Bitter rivals: McCaw and Cooper
Related links
Teams
Also see
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has admitted in his new autobiography that his personal feud with Quade Cooper turned nasty.
In his autobiography, The Open Side, which was released on Tuesday, the record-breaking All Black flank revealed he regrets letting his on-field battle with the Wallabies fly-half last year become personal.
"There was a bit of post-game controversy around Quade Cooper's attempt to knee me in the head as he was extricating himself from a ruck," McCaw wrote.
"The intent of what he was trying to do pissed me off more than the execution. Shortly after that happened, I was carrying and should have passed, but I lit up and I saw Quade standing in front of me and clattered into him instead.
"I was disappointed in myself doing that, letting it get personal. There's no need - players like Quade get sorted. Sooner or later they get their beans."
McCaw also reveals that he backed Graham Henry to be reappointed as All Blacks coach ahead of Robbie Deans, under whom he played at the Crusaders, because he questioned Deans' ability to work collaboratively.
"Robbie doesn't appear to want to be challenged by his assistants and won't allow the kind of full-on debate that Ted [Henry] encourages with [Wayne] Smith and [Steve] Hansen," reads one extract.
"Robbie's approach is to say, 'This is what we're doing,' then convince people that's the way it's got to be. He's very good at that.
"But when you look at the record of Robbie's assistant coaches, there's quite a lot of turnover and fallout. Robbie's intransigence and reluctance to delegate might have been a factor ... if you look at the names of some of Robbie's assistants. Colin Cooper, Vern Cotter, Don Hayes, Todd Blackadder. It's tempting to draw the conclusion that if Robbie gets a strong assistant coach, the assistant won't last, and if he gets one that lasts, he's not that strong.
"The applications in front of the NZRU are telling. Robbie hasn't named his assistants, though [then Auckland coach] Pat Lam's has been mentioned in some reports. But Pat hasn't coached at Super 14 level yet. So the question actually is: Graham Henry, Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen or Robbie Deans and unknown assistant coaches? That's a critical difference right there.
"...so when [NZRU CEO] Steve Tew phones me for an informal catch-up on this and that, I tell him I'm happy to work with either, but I do have a view on which option might be better for the All Blacks."
Comments
sandal says...
@Ferdie
I agree with APV1.
Outstanding work!
You have exposed a cheat and a hypocrite. Thank you.
Posted 23:02 11th October 2012
Trader2 says...
Ohhh Noooo I thought that was all Trinats work, silly me should have known it was just too clever and funny for an Aussie, let alone a Queenslander, good spot Ferdie and APV1. Dammit I have lived in Oz too long. "Trinats ye imposter let thou be cast out of the temple and as punishment forever reside in that land very aptly named, (QUEENS)land".
Posted 22:24 11th October 2012
APV1 says...
@ Trader2 - you have just been owned, my friend:
http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/exclusive-controversial-first-chapter-of-richies-book/
Outstanding work, Ferdie!
Posted 18:04 11th October 2012
hybrid187 says...
@Trader2 - Hahahah !! Nice.
Posted 16:52 11th October 2012
kpe12 says...
For Richie so loved the game that he gave his all in all, that whoever believes he's offside shall perish and live in the eternal life of all black.
Richie 3:16
Posted 16:18 11th October 2012
Trader2 says...
"and on the 2nd day we have to play the Wannabies, this will be our day of rest and relaxation, there will be no need to raise a sweat"
Posted 14:21 11th October 2012
Ferdie says...
Trinats2 - very easy to pick your post as being a cut and paste from another rugby website, far too erudite for a Queenslander - and you could at least have credited the author, Sydney's Hugh Cavill, which s the polite thing to do.
Cheat!
Posted 13:34 11th October 2012
new_j4a says...
@Trinats, I see the makings of a new religion here. I'd like to go on record as the 1st disciple. I am abandoning the Frisbeetarian Church with immediate effect.
Posted 12:43 11th October 2012
Trinats2 says...
ruckingkiwi:
Good idea, or we could just cheat !!!
Posted 12:08 11th October 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Trinats, maybe you Aussies should try importing a few Kiwis, Tongans, a Papua New Guinean, Zimbabwean, Fijian and a South African or two to help you get to the bookshop before Richie! 10 years is a long time between books.
Posted 10:12 11th October 2012
Trinats2 says...
Excerpts have been widely published outlining Richie's opinion on all things rugby, from Quade to Deans to Twitter. However each of these passages have been taken from the international version of the book. I received a copy of the New Zealand version of the book, and much to my surprise it reads quite differently. It seems it has been substantially tailored for the local Kiwi audience.
Here is the first chapter:
In the beginning Richie created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of Richie was hovering over the waters.
And Richie said, "Let there be light<" and there was light. Richie then created the darkness, and He saw that this was superior to the light. He blessed the darkness, and decreed that it shall reign. Richie called the light "day," and the darkness he called "the Blackness." And there was evening, and there was morning¿the first day.
And Richie said, "Let there be an activity which I can physically and mentally dominate people of other nations." So Richie created a game, and called this game "Rugby". And it was so. And Richie looked at his creation and was pleased. And Richie said "Let there be Laws and Interpretations to govern this game, so that it may be played fairly." So Richie created the Laws and the Interpretations. And Richie said "Let there be ways of bending these Laws and Interpretations to the advantage of the Darkness, which will go unnoticed by thy officials". So Richie created ruck pillars, lying on the wrong side of the ruck, and holding back defenders. He created clearing out past the ball, obstructing opposition forwards, and lurking offside at the breakdown. He created sealing off ruck ball. And Richie saw these and was pleased with His creation. And there was evening, and there was morning¿the second day.
Posted 09:10 11th October 2012
Trinats2 says...
Trader2:
wont be able to get a copy, McCaw's hands will be all over it !!!
Posted 08:07 11th October 2012
Kiwikev says...
@ Sandal
Best.post.ever!
I would come to your local pub and buy you a pint if I were not otherwise engaged this weekend...
Posted 07:40 11th October 2012
sandal says...
@Trinats
We all have to lighten up for your sake.
Meanwhile, you crap your pants and pretend nothing smells.
Well, it's not that funny.
Posted 05:12 11th October 2012
Trader2 says...
APV1
"wrongside of the bookshelf" I liked that very clever.
ArmchairGeneral
Another very clever comment but I think @davodiablo trumped you with his response.
All the post's on this story have been a good a read as no doubt the book will be and Trinuts will be okay because there will be a braille version.
Posted 23:40 10th October 2012
Trinats2 says...
Only time in his career he has been BOOKed !
Posted 21:11 10th October 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
ArmchairGeneral, just like that flightless English national bird... the buttered chicken, so talented it can double as a national dish.
Posted 20:59 10th October 2012
2eyedkiwi says...
well played APV1
Posted 19:17 10th October 2012
davodiablo says...
@ArmchairGeneral.....evolution says that the Kiwi loved where it was so much it didn't need to fly away .
Posted 18:30 10th October 2012
davodiablo says...
Sincero...Trinuts has the box of crayons to write "cheat" on the blank pages !
Posted 18:16 10th October 2012