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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

(Photo by Ross Land/Getty Images)

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.

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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

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Comments

1 Comment
J
Jack 1042 days ago

So Josh Kronfeld ... how do you like your humble pie? Hot or just plain ice cold? Oh ... or maybe you want to retract your comments now that Richie has proven himself arguably the best rugby player ever?

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
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