End of the Dan and Richie Era

It’s official now following the announcement of the 2016 Super Rugby sides without Carter and McCaw in the list. 

Regardless of what the outcome will be, the Rugby World Cup Final on Sunday morning will mark the end of the Dan and Richie era.

Indeed it’s been a glorious 14 years which started back in November 2001 when a 20 year old Richard Hugh McCaw of Kurow, North Otago, became All Black number 1014 in his debut test match on a cold autumn night in Dublin. That night, McCaw played a big part in helping the All Blacks turn a 16-7 deficit into a 40-29 victory, earning the Man of the Match award.

Two and a half years later, a 21 year old Daniel William Carter from Southbridge, Canterbury, made his debut for the All Blacks against Wales in Hamilton. Carter, who was playing second five at the time, scored 20 points at John Mitchell’s men walloped Steve Hansen’s Wales 50-21.

In the time that these two Canterbury legends donned the black jersey, the Bledisloe Cup has never crossed the Tasman Sea and the All Blacks have been crowned Rugby World Cup champions, confirming their status as number one team in the world in the years between World Cups. And then there’s the bonus of the Crusaders winning Super Rugby 3 times.

My best memory of Richie will be that heroic performance he gave during the 2011 Rugby World Cup as he limped on one leg and carried the team without Dan Carter, while my best memory of Dan will always be that Lions test in 2005 in Wellington when he singlehandedly destroyed the British & Irish Lions in one of his earliest tests at first five. 

Sure, there have been other All Blacks who deserve as much recognition as Carter and McCaw who have played during the same era and will take their final bow at Twickenham on Sunday morning, e.g. Keven Mealamu, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, possibly Jerome Kaino, but Carter and McCaw will be the ones who define the All Blacks identity in the first two decades of the millennia.

Indeed, I am more than happy to say they’re up there with Jonah Lomu, Colin Meads, Sir Brian Lochore, George Nepia and Dave Gallaher as once-in-a-generation All Blacks, and in the top 5 of greatest ever All Blacks.

Their loss will be evident starting next year when there’ll be no McCaw or Carter running onto our rugby grounds in June for the first international of the season. Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Beauden Barrett and Lima Sopoaga are all fine players but they have a long way to go to even come close to replicating the high standard that their predecessors have set.

As ever, the All Blacks will shut away the thoughts of farewelling Dan, Richie, Ma’a, Conrad and Kev and focus on winning the Final – perhaps even motivated to farewell in the best and only way they know how to.

But come the final whistle, there will be a long process of celebrating a truly remarkable era in All Blacks rugby.