Acclaim and disdain for captain McCaw

Richie McCaw’s captaincy has been both hailed and ignored as respected British rugby writers list their greatest test skippers.

The Sunday Times put Stuart Barnes and Stephen Jones together to sift through their candidates and there was agreement and disagreement, with All Blacks legend McCaw the prime example.

Barnes, the former England first-five, put McCaw top of his list. Jones, a constant critic of the All Blacks, could find no room for McCaw in his top 10.

First the good news via Barnes: ‘‘The only man to twice lift the World Cup. The first time he was playing on one leg.

Graham Henry recognised his importance. Referees were awed by his polite Richie McCaw presence. He guided referees his way and the All Blacks to a period of unsurpassed greatness.’’

The two writers were allowed to analyse each other’s list and offer a word or two of comment and this is where Jones finally managed to mention McCaw. ‘‘My colleague Barnes has fallen into the trap of assuming that All Black victories in the McCaw era were down to a captain when in fact, my late grandmother could have led them to the same record,’’ Jones wrote.

Jones, a Welshman, had current Wales skipper Alun Wyn Jones top of his list, explaining: ‘‘The great man’s leadership and performance levels have become almost mystical.’’

There was one common Kiwi in their thinking with Sean Fitzpatrick listed at No 4 by Jones with Barnes having the combative New Zealand hooker at No 5.

Here’s Jones on Fitzpatrick: ‘‘The All Blacks captain was driven to the point of the merciless. He would never leave the field even when clearly in injury anguish, he led the 1996 New Zealand team which became the first Kiwi tour to win a test series in South Africa which was then more of a Holy Grail for New Zealanders even than winning the World Cup.’’

Here’s how Barnes saw the credentials of Fitzpatrick: ‘‘Hookers have a history as captains. None were as clever and cunning as the All Black who refined the art of discussion with the referee. After the many great All Blacks of recent years, the London-based Fitzpatrick remains revered back home.’’