I salute you Richie McCaw

A big congratulations to All Black captain Richie McCaw on reaching 100 caps for the All Blacks.

I was really taken aback at the lack of pomp and ceremony around this milestone and was filled with questions as to why the captain was not showered with more on the night. In the week leading up to the match the attention became somewhat nauseating but at least there was attention.

I whittled the possible questions or reasons down to two options:

1. The RWC did not allow for additional embroidery on the match jersey and specific attention to the player running out early and getting the welcome of his home crowd.

2. The captain himself simply deflected the attentions of his team, employer and all else and instead called for focus to be on the team and winning the Test match at hand against their nemesis, the French.

I believe that I am perhaps closer with the latter, that McCaw still holds by old school values of what rugby and team sport is about, the team! I want to remind you what went around the 100^th caps of Springbok captain John Smit (at FNB Stadium), Victor Matfield (Loftus) and Percy Montgomery (Newlands). They played in home grounds and in fact Montgomery was held out of a Test (although it would probably be denied) to ensure his home ground played host to the milestone. It’s all very nice but it does detract from the objective — to hold the team as the ultimate, at all costs, at all times. Does the pomp and ceremony detract from the conduct of the team? I believe the added element did add to the loss against the All Blacks in Smit’s 100^th Test match. The focus was on winning the game for the inspirational and record-holding skipper as opposed to winning the game for the sake of the massive tradition that is the Boks, particularly against our arch rivals.

There was none of this from the All Blacks, they went onto the paddock, performed a massive Haka and one-dimensionally dismantled a weak and confused French Test team (more about that another day). I was happy to see after the RWC Test match that one of the greatest warriors of rugby was aptly recognised with a silver cap marking 100 Tests for his country. I believe it appropriate that any Test player who reaches 100 for his country deserves acknowledgement from the rugby world.

As I did for Ricky Ponting when he resigned the captaincy of the Australian cricket team a while back. I salute this man, Richie McCaw, for his commitment, dedication, passion and performances for the All Blacks and for adding value, good and bad, to any Test match he plays in.