The superlatives have flowed for All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw, who announced his retirement from rugby on Thursday. McCaw hangs up his boots after a world record 148 Tests, the last ending in him becoming the first captain to lift the World Cup twice.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is unequivocal about the 34-year-old loose forward’s standing in the game. “In my opinion, he will go down not only as the greatest All Black of all time, but the greatest captain we have ever had, and possibly the greatest player to have ever played the game in the modern era,” he said.
Hansen said to play the number of Tests McCaw did, especially given the demands of his position, was in itself something to marvel at. But having seen most of those games as part of the All Blacks coaching team over the past 12 years, Hansen also couldn’t recall a bad performance.
NZ Rugby chief executive Steve Tew rated McCaw as the most influential player of his generation, “if not of all time”. He said McCaw also made a significant contribution off the field, and was a sounding board for players, coaches, administrators and others involved in the game.
“He cares greatly about the whole game and everyone involved in it,” he said.
The team that McCaw played the most Tests against were the Wallabies (37 for 29 wins) and Australian Rugby Union CEO Bill Pulver sent his congratulations from across the Tasman Sea on a “remarkable career”.
“Richie’s record speaks for itself, he is one of the all-time greats of our game and the greatest ever All Blacks captain,” Pulver said.
“For 15 years he has been a highly-respected adversary for Australian teams and is a class individual and a tremendous competitor who is deeply admired by fans and his peers. On and off the field, he personified the values of Rugby and is one of its finest ambassadors.”
Retired Wallabies flanker Phil Waugh, who played 79 Tests, locked horns with McCaw at Super Rugby and international level for more than a decade and knows him better than most.
The long-time New South Wales Waratahs captain said McCaw was a warrior, playing big minutes in the bulk of his Tests and relentlessly putting his body on the line for the All Blacks.
“You can just see the bruises, the scars that he wears,” Waugh, who played for Australia from 2000-2009, told Fox Sports. “He came on to the scene a pretty fresh-faced young New Zealander and he finishes with such an outstanding record.
“I do think he’s the best rugby player of all time. He’s won more trophies and medals than any other player.”
