Former All Blacks head coach\u00a0Sir Graham Henry has paid the ultimate tribute to legendary captain\u00a0Richie McCaw, describing him as\u00a0\u201cthe most influential rugby player who\u2019s ever played the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Join the\u00a0RUCK\u2019s WhatsApp community here<\/a>\u00a0and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.<\/p>\n Hansen, who worked alongside McCaw during one of the most dominant eras in All Blacks history, said the former openside flanker\u2019s influence went far beyond skill or statistics.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s the most influential rugby player who\u2019s ever played the game. Very bright, very resourceful, very brave\u2026 you put all that together and players play for him.\u201d<\/p>\n Under McCaw\u2019s leadership, New Zealand won\u00a0back-to-back Rugby World Cups (2011 and 2015), losing just\u00a0one Testin his final four years in charge.<\/p>\n Graham Henry: The coach who trusted McCaw<\/p>\n McCaw\u2019s rise to greatness was closely tied to former All Blacks head coach\u00a0Sir Graham Henry, who appointed him captain in 2004 when he was just 23 years old \u2014 a decision that initially drew criticism from fans and media alike.<\/p>\n Henry, however, never wavered in his belief that McCaw was the right man to lead New Zealand through both triumph and failure, including the painful quarter-final exits in 2007.<\/p>\n That faith was ultimately rewarded when McCaw lifted the\u00a0Webb Ellis Cup on home soil in 2011, ending New Zealand\u2019s 24-year World Cup drought.<\/p>\n \u201cHe can hardly walk\u201d: McCaw\u2019s 2011 World Cup heroics<\/p>\n Immediately after the narrow\u00a08\u20137 victory over France\u00a0in the 2011 Rugby World Cup final, Henry revealed the extent of McCaw\u2019s physical toll.<\/p>\n The All Blacks skipper had played the tournament with a serious foot injury, yet refused to step aside.<\/p>\n \u201cRichie is an inspiration to the whole team and management,\u201d\u00a0Henry said. McCaw finished the final visibly battered but was still first to the breakdown, first to the tackle, and first to rally his side in the closing minutes.<\/p>\n Not about talent \u2014 about obsession<\/p>\n Speaking at a school in 2018, Henry offered a revealing insight into what truly made McCaw special.<\/p>\n Contrary to popular belief, Henry argued McCaw was not a naturally gifted athlete \u2014 but something far more dangerous.<\/p>\n \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t call McCaw a naturally gifted sportsman, but he\u2019s a man with a massive backbone and a huge ticker,\u201d\u00a0Henry said. That relentless mindset saw McCaw become the\u00a0most-capped All Black, a\u00a0two-time World Cup\u2013winning captain, and a benchmark for leadership across world rugby.<\/p>\n EDITORS PICKS:<\/p>\n Richie McCaw Just Settled the Debate: This Stadium Has the Best Rugby Atmosphere Ever<\/p>\n he former All Blacks captain, who led New Zealand to two Rugby World Cup triumphs, has played in almost every major rugby venue on the planet. Yet, a select few stand out as truly special.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a closer look at McCaw\u2019s favourite rugby grounds \u2014 the unique atmosphere they create, and the stories and quirks that make them unforgettable.<\/p>\n Principality Stadium: Rugby Heaven Under a Roof<\/p>\n McCaw\u2019s top choice for atmosphere? The iconic\u00a0Principality Stadium\u00a0in Cardiff, Wales. Known for its electric vibe when the roof is closed, McCaw fondly recalls the incredible energy of the crowd that echoes through the 74,000-seat arena.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is great to be playing with the roof closed as that creates both a great atmosphere and a dry ball,\u201d said Richie McCaw. The indoor setting makes the venue unique, creating a cauldron-like effect where sound bounces around, making it incredibly loud. Whether you\u2019re Welsh or not, the cheers (and jeers) surround you from all angles.<\/p>\n Despite the deafening noise, McCaw loved the challenge: This stadium, originally known as the Millennium Stadium, is nestled in the heart of Cardiff and is as iconic for its retractable roof as for the history it holds. From World Cup finals to Six Nations clashes, it\u2019s a venue that every player wants to experience.<\/p>\n For McCaw, this stadium is in a league of its own: Ellis Park: A Fortress of History and Intimidation<\/p>\n McCaw also holds South Africa\u2019s\u00a0Ellis Park\u00a0in high regard. Located in Johannesburg, this is a venue drenched in history, perhaps most famously known as the site where South Africa won the 1995 Rugby World Cup. For McCaw, playing at Ellis Park was as intimidating as it was exhilarating.<\/p>\n \u201cEllis Park is one of the great stadiums to play test rugby at, even though it is tough and intimidating,\u201d McCaw wrote on his Facebook page<\/a>.<\/p>\n What makes Ellis Park so daunting? The high altitude of Johannesburg, combined with the passion of the home fans, gives the Springboks an edge. At 1,753 meters (5,750 feet) above sea level, it\u2019s known to sap the energy of even the fittest athletes. The chants of \u201cBokke! Bokke!\u201d resonate through the concrete structure, making it a cauldron for visiting teams.<\/p>\n The stadium\u2019s open design ensures that no roof can muffle the roar of 60,000 fans. Built in 1928, Ellis Park remains one of the most storied and intense rugby environments in the world. It\u2019s not just the physical challenge of playing at altitude\u2014it\u2019s the sense of history and national pride that you can feel in the air.<\/p>\n CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO<\/a><\/p>\n Like this:<\/p>\n Like Loading…<\/p>\n
\u201cHe can hardly walk and how he played today I just don\u2019t know. He will have some time out now. That he got through it was down to his heart and determination. He is the best leader this country has ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe just worked really hard at being the best he could be. That\u2019s all he did \u2014 he just wanted to be better tomorrow than he was today.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt can be extremely noisy but then it is the same for both sides and you just have to do your best to get your messages over to your mates.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is certainly one of my favourite places,\u201d he said. And who can blame him? Few rugby venues boast the atmosphere of Principality on a match day.<\/p>\n