A Captain's Cup Episode 8: Richie McCaw

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Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

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A Captain's Cup.

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The game is over!

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The story of the Rugby World Cup, told by the seven men who conquered it.

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Try!

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Welcome to episode eight of A Captain's Cup, an eight-part series featuring the seven men who led their country to Rugby World Cup triumph. Throughout these episodes, you'll hear about vivid memories that live on, crucial moments which change tournaments and the feeling when a life's goal is achieved.

Brought to you by Radio Sport, Newstalk ZB and The New Zealand Herald, A Captain's Cup.

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Can a drop goal?

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And it is over!

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31st of October, 2015 and when it rains, it pours. After 24 years between New Zealand's first two World Cup successes, the first back-to-back rugby champions are crowned. Twickenham Stadium is all black.

Richie McCaw experienced the relief of winning in 2011 This time around, the pure satisfaction of ultimate success can't be ignored. No country had ever been able to defend their world's best tag, a testament to how hard the Web Ellis Cup is to win. For McCaw and his group of all blacks, though, the blueprint was there. With the doubters watching closely, an iconic team of men in black went about their work, methodically eliminating each rival in their way.

This is the story of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Daniel McHardy is joined once again by Richie McCaw, an historic figure and the man who took New Zealand to a place no other country could go. This is a Captain's Cup.

Daniel McHardy (1:52)

Richie McCaw, thank you so much for your time again and joining us for the eighth and final episode of A Captain's Cup as we take a close look at the 2015 World Cup campaign in which your side won a second consecutive World Cup, becoming the first nation to do so.

But I would like to start by looking back at a relaunch of another cycle after that success in 2011, the following year, while there was still lots of continuity, a fresh management team came in with Steve Hanson elevated from an assistant's role in 2011 to the head coaching position. His team would of course bring some new ideas. Was it obvious straight away that there would be some tinkering?

Richie McCaw (2:36)

Yeah, a lot of the personnel were the same obviously, but Steve bought a slightly different way of doing it and he wanted to add his flavor to how he played the game, which was exciting and good.

But yeah, a lot of the things that were done well were just the same. I think the big thing was the attitude of the group is it would have been easy to have, especially because a lot of personnel were the same, just sort of cruise, not the right word, but actually accept that you've sort of got to the top of the mountain and it doesn't really matter what happens if you don't stay there, if you know what I mean. Whereas, I remember that one of the discussions is, you carry the tag around as a world champion, so our job is to go and play like that and not let your standards slip because everyone wants to knock off the world champs and we want to make sure that they don't get that easy. And I think when you have those sort of attitudes, as long as that's led all the way through, then people make sure they do what's required.

Daniel McHardy (3:46)

So there's a weight off the shoulder after winning it, but a target on the back and that's a great motivator.

Richie McCaw (3:51)

Well, I think so.

We did it in 2004 when we got to play against the English after they were world champs. Tell you what, we were thinking about it all summer as to how we can go and knock the world champs off. And it was pretty satisfying to do that, whereas I didn't want to give anyone that satisfaction.

Daniel McHardy (4:16)

We saw a lot of new talent, new blood injected into the side in 2012 Someone like Ben Smith established this himself.

He's only played two or three tests, I think, prior to 2011 But then Aaron Smith, Brodie Rutalik, Julian Savier, Sam Kane, Bonham Barrett, Dane Coles, all become All Blacks. Wow, wow, what an injection of talent the year after a World Cup.

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Stepping, dancing, accelerating, Daniel Carter, there's Dane Coles, Coles to the outside, Dane Coles puts the foot down to the line, Fins scores, Dane Coles.