I don't think we will for two reasons:
1. What better way to go out. Not many sportsman get to go out on such a high note. He's won everything and to go on any longer could tarnish his legacy a tiny bit. This way he will be immortalised; not that he wouldn't be anyway.
2. By continuing, he'll only be doing it for himself and not the team and that doesn't seem like McCaw's ethos at all. He's always put the team first. Plus he would continue to block the likes of Sam Cane, Matt Todd and Ardie Savea's path to the team and giving certainly the latter valuable experience.
Why is there not an option for "who cares" ?
I'm not sure, he's not named in any of the Super squads, so I took that as an indication that he's probably retiring
I don't think we will for two reasons:
1. What better way to go out. Not many sportsman get to go out on such a high note. He's won everything and to go on any longer could tarnish his legacy a tiny bit. This way he will be immortalised; not that he wouldn't be anyway.
2. By continuing, he'll only be doing it for himself and not the team and that doesn't seem like McCaw's ethos at all. He's always put the team first. Plus he would continue to block the likes of Sam Cane, Matt Todd and Ardie Savea's path to the team and giving certainly the latter valuable experience.
The All Blacks are losing many players with vast experience after this cup, enough to damage the team in my opinion. I know almost all the replacements have significant test game-time, but to be honest, I'm not sure how well they'd all do as a large new incoming combination at once. Sam Cane is ready for most things, but it didn't take much to see that he wasn't great against South Africa in that semi. Having him alongside 5 other new regulars will be hard to make become a cohesive unit. Combinations have to work.
If McCaw was to have another season as a transitioning phase, with Cane getting much more game time, (perhaps having Richie come off the bench in some games of lesser concern rather than start) it'd be a good idea. You can't say goodbye to all of that experience from so many players and expect to have a World Cup defended as well as it was last time.
Bit harsh on Cane no? It was just that one handling error that was poor, otherwise he is a pretty darn good player. Not sure we can judge him too harshly by a few minutes off the bench and one or two handling errors in the pouring rain can we?
I don't judge him too harshly. He has had many great games, he's one of my favourite up and coming players, I even suggested that he could start and Richie come off the bench, which would be great knowing you had that there. It wasn't one ball spilling handling error, it was two, he wasn't able to be first man there at many breakdowns, didn't look like he was contesting many and he had an average one overall. He didn't come on in the World Cup Final despite Read having a poor one and Cane being as capable as Vito, who did come on, I think Hansen knew he could've done better against South Africa. It was raining for everyone.
I think he just hasn't had enough time under the intense pressure yet. He's got it in him, no doubt, just needs more opportunity. Not all of it, I don't think he's quite good enough for that yet.
but again, a few poor minutes is not indicative of where he is at overall IMO.
I don't think he will. He's achieved everything he possibly could. There isn't a better way to bow out than captaining a side to a back to back world cup win.
Hope he stays involved in New Zealand rugby and the All Blacks though.
I think he should at least get to the 150 International Caps mark. And next year there is a fixture in Christchurch against the Springboks during the Rugby Championship. That would be the perfect send-off for him.
I can imagine that your guys would love to get their hands on him one last time and perhaps deny him in a big one in his home town. That'd be pretty cool.
I think it's more about respect towards Sir Richie.
And he's one of the few stars of world rugby that hasn't been persuaded by the lucrative offers of the Northern Hemisphere. It just makes me think that he would like to end his career in front of his home crowd, and at the stadium where he made a name for himself (and most probably will get a stand named after him).