play, or not? Tv channels, radios, newspapers, everything was about Richie Mccaw. Especially since Dan Carter's injury a few days before.
Of course, the player from the Crusaders has often seen what it means to be All Black captain. In 2007, after the defeat against France in Cardiff, with his teammates, he had faced the worst defeat of his career. When they returned to NZ, teh ABs were booed, their luggage had been tagged by Auckland's Airport workers**
"I grew up on a farm in the South. Coming from there, I had never imagined that it would be like that, but what can we do?", he said at the time. "nZ is such a small country. Rugby is put on a pedestal ; it would be great sometimes to be able to shop or have a bier without people coming and talking to you. But anytime I think that, I ask myself : would you be elsewhere? And the answer remains non."
FULL OF 'MANA'
Richie McCaw knows he is privileged. Never in the History of NZ Rugby had a captain the opportunity to lead his team in two world cups. In 2007, after Cardiff's fiasco, his leadership had been questioned by the media. But just as his coach, Graham Henry, Richie McCaw bounded back. He means a lot to his teammates. Maoris call it "mana", natural authority and prestige from the Wise.
Richie is full of 'mana'. He is without doubt the team leader.
"I have no doubt on the fact that he will become the most powerful captain in the History of the All Blacks", Graham henry said long before this weekend's final.
On Sunday night, Richie Mccaw who had confessed the day before wanting to let a "legacy" proved him right.
**NOTE : if this story rings a bell to anyone, please let me know. I know things happened after the 2003 defeat, but I don't think the same happened 4 years ago. I'd like to get your view on the dates. Thanks. Mary*L
*ability is not the correct word but I cant find the word. I hope it won't change the meaning... and I do hope you understood my translation! thanks for your understanding. Mary*L
Article by arnaud.beureley@midi-olympique.fr
Translated by Mary*L
He had already won Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders, or Tri Nations with the All Blacks. But he had only dreamt about how it was to touch the World Cup. Last Sunday, at the heart of Auckland's Eden park, despite the massive pressure on his shoulders, he finally got the taste of his dream. And a whole nation's too.
Sunday Oct 23rd 2011. Eden Park Stadium, Auckland. The stands are shivering, some quake is spreading all around New zealand. For some seconds, time is suspending, History stops. For eternity. It's 11pm, 24 years after David Kirk, All Black captain in 1987, Richie McCaw, his heir, is raising the William Webb Ellis Trophy. It's more than a sport accomplishment, it's the dream of a whole nation which comes true. In the country of the long and white cloud, it's been a long wait, and the pressure was huge.
"It's a team of 4 million people you'll have to beat", IRB President Frenchman Bernard Lapasset had warned before the launch of the competition. Because in New zealand, rugby is not just a sport. It's a way of life, a real religion.
FULL TIME CAPTAIN
As the All Blacks captain, Richie Mccaw had a huge responsibility during the tournament. Some responsability he admits it took some time to carry.
"For a long time, I was captain because the others had decided for me. Until 2007, I didn't really know how big it was."
Sean Fitzpatrick, former AB captain, tends to say that when you are AB captain, it's a full time job. In the past weeks, Richie McCaw was the most scrutinized man, the most listened to (after PM Jonh Key). So much so that the PM, who is running for an election, had warned : if the ABs become World Champions, Richie would become Sir Richard Mccaw. Huge honor for this countr. "On the other hand, if they lose, he might become some Guinea pig for the new police tasers gun", Foreign Affairs and RWC Minister Murray McCully added. This statement was full of humour but powerful in meaning....
The past few weeks, every single moves and facts about Richie was seen, spied, analysed. In NZ, Richie is the equivalent of Zidane for us in France. Here he is often praised, rarely hated, but never ignored. Because he looks like NZ countryside, his character is close to the nation. The ideal son-in-law. Richie McCaw grew up in Oamaru, Otago. He is the child of farmers, he knows the values of a country who loves him deeply, a country he will never leave no matter how big the check from some Top14 club is!
Richie Mccaw is 2011 Colin Meads, his cowboy face, his simple but humble words. He looks like anybody else and especially not the geniuses who surround him : Israel Dagg, Cory jane, Jerome Kaino or even SBW, who were all raised in the US culture, caps on their heads and flashy tops.
But during this RWC, his physical ability* was at the center of all talks. When he forfeited agaisnt Japan because of his soring foot (he was operated on in February this year and missed 2 months of Super Rugby competition), he was supposed to play his 100th in Hamilton (a first time for the country!), and New Zealand worried. When he forfeited again against Canada, it was almost crazyness. Questions were raised, and so were doubts.
The week before the semi against Australia, his foot injury was so painful that he couldn't wear his rugby boots! Four million NZ-ers were waiting for the reports from the medical staff. Play, or not? Tv channels, radios, newspapers, everything was about Richie Mccaw. Especially since Dan Carter's injury a few days before.
Of course, the player from the Crusaders has often seen what it means to be All Black captain. In 2007, after the defeat against France in Cardiff, with his teammates, he had faced the worst defeat of his career. When they returned to NZ, teh ABs were booed, their luggage had been tagged by Auckland's Airport workers**
"I grew up on a farm in the South. Coming from there, I had never imagined that it would be like that, but what can we do?", he said at the time. "nZ is such a small country. Rugby is put on a pedestal ; it would be great sometimes to be able to shop or have a bier without people coming and talking to you. But anytime I think that, I ask myself : would you be elsewhere? And the answer remains non."
FULL OF 'MANA'
Richie McCaw knows he is privileged. Never in the History of NZ Rugby had a captain the opportunity to lead his team in two world cups. In 2007, after Cardiff's fiasco, his leadership had been questioned by the media. But just as his coach, Graham Henry, Richie McCaw bounded back. He means a lot to his teammates. Maoris call it "mana", natural authority and prestige from the Wise.
Richie is full of 'mana'. He is without doubt the team leader.
"I have no doubt on the fact that he will become the most powerful captain in the History of the All Blacks", Graham henry said long before this weekend's final.
On Sunday night, Richie Mccaw who had confessed the day before wanting to let a "legacy" proved him right.
**NOTE : if this story rings a bell to anyone, please let me know. I know things happened after the 2003 defeat, but I don't think the same happened 4 years ago. I'd like to get your view on the dates. Thanks. Mary*L
*ability is not the correct word but I cant find the word. I hope it won't change the meaning... and I do hope you understood my translation! thanks for your understanding. Mary*L
Article by arnaud.beureley@midi-olympique.fr
Translated by Mary*L
All Blacks to open commercial office in Paris
New Zealand's giant rugby ball graced the Eiffel Tower four years ago - now the Rugby World Cup winning All Blacks will have an office in the French capital.
The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) will open its first offshore office in Paris by the end of 2011, focused on securing sponsorship for the All Blacks – one of the top 10 sporting brands in the world.
The office, a joint venture between the NZRU and Avenport Investment Group, aims to attract new sponsors and other potential commercial partners in the lucrative French market.
NZRU CEO Steve Tew says that while overseas sponsorship agencies had been working for the NZRU for several years, this was the first office presence offshore.
“We see this as the next step for the All Blacks brand if we want to be seen to take this market seriously.
“France is the biggest market for the All Blacks outside of New Zealand. Their rugby fans are big supporters of the team.”
Avenport Investment Group chairman Eric Series says his company will bring local expertise in the French market as well as a network of business connections.
“We want to build on the existing partnership we have with the All Blacks and assist the NZRU with commercial opportunities in this part of the world.”
Avenport Investment Group recently helped the NZRU raise NZ$90,000 for the Canterbury earthquake appeal fund through an auction in Paris of rugby memorabilia.
All Blacks end World Cup journey with parliamentary haka
The 2011 Rugby World Cup winning All Blacks squad performed a dramatic and emotional haka on the steps of New Zealand parliament yesterday.
It was a scene that could effectively herald the end of the All Blacks time together, as they head their separate ways for some well deserved rest and recovery, with some players having suited up for 12 tests in the last 14 weeks.
Others, potentially captain Richie McCaw, will retreat to recover from injuries as one of the tougher seasons – especially mentally – draws to a close.
The All Blacks will rejoin their Investec Super Rugby franchises at the end of January.
A World Cup year presents the longest uninterrupted break for the Southern Hemisphere powers, with no end-of-year tours planned, with the exception of the Wallabies two-match series against Wales and the Barbarians.
Another six-figure crowd turned out in a major New Zealand centre yesterday, with an estimated 100,000 plus packing the streets of Wellington to celebrate their World Champion All Blacks.
There were also official ceremonies as Prime Minister John Key thanked the All Blacks.
“What we absolutely needed at the end of 2011 was you boys to bring home the Cup, we're so proud of you,” he said.
McCaw said that it had been a wild ride, and he was looking forward to the benefits that come with being the Webb Ellis holders until the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.
“On behalf of the team, it's been a hell of a six weeks and we can say we're world champions now for four years, so we're going to enjoy it,” he said.
The All Blacks then responded with a stirring rendition of Ka Mate.
A quiet dinner was held in Wellington last night for the All Blacks.
Flanker Jerome Kaino told the NZ Herald that despite the team breaking up for now, there was a special feeling amongst the players, with the blindside likening it to what happened with the 1987 All Blacks World Cup winners.
“But you just look at the 87 team, they're still living with their accomplishment,” Kaino said.
“I'll carry this for the rest of my life.”
No major injury for Cruden
All Blacks first five-eighth Aaron Cruden has not inflicted any major damage on his knee, after he limped off during the first half of the 8-7 World Cup final win over France during the weekend.
Cruden became the latest victim of the All Blacks injury curse to their playmakers, with it later revealed that Piri Weepu had also carried a concern into the decider against Les Bleus.
The Chiefs and Manawatu number ten was in crutches when he collected his World Cup winner’s medallion.
He saw a specialist today, but was given the all-clear in regards to major surgery, with no torn ligaments, although they have all been stretched while there are fears that there is a compression fracture on his knee cap.
While he will take some time to recover, he will not miss any rugby in 2012 at this stage.
He is arguably new coach Dave Rennie’s most prized recruit, with the Chiefs losing Stephen Donald and Mike Delany next season.
Rennie and Cruden have an established relationship not only during their time together at the ITM Cup for Manawatu, but at Under-20’s level, with the pair winning a Junior World Championship together.
Cruden will return to Palmerston North today to a heroes welcome.
Lewsey: Spare Johnson the axe
Former England international Josh Lewsey believes Martin Johnson remains the right man to lead the national team on to success in the future.
Lewsey, 34, retired from international rugby in December 2008 after 55 caps, and was part of the winning World Cup team of 2003 which was captained by Johnson.
After England's underwhelming quarter-final exit at the hands of eventual finalists France this time around there have been calls for Johnson to be axed, but Lewsey has faith in his former team-mate.
He said: "I'm away from it now so I'm not in the right position to comment on whether 'Johnno' is the right person to lead England forward, but I know he will be hurting hugely from the performances on the field and some of the alleged behaviour off it.
"He is a good man and was a phenomenal captain and a good guy and I have no doubt that if given long enough he would ultimately have success."
The former Wasps star also reckons Sir Clive Woodward could still have a part to play within the Rugby Football Union, as reports continue to suggest the former head coach is in-line for a return to the fold as director of rugby.
Woodward guided England to their World Cup triumph eight years ago and has since had roles with Southampton Football Club and the British Olympic Association, but could soon be tempted back to rugby - something that gets Lewsey's backing.
"I know the RFU are doing a review now and I'm sure they will come away with the right result," he said.
"Clive is a very professional guy and has always been very innovative in his ideas.
"He is exceptional and is a visionary but there is a review taking place that will come to its own conclusions."
England's disappointing World Cup did not diminish Lewsey's enjoyment of the competition during the latter stages.
"I was really pleased with the overall tournament. I think the four best rugby-playing teams were in the semi-finals.
"I'm clearly disappointed in England's performances.
"I think in general Wales played some cracking rugby and the values they illustrated on and off the field, the way they conducted themselves, spoke volumes for what the game of rugby is all about.
"New Zealand have been the best team for the past few years and they got pushed all the way so great drama to the end."
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
No Gatland or Deans for All Blacks coach
New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) chief executive Steve Tew has confirmed that leading candidates for the All Blacks coaching position have been approached.
Approximately twenty letters have been sent out to those who are eligible.
NZRU rules dictate that time must have been worked in the senior New Zealand coaching environment (Super Rugby, ITM Cup) level for the last year, or have three years experience in those positions over a five year period.
A review is currently being undertaken by Don Tricker, who oversaw the detailed post-mortem compiled after the All Blacks 2007 World Cup exit.
It is likely that incumbent coach Graham Henry will step down, and while it is largely expected that keen assistant Steve Hansen has the inside running, the process will still take place fielding all eligible candidates.
However Tew confirmed to Radio New Zealand that there would be no high profile poaching from any other country.
Gatland is contracted to Wales until the end of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, and his successes in New Zealand prompted Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Roger Lewis to earlier in the tournament usher a ‘hands off’ caution to other national unions – with Lewis recently suggesting Wales have entered their first golden era since the game went professional.
Deans is signed in with the Wallabies until the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour, although his future beyond that will not be determined by Australian Rugby Union boss John O’Neill, who recently confirmed he would step down at that time and have no involvement in the possible extension of the former Crusaders coach’s contract.
Tew is confident the NZRU can find the ideal candidate without having to compensate other unions.
Another battle for Lomu
Former All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu’s health conditions, which forced a hospital admission during the World Cup, are worse than initially feared with the star admitting his chances of living a normal life were slim.
Lomu, who still holds the Rugby World Cup record of scoring the most tries (with 15 through 1995 and 1999), was still bidding to keep his career as a sport’s star active.
Having played rugby last year, Lomu was planning on boxing for charity, but the New Zealand rugby legend confirmed that he wouldn’t be fighting.
The giant wing was diagnosed with the rare kidney disorder nephrotic syndrome in 1995 and received a transplant in 2004.
He was still undergoing dialysis regularly, explaining to Fairfax that he didn't wear a tie to the International Rugby Board’s award gala evening because he couldn't.
“I have two lines that are stuck in my neck where I just can't put any pressure on, and it's where I do the dialysis,” Lomu said.
Doctors delivered the grim message that Lomu’s health could take another turn for the worse, but he has fought against Doctor’s recommendations before and overcome much adversity.
"I wasn't given any percentages,” he said.
“I was given a slim chance of things sorting themselves out, but a slim chance is better than none.”
Thank You, New Zealand
Thank you, New Zealand.
"The level of support the All Blacks have received in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington since Sunday, as well as from Kiwis throughout New Zealand has been phenomenal.
"Estimates of close to half a million New Zealanders turned out to celebrate the team’s achievements and recognise the hosting of an outstanding Rugby World Cup.
“Today up to 150,000 Wellingtonians braved the wet weather to welcome the Rugby World Cup winning and IRB Team of the Year – the All Blacks - to the capital city.
“As the team departs for a well-deserved break with their family and friends; on behalf of the All Blacks and New Zealand Rugby Union, we want to recognise the incredible support of Kiwis throughout the country and say ‘thank you’ New Zealand.
“The All Blacks are humbled by the passion that followed them throughout this campaign and they’ve said that the nation was their ‘sixteenth man’ to help bring the Cup home. They are very delighted to have won the Cup and believe they have done this for all New Zealanders.
“We will soon begin planning to celebrate the Cup with other New Zealand towns and cities in the coming months.”
Exhausted McCaw won't worry about foot for now
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw is not thinking about his foot ‘injury’ for now, still admitting he is recovering from the emotional highs and lows of winning the Rugby World Cup.
McCaw post match said that the 8-7 final was one of the most intense matches he had ever played in, saying he was “shattered” after the French scare.
The 103-test flanker, who became the first All Black this tournament to become an international centurion, sat out more and more training sessions as the World Cup progressed.
As the tournament continued, so did the rumours.
The screw that was inserted into his foot earlier this year was rumoured to have shifted, McCaw’s absence from the training field had many fearing he was about to withdraw, while the appearance of Matt Todd only heightened the fact that the World Cup hosts could have lost their captain.
Perish the thought!
McCaw made it through the French game, but he did say afterwards it was a tough encounter.
"I don't think I've been as shattered as that to be honest," he said.
"I don't know if it was the emotional stuff as well that goes into that game.
There was no rest for the wicked, as McCaw led his battle-weary All Blacks through street parades, with turnouts that surprised the captain.
"I'm blown away,” he said.
“It just shows the amount of support for the All Blacks and rugby in New Zealand. We'd never really underestimated that but to see people come out and show that support was awesome.”
“Kiwis sometimes don't show their emotions too much but there was plenty of that there. The last six weeks everyone has got behind the tournament so that's been a success so this has perhaps topped it off."
As it was throughout the World Cup, McCaw downplayed any suggestions his foot was still causing him serious problems, saying that he hadn’t even looked at what would happen next (such as surgery).
“(I’ll get it) looked at in the next couple of weeks,” he said.
“But I'm not worried about it to be honest".
Attention turns to All Blacks coaching post
It is still officially unknown what will occur with the All Blacks coaching position, with World Cup winning coach Graham Henry coy on his future.
Henry, along with his assistants Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith, created history when they were “given another crack” as Henry described it, reappointed to take the All Blacks to the just completed World Cup triumph despite their 2007 exit at the hands of France.
After the World Cup Final, which the All Blacks won 8-7 against the same opponent, Henry passionately spoke about second chances, learning from mistakes and keeping the same core of a group intact.
"That's the beauty of continuity,” Henry said.
“That people continue to be involved rather than wholesale cleanouts and start all over again, how do you learn from that?"
“Those situations are difficult but they are things you can learn from."
The long serving All Blacks coach admitted that he didn’t think he would be given a contract extension after 2007, believing Robbie Deans had the inside running, but Henry was re-appointed and has now repaid the faith of those who gave him their vote.
What happens now was going to largely depend on the result of the World Cup, and with the All Blacks winning the crown, the path of succession is quite clear.
Hansen has made his feelings known that he wants to coach the All Blacks, and as a successful assistant with the Webb Ellis Cup in hand, one would feel he has a pretty good chance.
Assuming the 65-year-old Henry steps down.
Clearly the coaching gig is like breathing to him, with Henry and Hansen accepting invitations from the Barbarians to coach the team against the Wallabies later this year.
While this occurs, the New Zealand Rugby Union will begin their process.
Chief executive Steve Tew confirmed that a tournament review will take place, and that a decision on the All Blacks coaching post will be decided hopefully “before Christmas”.
The only certainty is that Smith will head to the Chiefs.
This creates further intrigue for if Hansen is successful is gaining the top job, he will want some capable assistants – and within New Zealand Ian Foster, Colin Cooper and Todd Blackadder are names bandied around ‘what if’ circles.
One thing is for sure, the new All Blacks coach will inherit a World Champion team, and will have a core of experienced and class players to operate with.
"We made the All Blacks tremble" said Lievremont
French coach Marc Lievremont has finished his tenure as coach, after almost leading his side to a massive upset with an 8-7 loss against the All Blacks.
Philippe Saint-Andre will replace the former flanker as Les Bleus boss, and his first matches in charge will be during the 2012 Six Nations.
Lievremont had a colourful final chapter as French coach, copping massive criticism as France sunk to two pool losses against the All Blacks and Tonga, while consistent claims of infighting and lack of respect between coach and players were rife throughout the tournament.
It was a lighthearted Lievremont who wrapped up his New Zealand journey.
"My contract ends today and I didn't want you guys to miss me very much," he said.
"In the weeks and months ahead, it will be up to someone else to tell you about the French team."
While many predicted France would implode, with Lievremont’s relationship with his players reaching a head when he labeled them “spoiled brats” after they celebrated their semi-final win against instructions – they managed to go toe-to-toe with the world’s best team.
"We made it to the final. We made the All Blacks tremble and that is where we are now," Lievremont said.
"I thought the performance of the French players was beautiful. They put in a great performance. They played great rugby.
"We were looking for three consecutive wins and it wasn't there. It is hard when you are up against a whole nation."
As for his comments regarding his players, he felt that it was because they were like family.
"That is a term (spoiled brats) I use with my brothers and sisters," he said.
"I take responsibility for that and the timing wasn't probably right. I know some of them were not happy with me.
"I have great admiration for my players and I hope in the coming weeks they will feel the same way about me."
All Blacks stay top, Wales flop in rankings
New Zealand retained their place atop the IRB rankings after beating France in the World Cup final, while Wales dropped down two places.
The All Blacks have occupied top spot for 23 consecutive months, though their cushion at the top has been reduced after the latest rankings were released on Tuesday.
Graham Henry's side are top on 91.43 points, with bronze medal winners Australia second on 87.42 points.
France are third (84.70), followed by World Cup quarter-finalists South Africa (fourth, 84.34) and England (fifth, 81.58).
Wales (80.18) dropped from sixth to eighth despite an impressive World Cup campaign that saw them lose the third place play-off to the Wallabies.
Despite finishing lower than Wales at the tournament, Ireland (sixth, 80.65) and Argentina (seventh, 80.28) each climbed one place.
Tonga, who beat France 19-14 in their last match of the tournament, sit ninth on 76.63 points, while Scotland (10th, 76.20) completed the top 10.
Israel was the biggest mover in the latest rankings, moving up six places to 61st position.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Capital celebrates champion All Blacks
Parade to start at 12.15pm, Wednesday 26 October
The Rugby World Cup 2011 winning and IRB Team of the Year - All Blacks will take to the central city streets of Wellington in the third and final public appearance for the team before they head home.
New Zealand Rugby Union CEO, Steve Tew said the team had been blown away by the support they have received both in Auckland and Christchurch, as well as from fans throughout the country.
“The team have been humbled by the huge turnout of fans as well as the messages of support and are looking forward to continuing the celebrations with Wellingtonians before taking a well-earned break.”
The public event will begin at Civic Square at 12.15pm on Wednesday and make its way down Mercer Street, Willis Street and down Lambton Quay to conclude at Parliament.
Wellington Mayor Celia Wade Brown said Wellington had been a huge supporter of the All Blacks and Rugby World Cup 2011 and locals would relish the opportunity to share the success with the team.
“The All Blacks have done us all proud and I’m hoping that as many fans as possible come out to welcome the team. I encourage fans to come dressed in black as a tribute to the amazing achievements of this great team for what will be a carnival celebration to remember.”
Steve Tew said the New Zealand Rugby Union intended to get plans underway soon to celebrate the Webb Ellis trophy with other New Zealand towns and cities in the coming months.
Details of the public parades are available as plans are put in place on www.wcc.govt.nz; www.facebook.com/allblacks and www.allblacks.com.
Woodcock: It was a special move
All Blacks prop Tony Woodcock has revealed that the audacious move performed off a line out take was rehearsed and “saved for the final”.
In the end it was the try that won the All Blacks the Rugby World Cup, with Jerome Kaino taking a clean throw from Keven Mealamu, who then palmed it neatly down into the gleeful arms of Woodcock, who crossed for the team’s only try of the match.
With the 83-test prop strolling over unchallenged in the 15th minute, one could have predicted – something that history has supported over recent years – that the All Blacks were going to cut loose and put on more tries.
Yet while the French forwards looked dumbfounded with being tricked by a move straight from the training paddock, they rolled up their sleeves and prevented any more scores from the All Blacks.
When Woodcock crossed coach Graham Henry was seen obviously patting assistant Steve Hansen on the back, clearly a move the forward’s coach had devised.
Woodcock said he was glad it worked.
"We put that one up our sleeve and saved it for the final, so I'm pretty happy it came off," he said.
"It was pretty satisfying to have that move up our sleeve. It was definitely a team effort.
"It just opened up and just to get over the line, it's pretty special for me."
Woodcock, one of the ten original members of the current World Cup squad who featured in France in 2007, admitted that the fight back from France, when Thierry Dusautoir scored his try in the 47th minute, had him thinking about the horrors four years ago.
"Throughout that last 20 minutes, I definitely had thoughts of what happened in 2007 running through my head," he said.
"It hasn't sunk in. It's unbelievable.
"Especially after 2007, what happened there and being involved in that, I'm just so rapt to get the win."
The most capped All Blacks prop in history said he knew it would be a titanic battle, but he didn’t expect it to be quite so competitive.
"We knew it was going to be a tough game," said Woodcock.
"We probably didn't want it to be that tight, but it was gutsy effort from everyone. It was definitely an interesting battle."
Mental strength defined this All Blacks team
It was somewhat fitting that the most important All Blacks game in years wasn’t won by flashy skills or immaculate play, but with a mental performance where the spectre of a famous French upset didn’t break the team’s resolve.
A 8-7 win saw the All Blacks doggedly defend their line through a frantic second half based on the French fighting back into the contest, a test that was about turning up on the night and dealing with the pressure.
Assistant coach Wayne Smith felt that the All Blacks were proud to play some attractive rugby at times, but said that it wasn’t just mental strength that was needed, but the spirit driven by the famous black jersey.
"We played a lot of great rugby over the last eight years,” Smith said.
“Sometimes it just comes down to what you have got under the fern and what you have got in the top two inches.”
Smith heads to Waikato to be Dave Rennie’s assistant at the Chiefs in 2012, and he lauded a team that kept getting up and doing the job.
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw believes that a team’s intensity comes from how quickly the get back off the ground, and Smith said that this was displayed throughout the World Cup Final.
"They showed that character and ability to get up and make another tackle,” Smith said.
“I just feel so privileged to be part of this."
Assistant coach Steve Hansen agreed that the team’s mental strength had grown, but also hailed the belief of the side, and the belief of each player in the squad.
"The mental side of our team has grown considerably since 2007. We have won a couple of games like that that have been really tight," Hansen said.
"Tonight we knew the French would play as they did and they were outstanding. But the pleasing thing was we showed a lot of ticker but we also showed a lot of belief in not only ourselves but the guy that was standing alongside you.
"That belief is bone deep within this group. When it is bone deep you can achieve things like we did tonight. Probably in other cases the score might have gone the other way. But because this group of men believe in each other and themselves that well, they hung in there and hung in there and it rubs off on other people."
Henry, Hansen to coach Barbarians
World Cup-winning All Blacks coaches Graham Henry and Steve Hansen have proven tigers for punishment.
They have accepted invitations to coach the Barbarians against Australia on November 26.
Clearly having prepared the All Blacks to face their trans-Tasman rivals twice during the Investec Tri Nations and in the semi-finals of the World Cup wasn't enough.
Barbarians chairman John Spencer, a British and Irish Lions in New Zealand in 1971, said: "This is a great coup for the Barbarians. Having seen at first hand in New Zealand in recent weeks the high regard in which both Graham Henry and Steve Hansen are held by the rugby fraternity at large, capped by the All Blacks being crowned as world champions, we are absolutely delighted that they are coming to the UK to coach the Barbarians."
Several of their All Blacks players will be with them at Twickenham. Sonny Bill Williams and Keven Mealamu will appear for the second time for the Barbarians while joining them will be Jerome Kaino, Piri Weepu and Adam Thomson.
They will play alongside players like Jamie Roberts and Leigh Halfpenny from Wales, and the South African pair of Bryan Habana and Victor Matfield. Others to appear include: Stirling Mortlock, Danny Cipriani, Jason White, Stephen Jones, Ryan and Adam Jones.
After the Barbarians match, England will play a repeat of the 2010 Women's World Cup final against New Zealand.
France fined for haka breach
France have been fined 10,000 pounds for advancing on the New Zealand haka before Sunday's Rugby World Cup final.
The International Rugby Board handed down the ruling stating Les Bleus had failed to stay the required distance from the haka, behind the 10-metre line in their own half.
France captain Thierry Dusautoir led his teammates in a V-formation as they steadily progressed towards the customary war dance from the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland.
Speaking before the fine, Dusautoir said the team wanted to make a bold statement and believed it was a worthwhile exercise despite the narrow loss.
"At one stage we were so close to them that they wanted to kiss the New Zealanders, but I told them to take it easy. It was a great moment and a moment we will remember all our lives," Dusautoir said.
France coach Marc Lievremont said Dusautoir tried to stop his teammates from encroaching too far and believed the fine was unjustified.
"He tried to stop them, there was a bit of movement bringing them forward."
"But a fine? I don't know."
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw expected something unusual from the French and saw their challenge as an indicator of things to come with the French pushing New Zealand all the way in a 8-7 loss.
"We talked that they'd bring something different and they did, but the game doesn’t start until the whistle blows does it?" McCaw said.
"If anything, it showed us what we were in for and that's exactly what we got."
"They were right up for the game as we expected and they certainly made it tough."
France are not the only side to deploy similar tactics, Ireland famously advanced past the halfway line when facing the haka in 1989.
All Blacks number one for first time at end of Cup year
New Zealand remain on top of the IRB World Rankings after beating France 8-7 in the Rugby World Cup Final on Sunday to lift the Webb Ellis Cup for the first time in 24 years, although their cushion at the top has been reduced slightly.
It is the first time since the rankings have been introduced that the All Blacks have remained the number one team at the end of a World Cup year, with England (2003) and South Africa (2007) gaining the position with their previous successes - although the All Blacks took back the number one position the following year.
The All Blacks have occupied top spot for the last 23 months and for nearly 80 per cent of the time since the rankings were introduced in October 2003, but would have surrendered that position to France had they suffered more RWC heartbreak against Les Bleus.
VIEW THE FULL RANKINGS >>
The world champions only increased their rating slightly to 91.43, but that will matter little as they continued the celebrations with a street parade in Auckland on Monday, the mission having been accomplished for Rugby World Cup 2011.
France’s third, and by far the closest, defeat in a Rugby World Cup Final means they remain third in the rankings behind bronze medal winners Australia and just over three tenths above South Africa, a nation they climbed above last week to break the southern hemisphere dominance of the top three.
Australia’s 21-18 victory over Wales in the Bronze Final on Friday improved their rating by nearly a point and as a result has reduced their deficit to New Zealand to 4.01 points. The defeat was costly for Wales as the points exchange meant they dropped below Ireland and Argentina to eighth.
All Blacks, Henry win team and coach of the year
The All Blacks have been named IRB Team of the Year and Graham Henry IRB Coach of the Year, to add to the Rugby World Cup crown they claimed at Eden Park with a hard-fought 8-7 victory over the French on 23 October.
France captain Thierry Dusautoir has been named the IRB Player of the Year at the 2011 IRB Awards in association with Emirates Airline, during a star-studded ceremony at Vector Arena in Auckland on Monday.
Dusautoir is the second Frenchman to win the Award, following in the footsteps of former national team captain, Fabien Galthié, who claimed the accolade in 2002.
Dusautoir was outstanding all season for France, including in the World Cup and particularly the final where his defensive effort and ball-carrying inspired the French against the hosts.
He was picked ahead of five other nominees – New Zealand scrum half Piri Weepu, flanker Jerome Kaino and centre Ma’a Nonu and Australia flanker David Pocock and scrum half Will Genia.
The winners were selected by the Awards’ independent panel of judges, chaired by Rugby World Cup-winner John Eales and made up of former internationals with more than 500 caps between them. The panel deliberated on every major Test match played this year, starting with the first Six Nations match and finishing with the Rugby World Cup 2011 Final.
The glittering event, which also celebrated 125 years of the International Rugby Board, was a fitting finale to what IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset described as an “exceptional” Rugby World Cup and was attended by all four semi-final teams, royalty and stars from sport and entertainment.
Earlier in the day, an estimated 240,000 fans turned up to catch a glimpse of the All Blacks who were last to arrive at the Vector Arena with the Webb Ellis Cup.
Full list of IRB Awards winners
IRB Player of the Year – Thierry Dusautoir
IRB Team of the Year – New Zealand
IRB Coach of the Year – Graham Henry
IRB Junior Player of the Year – George Ford, England
IRB Sevens Player of the Year in association with HSBC – Cecil Afrika, South Africa
IRB Women’s Personality of the Year – Ruth Mitchell
IRB Development Award – Rookie Rugby
IRB Spirit of Rugby Award – Wooden Spoon
IRPA Special Merit Award – George Smith, Australia
IRPA Try of the Year – Radike Samo, Australia v New Zealand
Kirk, Lochore, Hobbs and Lomu honoured at IRB awards
Former All Blacks captain David Kirk, 1987 World Cup winning coach Sir Brian Lochore, former captain and NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs, former All Blacks wing Jonah Lomu and former referee Keith Lawrence have been honoured at the International Rugby Board (IRB) awards tonight.
David Kirk and Sir Brian Lochore were inducted as every winning coach and captain of every edition from 1987 to 2007 were admitted into the Hall – with John Eales, the 1999-winning captain, inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2007.
Hobbs and Robinson received awards for distinguished service to rugby.
Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service – Jock Hobbs
Jock Hobbs was elected Chairman of the NZRU in 2002 and served with distinction, overseeing considerable success on and off the pitch while also securing New Zealand the right to host Rugby World Cup 2011.
In December 2010 Hobbs stepped down from his position as Chairman of both the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) and Rugby New Zealand (RNZ) 2011 Limited due to ill health but continues to be an inspirational presence in the country.
IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service in association with Emirates Airline – Keith Lawrence
Keith Lawrence refereed 14 international matches between 1985 and 1991 and went on to become an outstanding rugby administrator in the match official sphere. Lawrence worked as a Referee Manager both within his native New Zealand and for the International Rugby Board as Sevens Referee Manager, a role from which he retired earlier this year.
IRB Hall of Fame inductees – Dr Roger Vanderfield, Richard Littlejohn, Sir Nicholas Shehadie, John Kendall-Carpenter, David Kirk, Sir Brian Lochore, Nick Farr-Jones, Bob Dwyer, Francois Pienaar, Kitch Christie, Rod Macqueen, Martin Johnson CBE, Sir Clive Woodward OBE, John Smit, Jake White, Gareth Rees, Agustín Pichot, Brian Lima and Jonah Lomu.
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