RUGBY WORLD CUP SOUVENIR | 04.11.15 | 3
introduction
Foreword
TREVOR MCKEWEN
PICTURE / BRETT PHIBBS
Nobody had ever done it. And for six weeks in September and October, New Zealand was gripped by the notion that the All Blacks might — just might — become the first team in history to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup. That feat would also mean they would be the only three-time winners of the Webb Ellis Trophy. Our confidence waxed and waned through indifferent pool match displays, then soared in a magnificent demolition of France in the quarter finals, banishing forever the ghosts of Cardiff 2007. We gritted our teeth through a dramaladen semi-final with the old foe South Africa. Then came the big one. In this souvenir magazine, the Herald’s writers and photographers pay tribute to Steve Hansen’s All Blacks, relive the great moments and put in context their achievements.
index
Gregor Paul: Why this team is the greatest
P4-5
Dylan Cleaver: World Cup 2015 was the best ever
P14
Pat McKendry: All Blacks dominate Cup statistics
P18
The best-ever All Blacks How the final unfolded The transformation of Steve Hansen Farewell to our stars, plus tournament player rankings It’s ours! Celebration time! What a World Cup! Snapshot: Best pics of the Cup The full results, plus best of All Black stats Best of social media The Last Word
P4-5 P6-7 P8 P10-11 P12-13 P14 P16-17 P18-19 P20-21 P22
credits Editor Trevor McKewen Art director Rob Cox Designer Lily Vallance Picture editor John Sefton Sub-editor Isobel Marriner Contributors Gregor Paul, Pat McKendry, Wynne Gray, Dylan Cleaver, Chris Rattue, David Skipwith. Cover image Brett Phibbs
online Review the Rugby World Cup at nzherald.co.nz/sport. Get the best match video highlights, big-game reviews and analysis. @nzherald facebook.com/ nzherald.co.nz
Twin towers: an ode to Richie and Dan They may be the two greatest All Blacks to play in the jersey. The World Cup could not have been a more fitting farewell, writes Wynne Gray
R
ichie McCaw and Daniel Carter suited up in black together in 89 tests and won 80 of them. Before each of those internationals you could imagine the collective sigh of their opponents when they faced the prince of marauders and his rapier director. A flanker and a five-eighths—the two pivotal positions in any All Black side since this nation began its fascination with rugby—remarkable athletes cast in the same team. Twin diamonds honed on the flatlands in Canterbury and polished to sparkle on the greatest rugby grounds around the planet. Great players festoon All Black history and these were two of the finest. A reserved country lad from Hakataramea and the quiet kid from Southbridge harvested their considerable talents and, in the same era, delivered a dozen golden years to the men in black. McCaw loomed into my international focus at Lansdowne Rd, Dublin in the middle of November 2001 in a scrum-capped man of the match performance, and there he was in his 2015 World Cup- winning swansong at Twickenham, bookending his career in similar style. The openside flanker had played nine tests when Carter was picked for the 2003 All Blacks. They played their first test together against France on their home track in Christchurch, although Carter started at second five-eighths outside Carlos Spencer. There was never any doubt they would be picked for RWC 2003, but their partnership was only in three pool games. After new coaches Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith took over in 2004 they made their big play on the end-of-year tour to Europe, picking Carter as their primary fiveeighths. In the late afternoon November light, several kilometres from the centre of Rome at a suburban ground with a capacity of less than 25,000, the All Blacks fielded McCaw and Carter together in their regal roles.
McCaw wore his No 7 jersey and Carter had No 10 on his back as they marauded through the match, unpicking their opponents. A year later they were in their pomp against the Lions to mock the Power of Four tour, especially at the Cake Tin where Carter was in imperious form for a 33-point haul in the 48-18 victory. The pair’s massive impact — including McCaw’s rise to the team captaincy — brought a great vibe to the 2007 World Cup campaign, but some curious picks and a leg injury to Carter before the quarter final bit into that target. No matter, the 2011 tournament was on home soil — and was going to plan, until Carter injured his groin and was replaced, while McCaw was hampered hugely because of a broken foot. The All Blacks claimed the top prize but there were missing pieces for the golden partnership and no guarantees would be around Great players both for a repeat tilt at this festoon All Webb Ellis Trophy. Black history Injury slowed Carter and these were who struggled to add two of the very 17 tests to his tally in finest in the three seasons, while McCaw churned same era. through more than double that tally. But determination allied to buckets of conditioning pulled their talent to the verge of one final foray at this year’s World Cup. The All Blacks equivalent of Lille and Thomson, Redgrave and Pinsent, Joe Montana and Jerry Rice was back —but in how much business? They worked strongly through pool games then poured it on in the play-off demolition of France . In the final minutes Carter damaged his knee. Not 2011. Not again, surely. Someone without his resilience or all that experience might have lost confidence. Instead the champion captain and five-eighths added to their legacy as the All Blacks won successive titles and their first one offshore.