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'Now they've got a guy off one NPC season': Richie McCaw's All Black debut answered doubts over his selection as a 20-year-old
The selection of a 20-year-old Richie McCaw raised a few eyebrows in 2001, none more so than one of New Zealand’s own recently retired opensides – Josh Kronfeld.
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The former Otago number 7 doubted whether one season of NPC for Canterbury was enough for McCaw to truly be ready for international rugby, saying they were ‘giving All Black jerseys out too easily’.
“It seems incredible to me that they so easily can put No 7s in … now they’ve got a guy off one NPC season,” Kronfeld said of McCaw’s selection.
McCaw answered his doubters with a man-of-of-the-match performance on debut against Ireland at Lansdowne Road, in a fitting debut that was the ideal start of a historic 148-cap test career.
Writing a preview for the Irish Times ahead of his first test, journalist John O’Sullivan described McCaw as bringing a ‘huge reputation’ ahead of the game.
“Brings a huge reputation from New Zealand as an outstanding prospect. A genuine seven, he is the man charged with allowing the All Blacks to play the type of game that coach John Mitchell wants,” he wrote.
The young McCaw was industrious without being totally dominant, putting on two important cover tackles early on Brian O’Driscoll who threatened to break the line with half breaks. Although Ireland raced out to a 13-0 lead to put the All Blacks under pressure, it may have been more without McCaw’s efforts.
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The future All Black captain fielded kick-offs cleanly and cleaned up scrappy ball from Irish kicks, and put on another try-saving tackle on Irish winger Horgan before the end of the half.
McCaw forced four turnovers in his performance, three at the ruck and one jolting tackle that jarred the ball loose from Irish centre Kevin Maggs on a crash ball.
His tenacity foiled multiple Irish attacks, whether it was making a well-timed cover tackle or spoiling Irish ball at the ruck, McCaw helped the All Blacks arrest a 16-7 halftime deficit to race away to a 40-29 win.
Writing for The Guardian, journalist Robert Kitson wrote: “That we will hear a lot in future about the new open-side Richie McCaw is the safest bet in modern rugby.”
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McCaw himself described the game as ‘a hell of a step up’ as the first 20 minutes disappeared before he knew it.
“She was a hell of a game,” he said after the game.
“All the hits were pretty big, in the first 20 minutes they threw everything at us. Everyone talks about it’s a big step up. It was a hell of a step up … the first 20 minutes were gone before I knew it.
“I thought, ‘Crikey, I’ve got to do something here’.”
Despite being under pressure from a stout Irish side, McCaw said that once they settled down things started to go right. He highlighted the speed at which Ireland secured their own ball as being ‘a lot quicker’ than he was used to, but ‘she came right in the end’.
“It didn’t help that they were scoring points either. It’s a big learning curve for myself and the team. The big thing is not to panic, because if you start to panic then things go real bad.
“Once we got into the game and started holding the ball it came right.”
“They were very good at sealing off their own pill. They were there a lot quicker than I’ve been used to. But she came right in the end.
Head coach John Mitchell’s faith in the young openside paid dividends, claiming that we would all ‘see more of this lad’.
“We put faith in them from day one, ” Mitchell said.
“Richie probably had an indifferent start but it just shows the calibre of the kid, he never let it get to him.
“I think we’ll see more of this lad.”
Watch Richie McCaw’s debut against Ireland in 2001
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments