Rugby: Former All Black Dan Carter reveals amazement upon witnessing Richie McCaw’s determination at the World Cup

Former All Blacks superstar Dan Carter has added another layer of legend to Richie McCaw’s long-standing reputation, revealing how much pain his former captain endured to win a World Cup.

Carter, speaking to the French rugby newspaper Midi Olympique on a variety of topics, reflected on his time playing with McCaw and the 2011 season in which the All Blacks were trying to break a 24-year drought when it came to celebrating the Webb Ellis Cup. .

While Carter was ruled out of the tournament with a groin injury, he witnessed the extent of McCaw’s toughness as he battled his own illness to help satisfy New Zealand rugby fans’ desire for a home title.

In January 2011, McCaw injured his foot during a training session for the Crusaders Super Rugby team. A week later, he announced that he would miss the first six weeks of the season and undergo invasive surgery in which a screw was inserted into his diseased helmet.

The foot never healed properly and the screw ended up doing more harm than good. By the time that became obvious, McCaw was left with the decision to play in severe pain and risk causing long-term damage, or missing the World Cup and a chance at redemption. We all know what choice he made.

However, he created a situation that left his teammates both in awe and, it seems, a bit apprehensive.

“During this period, he completely forgot about the pain. Except after the games, when he couldn’t walk for three days. He was seen covered in sores and bruises, limping over the weekend. Then the game came and he would do the same. same again, “Carter said.

“We wondered how he did it, but he inspired us all. He played and won the quarter-finals, a semi-final and a World Cup final with a broken foot. He didn’t train for those three weeks. He just walked the week and left the pain. aside for games. “

While it was public knowledge at the time that McCaw had a lingering injury, he himself played down its severity in typically understated style.

“‘No, I’ll be fine,’ I keep saying to anyone who listens, to the media, to teammates, to coaches, to myself.” I can’t train because it hurts a bit, but I’m ready to go. I’m ready to go. And so I am. I believe it, “McCaw wrote in his own book. The open side about that campaign.

McCaw turned out to be fine. He not only led the All Blacks to one World Cup victory in 2011, but another in 2015 and became the most capped All Black of all time. This is how you play through pain.