The most capped player in rugby test history and three-time winner of the world player of the year award showed that time holds back for no one when he committed a cynical foul on Sunday night at Twickenham. A kick that highlighted that his even his rampaging powers can ebb away and the stark realisation that perhaps athletes that even inhabit the Pantheon of Fame must face careers coming to their end.
In the case of McCaw the trip on Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe showed a high level of frustration as Argentina were threatening to rewrite the pre-match script for New Zealand in their opening world cup game. Indeed so blatant was the foul – and in front of 90,000 fans – that it earned McCaw not only a yellow card - only the third in 143 tests - but also a whole second half being of booing once his ten minute sinbin sentence was completed.
In what was an emotional send off a few weeks earlier from Auckland the All Blacks leader arrived in London with his squad to defend the Webb Ellis trophy so well earned in 2011 on home soil. With the euphoria still rampant after the All Blacks demolition of Australia 41-13 at Eden Park. In what was billed as his last home international and the start of McCaw’s long goodbye to the international game.
However Sunday night at Twickers the uglier side of his open side work reared its ugly head and captured by Wayne Barnes and the confirmed by the TMO. In what was can only be summarised as a moment of madness given McCaw is the master escapologist conducting much of his all black magic out of referee’s eye line. A menace that makes the New Zealand captain invaluable at the breakdown.
In the build up to this tournament the press conferences with McCaw always touched on his potential retirement. To which Richie McCaw had a well-rehearsed response: "I haven't made a final decision yet although I've given a reasonably strong hint," said 34-year-old McCaw. "Whether I play much more past this year is pretty debatable."
For a variety of reasons it would seem only sensible tat at the height of powers, his reputation irrevocably one of global respect that McCaw draws a halt to prolonging his career and given into to such frustrations. Or not being able to accept other players getting the better of him. Which is no doubt part of the underlying cause of him sticking out his boot to trip up illegally Lobbe in full flight.
Yet it’s a feeling anyone that has played sports recognises and the result of the aging body unable to respond at the same speed and pace it did the previous days. Never mind ten years ago.
So for no other reason McCaw should take his “brain explosion” as due warning that win lose or draw by October 31st the moment has arrived to leave the All Blacks battlefield. Other players for New Zealand and international players of nations have had to countenance that moment. With some managing their departure better than others.
Jonny Wilkinson probably the closest to McCaw in that sense and another who struggled to come to terms with the notion of retirement. But finally hanging the boots in Toulon last summer after 16 seasons in the game at Newcastle, England and finally Toulon.
'Training for big games every weekend, playing in front of thousands of people — it makes you feel important. And when that goes, everything goes,' Wilkinson said recently.
'I’m addicted to the training — I still feel if you took it away from me, I would struggle, because it’s what allows me to burn off my frustration.'
Wilkinson still practices his kicking for several hours every week - and even more so when he is fulfilling his part-time coaching role with Toulon. Still all part of a regime for the man whose drop goal won the World Cup 12 years ago.
'I train like a madman all the time,' Wilkinson added. 'But my sessions now are so stupid that I get nervous about them. I end up turning up to the gym and I can’t get out of the toilet.'
'What am I worth now I’m not playing? Your identity is in and out, and that’s been a heavy part of the last year.
'In my daily life, I don’t have rugby any more. So I’m looking for that next thing, and I’ll know immediately when I find it.'
A sharp contrast to some others like Adam Jones the welsh prop who announced his retirement from international rugby five days after being left out of Warren Gatland's squad for last season's RBS 6 Nations Championship. Even as a triple Grand Slam winner - who played in 95 Tests for Wales and five as a British and Irish Lion – time was called on his international test career at the age of 33.
Not helped by having also been overlooked for the autumn internationals earlier this season. And a more disappointing way to end a legendary rugby career. Rather unlike his former teammate Shane Williams, who prolonged his playing days by moving to Japan? However eventually at 37 the body gave in and so he also called it a day after scoring 58 tries in 91 appearances by 2011.
Albeit he had been planning to retire after leaving the Ospreys in 2012, when a three year offer from Mitsubishi Dynaboars in Japan proved irresistible: "My 3 years in Japan with Mitsubishi have been amazing but after this season it's time to come home!" Williams tweeted recently.
Unfortunately picking that time is never easy with Brian O’Driscoll proving another classic example in the modern game. Who as his powers faded and injuries took their toll managed a happier ending with another RBS Six Nations medal as his final international send off. Unlike McCaw the Irish and Lions centre announced his retirement ahead of the 2013/14 season and so the curtain call lasted a season with a Heineken Cup campaign and Six Nations. All long on emotion and probably in hindsight not the best option either given all its distractions off the field.
But in fairness Ireland's record try-scorer was convinced to play on that last season by incoming national coach Joe Schmidt: “I had to think long and hard [about playing this season] and there were a number of factors,” said O’Driscoll “I had to talk to Amy and listen to my body, I had to learn if I was still wanted in the Leinster setup and the Irish setup.”
“It would be rude of me not to mention the chants from the stands in the RDS of ‘one more year’,” he added. “The fact that you’re still wanted by the faithful does mean an awful lot too.”
O’Driscoll openly admitted that retirement had been on his mind since a neck operation after the 2011 World Cup and again when faced with omission from the British and Irish Lions squad for the final Test against Australia in July 2013. Though one last shot at New Zealand at the AVIVA was also a key reason for staying on and the chance to beat Richie McCaw and Company after many close calls.
Today though O’Driscoll sits comfortably in the pundit’s gallery and looks not out place alongside the Jeremy Guscott’s, Jonathan Davies’, Paul Wallace’s or Sean Fitzpatrick’s. In a few weeks McCaw will be closer to the same decision. In the meantime his coach needs to minimise the possible further “brain explosions” and perhaps even manage Richie’s game time until the knock-out stages when his presence would be mandatory. An exercise which would be a first for this greatest ever of rugby players in the history of the sport. But there may be no other option if only to save McCaw from himself.
As Brian O’Drisocll once quite aptly said:
“Rugby takes its toll.”
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