Why Richie McCaw never gives up
NEW Zealand captain Richie McCaw has revealed a compelling insight into the anatomy of the All Blacks’ iron will to win.
The 32-year-old flanker never truly feared losing to Ireland in Dublin last Sunday, even after his side leaked three tries in the opening 17 minutes.
McCaw said New Zealand’s unshakeable self-belief carried them to their 14th victory of 2014, securing the perfect season.
Ryan Crotty’s last-minute try and Aaron Cruden’s conversion stole a 24-22 win, to stamp New Zealand’s place in history as the first professional-era team to record a 100% campaign in a calendar year.
McCaw said his attitude had been moulded in 2001, when he was a young Canterbury player under inspirational captain Todd Blackadder. Canterbury were playing Wellington in a Ranfurly Shield Challenge and were trailing 29-12.
McCaw told Blackadder he did not think their side could launch a comeback. The big lock gave McCaw short shrift and Canterbury sneaked to a 31-29 victory.
McCaw recalls: “I thought the game was over. He said ‘believe’, and we got home in that game.
“Since then I’ve never, ever given up, and always been proud of All Black teams, that no matter whether you’re behind, seemingly out of the game, you never stop believing there’s a chance.”
That lesson came to the front of McCaw’s mind as New Zealand battled for their place in the record books at the Aviva Stadium last Sunday.
“We had 15 guys out there believing, right to the last minute, and it’s amazing what can happen.”
If the All Blacks’ great Dublin escape was the tightest spot they squirmed through this season, their 38-27 victory over the Springboks in Johannesburg in the Rugby Championship in October was another example of mind over matter.
The Springboks conjured four tries in all, to register the bonus point. So New Zealand replied with five, with their final try being scored by Keiran Read while the All Blacks were down to 14 men, with prop Ben Franks in the sin-bin. — © The Daily Telegraph, London and agencies