Richie McCaw: If my form fades, I will walk away

Richie McCaw believes he can sustain his form and desire through to a fourth World Cup, but in a brutally frank admission, the All Blacks captain says he'll walk away from the team's shot at history if he feels either start to wane.

 hakwa

Based on his actual performances in four RC tests he played in last year and the corresponding tests this year the statistical record was as follows:-

                                  2012             2013       

Call Carries                    39                  32

Meters gained                117                 43

Tackles made                 49                  49

Tackles missed                 1                  10

Line breaks                      2                   0

Defenders beaten             8                   0

If the above figures do not indicate that there was in fact a downward slide/fading in performances between 2012 and 2013  - I do not know what will indicate such.   McCaw is fading - and fading faster than you people wants to admit.   If he is honest about it - he should admit that he had a worse performance record this year than he had last year - but he has not said anything like that.

If he continues showing that type of downward slide in performance data this coming year - will he admit that he is going down?   I don't think so - and nobody in NZ will be prepared to tell him otherwise.  

Sharkbok

As an SA supporter I hope he does - if the present trend continues - he would be of great help to opposing teams by 2015.  

 ...not so clever mike...a perfect season this year for the All Blacks led by King Richie the Great...so you know where you can stick your stats mate...

Brycy

Thanks - I know though that he will become a liability - rather than an asset.   Will stick the stats where you suggest - but you will suffer because of it - not me.

Refusal to recognise reality - normally leads to the fall - proven throughout world history.   Napoleon, Hitler,  Communism in Eatern Europe - you name it - they refused to recognise facts and their rule collapsed. 

So will that of your McCaw the Great.   He was GREAT for many years and recognised by me as such even before the NZ supporters cottoned on - but he has gone from a great player to a good player and is rapidly on the way to become an average player.  

Sasue

Sorry if I upset you - but I think I am realistic about the issue.   McCaw always was a ball sense player - he would know the best and quickest way to get to breakdown points - that will always be a feature in his play.   However,  it is what he does when getting to breakdown points which is important.   In the past McCaw got turnovers - frustrate/slow down the opposition ball etc - he is not as effective in doing that as he used to be in the past.  

Look I still rate McCaw higher than any SA loosie - but the signs are there that he is on a downward trend and that it may be better to use him less.   I am a great admirer of Cane  and he is hauling in McCaw rapidly.   I personally think that the AB's should use McCaw for not more than 60 minute per game and even replace him at half time in matches - and see what happens next year. 

It was just a bit of needling on my part and Brycy fell hook, line and sinker for that one.