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A rare loss at home to England and the influence of its captain Martin Johnson helped shape the leadership style of the great Richie McCaw of the All Blacks.
McCaw played 149 games for the All Blacks, captaining a record 111 times, winning two World Cups along the way.
But it was on the eve of the 2003 tournament, when Johnson’s team in England beat the All Blacks 15-13 in Wellington to foreshadow their only World Cup success, that McCaw would discover the power of the captaincy.
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Richie McCaw in his All Blacks final haka ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup victory in London.
“Martin Johnson’s presence was just his body language, and I always wondered what he had done to do that.” McCaw told his former teammate and good friend Dan Carter when asked about how to make up his captaincy in Carter’s “Lockdown Series”.
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“Only the way he behaved and the way he spoke to his players had a huge influence on the players around him.
“I always thought if you could get that kind of influence, that’s what leadership is all about.”
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A young Richie McCaw, left, helps the All Blacks join England captain Martin Johnson in 2003.
McCaw would eventually exert that same type of presence with the All Blacks, though he admits it took him a long time to understand the full dynamics of leadership on and off the field.
McCaw received the captaincy at the age of 25 and “had not existed as long as some guys who had played that role.”
He thought he should play well and in a team of such talent “this captaincy thing is quite simple”.
It wasn’t until the infamous 2007 World Cup quarterfinal loss to France in Cardiff that he realized he “didn’t have the answers” as captain.
“That really depressed me with a thud. I think that was the best thing that happened to me as a player and certainly as a captain.
“It made me see facing the things you’re not very good at … dealing with those great times and pressures. When things go wrong, that’s when you need a leader with conviction.”
It also led McCaw to be less insular and more inclusive, realizing that he had Super Rugby captains and other natural leaders like Carter in his troops that he should use.
“People often say leadership can be lonely, but only if you don’t let the people around you contribute,” McCaw told Carter’s “Lockdown Series.”
“Why wasn’t I letting that (leadership) team take the team forward? When I realized it hadn’t become such a lonely place.”
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Richie McCaw recognized the help of leaders like Dan Carter and Kieran who read his success as the All Blacks captaincy.
McCaw says he still shakes his head and wonders about the 2006-07 period when, setting aside the World Cup disaster, the All Blacks still succeeded while searching for their way as captain.
“We really had no idea what (leadership) was. It was a little bit of success and hope.”
Carter added: “On 06-07 we had such a skillful and talented team, hoping that someone would take a rabbit out of the hat and someone usually would.”
But his career fell famous at the foot of a sturdy French suit.
“I never wanted to feel helpless again,” said McCaw.
“I swore we’d never go down without a fight and the captain sets the tone for what you’re looking for.”
They decided to accept the pressure and tough situations, something they did superbly in their 2011 win, particularly the tense final against France at Eden Park, where New Zealand won 8-7 to end a 24-year drought in the Copa del World.
“Instead of being afraid of those difficult times, it became how we are going to deal with it. The challenge of taking on a talent team and making sure they produce it, “McCaw said.
“You must be able to think beyond yourself and what you can provide to ensure the team plays well. You have to be curious about how you can influence a team, players or an environment.
“That’s what I got great satisfaction from, but also the drive to be better.”
