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'Didn't really want that': All Blacks great Richie McCaw on retirement
After leading the All Blacks to back-to-back Rugby World Cup crowns in 2015, captain Richie McCaw famously said that he “didn’t want it to end” amidst rumours of his retirement.
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New Zealand rugby fans let out a cheer at Twickenham, as if pleading with the inspirational skipper to keep on fighting as the gladiatorial warrior that McCaw was in an All Blacks jersey.
But as the adage goes, “All good things must come to an end.” On the 19th of November 2015, the outgoing All Black officially announced his retirement from the sport.
McCaw played 148 Test matches in the black jersey, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of rugby union. With two World Cup titles to his name, both as captain, it’s hard to argue otherwise.
The rugby world wanted more, but McCaw knew it was time. The legendary All Black kept the door “that tiny bit ajar” before that tournament in England, but knew it would probably be his last.
“I knew I wasn’t gonna be playing the following year ’cause I didn’t have a contract,” McCaw said on the All Blacks Podcast.
“First of all, I didn’t want to make it about, ‘Oh this is the last time I do this.’ I kind of knew that.
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“If I got to the end and decided, ‘Hell, I still want to keep playing’… the door was still that tiny bit ajar and I probably could have figured out a way to carry on.
“If I’d said, ‘I’m retiring,’ the door was almost shut, whereas I didn’t really want that. That might sound really silly.
“I knew that I was going to be giving it up, but on the off chance things changed, I just wanted to have that door just a little bit ajar.”
McCaw played at four Rugby World Cups and managed to walk away from the sport with two winners medals.
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Being a two-time champion of rugby’s showpiece event is an exclusive club, but McCaw – along with some legendary teammates in the black jersey – is rightfully a member.
McCaw famously led the All Blacks to a drought-breaking World Cup triumph at the 2011 tournament in New Zealand. Stephen Donald was the hero as the New Zealanders ended 24 years of hurt.
That’s what made 2015 so special. The All Blacks had gone more than two decades without winning rugby’s top prize, but went on to become the first-ever side to go back-to-back.
“When the final whistle went in 2015, there was a little moment where it hit me,” McCaw added.
“All of a sudden I became almost disappointed, but then a flip second later I was like, ‘Wow, we’ve just won the World Cup, I’m going to enjoy every minute I’ve still got wearing the jersey.’
“I made sure I did that.
“I knew pretty quickly afterwards that you know that you just can’t do it again, and I just said, ‘I just don’t need to prove it.'”
Comments on RugbyPass
Interesting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
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