New Zealand
Richie McCaw's final Test among his best, Steve Hansen says
Sam Bruce
November 19, 2015
'McCaw an icon of the sport'

All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw has chosen the perfect time to bow out of rugby with his final outing against the Wallabies in the recent Rugby World Cup final among the best of his outstanding 148-Test career.

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen was among the first to pay tribute to the retiring McCaw on Thursday, the World Cup-winning boss joining his long-time skipper at the announcement in Wellington.

But Hansen first alluded to McCaw's failings in the early part of his career, before pointing out how eager the 34-year-old flanker was to improve each and every week.

"He arrived on the scene as a pimply-face schoolboy, quite naïve, but very very keen to learn," Hansen said. "And he leaves with a lot less pimples and a lot less naivety but still with the mindset of wanting to learn.

"And I think it's the thing that's stood him in great stead right throughout his career, you know when you think back to when he first started he was brilliant at pinching ball; (but) couldn't catch, couldn't pass, couldn't run. But he had a massive desire to be good.

"And I don't say that disrespectfully, I just want to point out that he was really good at something. But he wanted to be good at everything and through the whole time that I was lucky enough to be coaching him, the first thing he would say at the beginning of every session is 'what can I do better' and then he'd go away and work on it.

Richie McCaw calls time
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"And it's interesting, I thought his last game in the World Cup final was probably one of the best games I've seen him play. So we're very proud of him, he's inspired a lot of rugby players, he's inspired a lot of All Blacks and we'll miss him for sure.

"But like everybody, you've got to pick the right time to go and he couldn't have picked a better time - he's on top of the heap, he's made his own decision and we'll be very grateful for what's he's done for the All Blacks."

Attention will now turn to who fills McCaw's No.7 jersey and how the All Blacks negotiate a period of transition without the likes of fellow superstars Dan Carter, Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu.

Former All Blacks fly-half Andrew Mehrtens backed Chiefs openside Sam Cane to take over from McCaw but warned of the hole the skipper and the other departed legends would leave.

"Well I think they've got to be mindful because, like I say, McCaw was doing so much work on the field and in so many different roles," Mehrtens told Fox Sports.

"I don't think any other player is really up to playing that sort of a role on the field. So, you know, you've got your Sam Cane who comes along as the openside; he's been around the All Black environment for a long time and played quite a few Tests - obviously a lot of them off the bench. He's going to fill that role on the openside.

"Jerome Kaino, I'm not sure how long he'll stay but you need somebody else to step up in that ball-carrying role whether it's a six or an eight; you need somebody else to step up and (be) putting the pressure on at the breakdown.

"So, you know, it's for the whole back-row really to step up from now on and I'm sure they're aware of that; they can't rely on a guy like McCaw sort of being their everywhere-man."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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