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McCaw reveals the key to New Zealand winning a third consecutive World Cup
As the All Blacks prepare to unveil their new World Cup jersey and the clock ticks down to a tournament start in Japan – less than three months – the question on many people’s minds is what it will take for Steve Hansen’s men to win another.
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For two-time World Cup winner and former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, the answer isn’t difficult. “Playing well when it counts – that’s the key,” he told the New Zealand Herald in a case of a no-nonsense player and leader breaking a potentially complicated scenario down to its most basic form.
“You have all the right structures and how you want to play but it’s about being able to execute that when it counts. It comes down to three big Saturdays and not getting ahead of yourself when it comes to your quarter-final. That’s your last game, effectively, and then you’ve got to earn the right to another one.
“The big thing in those games is that it might be one or two moments that make the difference and it’s about being able to deal with them. The teams that do that are the ones that are there at the end.
“It’s not magic-out-of-the-hat type stuff, it’s just about being able to execute when those opportunities come and if you can do that three weekends in a row you’ll be in for a pretty good shout.”
Rugby: Captain fantastic Richie McCaw reveals the key to another World Cup triumph for the All Blacks https://t.co/IFtGD1zl3t via @NZHeraldRugby pic.twitter.com/GsbL2Y5N64
— SARugbyChick (@SARugbyChick) June 27, 2019
About to guide New Zealand at a World Cup for the final time, Hansen has suggested after being heavily involved in the last two triumphs that this edition will be the most open yet. McCaw agrees. He believes any of the top five or six nations could win.
McCaw played 148 tests; his last game was that memorable final victory over Australia at Twickenham four years ago. He no longer owns a pair of rugby boots – he had to borrow some for a Mastercard promotion at Ponsonby Rugby Club.
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But he remains a compelling figure for his longevity, leadership, success rate, work ethic and incredible ability to break through the pain barrier time and again, including playing on a broken foot during the 2011 World Cup.
What would he tell his players if he was part of the current leadership group heading into this one? Again, the message is simple: Stick together no matter what.
“The big thing about a World Cup knockout game especially, and you could probably throw the first game against South Africa in as well, is that they’re different to any other test match,” he said. “Not so much the game itself but the things around it and the opposition – what they’ll throw at you because it’s their opportunity and they want to win as well. Because of that it changes slightly.
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“But I think having a leadership group that will know they’ve got each other’s backs so that when the heat comes on you have guys doing the right things and making the right decisions. Everyone will have times when it’s a bit tough and will have challenges that come their way, even in-game … but if you [help each other] and stick to the plan, I think that’s key.”
WATCH: Part one of the two-part RugbyPass documentary on what fans can expect in Japan at this year’s World Cup
Comments on RugbyPass
An 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
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
24 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
11 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
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